Train services running through central Italy faced delays of more than an hour on Saturday after an alleged sabotage incident during the Olympics, Reuters reported.
Routes between Naples in the south and Rome have been disrupted, with further delays reported on the route heading north towards Florence, Reuters reported.
Transport Minister Matteo Salvini condemned those responsible following a similar network disruption last Saturday and a less serious incident earlier in the week.
The shutdowns come as Italy hosts the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo from February 6 to 22, Reuters reported.
“These are hate crimes aimed at workers and Italy,” Salvini said in a statement.
“I hope no one trivializes or tries to justify these crimes that threaten lives,” he added, according to Reuters.
Authorities on Saturday were investigating burnt cables on a section of the high-speed line between Rome and Naples and two other possible acts of vandalism between the capital and Florence. The National Police said that the initial investigation showed that these were “definitely criminal acts”.
Rail and political police were preparing a report to be sent to Roman prosecutors in the coming hours to formally launch a criminal investigation, they said.
An anarchist group claimed responsibility for the attack on the network last Saturday, the first full day of the games, when damage to rail infrastructure near Bologna caused delays of up to two and a half hours for high-speed, intercity and regional trains.
(With inputs from Reuters)