The expansion of services was celebrated with the opening of a new station at Versciaco/Vierschach (pictured), a few kilometres from the border in South Tyrol by Mr Florian Mussner the Italian region's councillor for mobility and his Tyrolean counterpart Mrs Ingrid Felipe. The station has direct access to the popular ski area of Monte Elmo.

Regular-interval services now depart Fortezza for Lienz every hour between 06.50 and 18.50 (albeit with a gap between 10.50 and 12.50), with trains departing Lienz between 05.50 and 19.50. The services are operated using Stadler ETR 170 Flirt EMUs.

In addition, two daily direct Bolzano – Innsbruck services have been launched, which are operated jointly by South Tyrol regional rail operator SAD and Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB).

With the launch of these services, 33 passenger trains a day now cross the border between South Tyrol and Austria, up from 16 a day in 2012.

Following an inaugural trip on the Bolzano – Innsbruck service, the president of South Tyrol Mr Arno Kompatscher and Mr Günther Platter, president of Tyrol, together with their mobility councillors have presented plans to further develop public transport links between the two regions, referring to ever-closer cooperation on fares and the launch of a new multi-modal ticket for cross-border journeys. Another goal is the launch of direct Trento – Bolzano – Innsbruck services.

South Tyrol's pro-rail policy has generated a steady increase in traffic on many lines, with regional ridership reaching a record 932,862 passengers in October.