Rome was thrown into disarray on Wednesday morning as the city’s Metro A line was closed between Termini and Battistini due to a sudden “lack of electricity.” This caused major disruptions during rush hour, prompting officials to deploy substitute buses to serve the affected route.

According to a statement released by the city, the electrical fault was determined to be “external” to the network operated by the municipal public transport provider ATAC. While the Termini-Anagnina route continued to operate normally, the Manzoni and Ponte Lungo metro stations had to be shut down.

This unexpected closure of the Metro A line coincides with Rome’s preparations for the upcoming Jubilee Year 2025, during which the city expects a surge in pilgrims and tourists. As part of these preparations, the Spagna and Ottaviano metro stations are set to undergo extensive renovation works.

Furthermore, in a bid to revamp its public transport infrastructure, Rome has decided to temporarily replace trams with buses in certain areas. This move comes as the city undertakes major construction and renovation projects, including the refurbishment of the main Porta Maggiore tram depot.