Italian happiness trains

Jun 27, 2025

Bianca D’Aniello, an Italian woman who was a child passenger on the infamous 'happiness trains', shares her poignant journey from Salerno to Mestre. She recounts the emotional mix of hope and fear as she waved goodbye to her family for what was supposed to be a better life. Despite the promise of new beginnings, her experience was marred by the harsh realities of Italy’s fascist regime and her struggles with loneliness. Bianca's reflections shed light on the bittersweet nature of her journey, highlighting themes of love, belonging, and the impact of war on childhood.

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ANECDOTE

Childhood Hardship in Postwar Salerno

Bianca D’Aniello recalls her childhood in Salerno during and after World War II, highlighting extreme poverty and hardship.
She describes hunger, lack of water, and illnesses like tuberculosis among children.

INSIGHT

Happiness Trains Social Aid Scheme

The Treni della Felicità scheme was organized to move 70,000 poor southern Italian children to wealthier northern families.
This effort was a form of social aid by the Italian Communist Party and Union of Italian Women.

ANECDOTE

First Train Journey and Separation

Bianca’s first train journey was frightening and confusing, especially when her sister was removed unexpectedly during a stop.
Children feared the communists due to local myths, yet they were taken in by kind northern families.

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Between 1945 and 1952, ‘happiness trains’ transported 70,000 children from southern to northern Italy to live with wealthier families.

It was a scheme organised by the Union of Italian Women and the Italian Communist Party in an attempt to make the lives of southern Italian children better.

Ten-year-old Bianca D’Aniello was one of the passengers to travel from Salerno in the south to Mestre in the north where she was looked after by a family with more resources.

Bianca’s life in Mestre was miserable because of Italy’s fascist regime and the devastation her city faced in the wake of World War Two. Her journey was nerve-racking as she jumped on a train for the first time saying goodbye to her mum and siblings. What she didn’t realise was what life had in store for her in her new life.

Bianca speaks to Natasha Fernandes about how that ‘happiness train’ changed her life forever.

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(Photo: Children on board an Italian 'happiness train' kiss and wave goodbye to their parents. Credit: Instituto Storico Modena)