APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200080003-4
Transportation and Telecommunications
A. Appraisal (C)
The transportation and telecommunications (telecom) systems of Italy are adequate to meed its economic and military needs. Although both systems cover the entire country, they are mainly concentrated in the northern plain and along the coasts (Figure 11), where they compare favorably with any in the world. The systems in the interior of the peninsula and on the islands of Sicily and Sardinia are more rudimentary and sparse. International transportation connections by rail and highway are made with France, Switzerland, Austria, and Yugoslavia.
Railroads handle almost half of the passenger traffic and a large part of all long-distance domestic, international, and transit freight traffic. The network is well constructed and equipped and serves all principal cities and ports and all administrative, industrial, and mining areas. The government-owned system constitutes over 75% of the route mileage and is the largest single enterprise in Italy's economy.
Highway transport is growing in importance and accounts for over two-thirds of the total ton-miles produced. This traffic consists mainly of short hauls, but as a result of extensive highway reconstruction it is expending to include long-distance and international freight movement. All highway transport is privately owned and operated but is under government control.
Inland waterways handle only about 1% of the total cargo moved annually and are of small significance to the transportation system. Activities are mainly restricted to freight traffic on the Po and on five canals in the Po valley and to passenger traffic across the northern lakes and on the Venetian lagoons. All craft are either privately or municipally owned.
Totaling 649 ships of over 1,000 gross register tons, Italy's merchant marine ranks among the world's larger fleets. The mainland and major island coastline of over 3,000 miles is served by numerous ports, and there is an average of less than 100 miles between ports capable of berthing oceangoing vessels. Most ports are either owned or controlled by the government.
Civil aviation occupies a prominent role in the national economy. The country is favorably situated on the lucrative commercial air routes which link Europe with Africa, the Middle East, and the Far East. Alitalia, the national airline, has taken full advantage of this favorable location and ranks high among the world's international airlines in the number of passenger-miles flown. The government has sponsored a dynamic program of civil aviation development, and progress has been substantial. The use of air travel for domestic transport is expanding greatly, and most of the country's major airlines are undergoing extensive fleet modernization. Italy has 150 airfields, including large international facilities at Rome and Milan.
Italy is one of the leading nations in Western Europe in the development and use of pipeline systems for both domestic and international movement of crude oil and natural gas. Most of the pipelines are owned and operated by the government.
Telecom facilities are extensive and modern and provide excellent service. High-capacity cable and
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APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200080003-4
