What Ferrovie del Sud Est does

FS Sud Est S.R.L. is a regional rail and bus public transport operator serving the Puglia region of Italy, operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (Gruppo FS), the state-owned national railway conglomerate. The company operates a network of 474 km of railway infrastructure across 7 lines (Bari-Taranto, Mungivacca-Putignano, Martina Franca-Lecce, Novoli-Gagliano, Gallipoli-Casarano, Lecce-Gallipoli, Zollino-Gagliano, Maglie-Otranto), delivering over 220 daily train connections and approximately 1,500 daily bus connections that serve more than 130 municipalities spanning from Bari to Gagliano del Capo. Headquartered in Bari with operational support in Lecce, FS Sud Est employs between 251 and 500 staff and serves daily commuters, students, workers, and tourists as its primary customer segments.

The core technology stack centers on regional railway and bus operations management, with proprietary real-time circulation tracking across all train and bus lines enabling passenger-facing live updates. Ticketing is delivered through the Biglietto Digitale Regionale (BDR) and Biglietto Elettronico Regionale (BER) digital formats integrated with the Trenitalia app and self-service machines, plus proprietary web channels at fseonline.it and fssudest.it. Customer engagement is supported by a WhatsApp Infomobilità channel for real-time service information, Salesforce-powered live chat, and a national toll-free call center. Ancillary services include bike transport (Bici al Seguito), micromobility device handling (scooters, hoverboards, monowheels), accessibility services for passengers with reduced mobility, and a structured complaints/refund process aligned with EU Regulation 2021/782 passenger rights.

Revenue is generated primarily through passenger transport services combining transactional ticket sales (single journey, regional digital tickets) with subscription products (weekly, monthly, annual, student annual passes) that include delay compensation tied to EU-mandated service quality thresholds. Distribution is omnichannel: direct via company website/app, through the integrated Trenitalia national network (ticket offices, self-service kiosks, travel agencies), and via phone. The business operates under regional public transport concessions with revenue supplemented by PNRR-funded infrastructure modernization grants. The company is led by an Amministratore Delegato (CEO) representing the data controller role under GDPR.

Name

Ferrovie del Sud Est

Legal name

FS SUD EST S.R.L.

Website

https://fseonline.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

1931

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

FS Sud Est is a regional rail and bus operator in Puglia, Italy, operating 474 km of rail infrastructure with 220+ daily trains and 1,500 daily bus connections serving 130+ municipalities under the Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane Group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Rail and Bus Public Transport

NAICS

Commuter Rail Systems (485112), Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation (48521), Rail Transportation (4821)

SIC

Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Commuter Rail Operators (Government/Authority-Run) (THAIACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

National Intercity Coach Operators (Scheduled Network) (THAIADAA), Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) Regional Rail Services (THAIACAE), Intercity Bus Terminal/Stop Operators (Dedicated Intercity Facilities) (THAIADAI)

Keywords

• Regional railway services
• Public bus transport
• Passenger rail services
• Regional mobility operations
• Public transit services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bari

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Passenger transport services: Revenue generated from ticket sales for railway and bus services across the Puglia regional network. Includes single journey tickets, weekly/monthly/annual subscriptions, and special event tickets. The company operates 474 km of railway infrastructure with over 220 daily train connections and 1,500 daily bus connections serving over 130 municipalities.
2. Subscription products: Annual, monthly, and weekly subscription passes for regular commuters, including student annual subscriptions. Subscription holders are eligible for delay compensation when service levels fall below quality standards.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

FS Sud Est operates regional passenger rail and bus public transport services across Puglia, Italy. The company runs 474 km of railway infrastructure organized into 7 lines, delivering over 220 daily train connections and approximately 1,500 daily bus connections that serve more than 130 municipalities from Bari to Gagliano del Capo. Service is complemented by digital regional ticketing products, real-time circulation tracking, subscription passes, and accessibility support for persons with reduced mobility.

