Metro A line to close partially in July and August.

Rome's Metro A line will be closed in phases during July and August to allow for "important maintenance works that have been waiting for decades" according to the capital's transport councillor Linda Meleo.

Although exact details have yet to be announced, the closures are expected to occur on weekends in July, with bi-weekly closures in August, as specified by the head of Rome's transport commission, Enrico Stefàno.

The city says the closures will affect sections of the line, rather than the entire line, and that subsitute buses will be laid on for commuters.

The news was announced during the launch of a new network of night buses, with a particular focus on connecting the city centre to the suburbs.

Described as a "small revolution" by Rome's mayor Virginia Raggi, the changes will see 15 bus lines extend their service until 02.00 from 3 June, with the creation of three new night lines from 10 June.

Last year the central section of Rome's Metro A was closed for works from 31 July until 3 September, with only five days' notice.

This time round the city is not taking any chances on that front however the news - which follows the closure of three metro stations due to faulty escalators - has not gone down well with commuters.

There are still two central metro stations closed - Barberini and Repubblica - with the latter shut since last October.

Photo Il Tempo