Garda Station: M5S Criticizes $200M+ Project

A regional councillor from the Five Star Movement, Paola Pollini, has criticised plans for a new high-speed rail stop in the Garda area between Rivoltella and the Torre di San Martino, in Desenzano del Garda. Pollini said the project would require additional accessibility works—such as new road connections from the Sirmione toll exit, parking, intermodal areas, pedestrian links, and a protected connection to the historic railway line—while the cost shown in the PFTE has risen to about €200 million, up from an estimated €35 million in 2018.

She also argued that the transport study and cost-benefit analysis are still being updated, and asked the Region to assess the project’s territorial, environmental, and transport impacts. Pollini pointed to expected increases in regional services (up to every 30 minutes) and the continued high-speed connections at the existing stations of Desenzano and Peschiera, adding that the proposed new station could consume more agricultural land without offering a real alternative to private car travel.
Italian Version