Product overview

FS Sud Est (Ferrovie del Sud Est) is a regional mobility company operating as part of the Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane Group, providing integrated railway and bus transportation services across Puglia, Italy. The company operates a network of 474 km of railway infrastructure with 7 lines (Line 1 Bari-Taranto, Line 1 bis Mungivacca-Putignano, Line 2 Martina Franca-Lecce, Line 3 Novoli-Gagliano, Line 4 Gallipoli-Casarano, Line 5 Lecce-Gallipoli, Line 6 Zollino-Gagliano, Line 7 Maglie-Otranto) offering over 220 daily train connections and approximately 1,500 daily bus connections serving over 130 municipalities. The product portfolio centers on core transportation services enhanced by digital ticketing (Biglietto Digitale Regionale BDR and Biglietto Elettronico Regionale BER), real-time circulation tracking, customer assistance with dedicated accessibility services, and delay compensation mechanisms. Additional services include bike and micromobility transport, the WhatsApp-based 'FS Sud Est Infomobilità' channel for real-time updates, complaint management, and refund processing. The company also participates in Italy's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) for infrastructure and digital development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Servizio Ferroviario Regionale (Regional Railway Service) Regional passenger rail service operating 7 railway lines (Bari-Taranto, Mungivacca-Putignano, Martina Franca-Lecce, Novoli-Gagliano, Casarano-Gallipoli, Lecce-Gallipoli, Zollino-Gagliano, Maglie-Otranto) across Puglia with over 220 daily connections. Targeted at commuters, students, workers, and travelers needing mobility between municipalities.
• Servizio Automobilistico Regionale (Regional Bus Service) Regional bus service with approximately 1,500 daily connections serving over 130 municipalities from Bari to Gagliano del Capo in Puglia. Provides road-based public transport where rail lines do not reach.
• Biglietto Digitale Regionale (BDR) - Digital Regional Ticket

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (Gruppo FS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFS Sud Est is a subsidiary company within the Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (FS Italiane) Group, dedicated to regional mobility in Puglia. The company acquired the entire business assets of Ferrovie del Sud Est e Servizi Automobilistici S.r.l. to continue railway and bus services while strengthening quality and completing infrastructure and digital development aligned with group standards.
• TrenitaliacoreTechnology or IntegrationTrenitalia provides integrated ticket distribution for FS Sud Est through its network of ticket offices, self-service machines, mobile app, and travel agency partnerships. FS Sud Est tickets are sold alongside Trenitalia services on lefrecce.it platform.
• Locus FestivalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFS Sud Est is the Official Carrier for Locus Festival 2026, offering 15% discount on concert tickets for holders of 'Locus Festival FS Sud Est' travel passes, with dedicated train and bus services to the event venue.
• Notte della TarantaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFS Sud Est is the Official Carrier for Notte della Taranta 2026, operating dedicated trains and buses to the concertone in Melpignano.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Italo (Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori): Italo is the main private high-speed rail operator in Italy. While not a regional rail peer, it is comparable as part of the broader Italian passenger rail market and competes for intercity demand on corridors that feed into FS Sud Est's regional network.
• Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (FS Italiane): FS Italiane is the parent state railway holding company of FS Sud Est and the largest rail operator in Italy. Comparable as the broader incumbent parent that sets group standards, infrastructure investment policy, and digital platform strategy that FS Sud Est executes.

Direct peers

• EAV (Ente Autonomo Volturno): EAV operates regional rail, metro, and bus services in Campania under regional concession. Directly comparable as a southern Italian regional rail and bus operator with similar single-region concession economics and public service obligations.
• Ferrovie della Calabria: Ferrovie della Calabria operates narrow-gauge regional rail and bus services in Calabria. Comparable as a smaller regional rail/bus operator in southern Italy serving dispersed municipalities with a similar concession-based model.
• ARST (Azienda Regionale Sarda Trasporti): ARST operates regional rail and bus services in Sardinia under regional concession. Comparable as a regional concession operator combining rail and bus services providing essential public mobility in a single Italian region.
• Trenord: Trenord operates regional rail passenger services in Lombardy under a joint venture between FS Italiane and Trenitalia. It is a comparable regional rail concession operator with similar concession-based economics, multimodal integration, and digital ticketing.
• Busitalia: Busitalia is the FS Italiane Group's bus subsidiary, operating regional and urban bus services across multiple Italian regions. Directly comparable as a sister operator within the same parent group providing road-based passenger transport under public service contracts.
• Trenitalia: Trenitalia is the primary rail operator of the FS Italiane Group and operates regional rail services across most Italian regions outside Puglia. It is directly comparable as the sister operator under the same parent, sharing platforms (lefrecce.it), ticketing systems, and digital ticket products (BDR/BER).

Regional players

• Cotral: Cotral is the regional bus operator for Lazio, providing interurban and suburban bus services around Rome. Comparable as a regional concession bus operator with similar public service obligations and interurban route structure.
• AMTAB Bari: AMTAB operates urban public bus transport in Bari, the principal city served by FS Sud Est's rail network. Comparable as a public transport operator in the same Puglia geography with overlapping first/last-mile feeder connectivity.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/FSSudEst
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ferroviedelsudest

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ferrovie del Sud Est