Italy (Friuli Venezia Giulia) - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services
Introduction
This list is based on the timetable in force from 10 December 2023. Although the timetable is shown as valid until 8 June 2024, most long-distance services are shown as operating only until March. Such trains are not indicated by note 'D' (for a service only running on certain dates), because it is a reasonable expectation that their period of operation will be extended or a similar service is provided instead. It is assumed that the timetable will continue to be updated and reissued regularly, as has been the case since summer 2020. Users are recommended to check the Trenitalia website to ensure they are using the latest version of the timetable.
Table numbers quoted here are from In Treno Tutt'Italia, the official Trenitalia timetable. Standard abbreviations are explained here.
Map references for each route entry are given in parentheses ( ). References prefixed "ERA-E" refer to the European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition) by M.G. Ball. References prefixed "ERA-R" refer to the European Railway Atlas (Regional Series: Book 2) by M.G. Ball. References prefixed "S+W", or in italic, refer to Atlante ferroviaro d'Italia e Slovenia by Schweers + Wall.
Two useful symbols exist which show the booked route for trains not calling at a station: in the middle of the train column, a vertical bar "|" means that the train passes through the station without stopping, whereas a middle dot "·" means that the train does not pass through that station but instead takes a different route.
Obscure services
Tarvisio Boscoverde - Arnoldstein [AT]
[D, 15, ÖBB 600] (ERA-R 154C4; S+W 12B1) IT23/41
The service across the border between Tarvisio Boscoverde and Arnoldstein appears even more sparse in In Treno than it really is. Overnight trains appear in table D and a few day trains in table 15. The ÖBB RJ trains to and from Venezia are not included at all, but the two train pairs can be found in ÖBB table 600, together with the other services.
Routes used occasionally for diversions
Overnight trains via Tarvisio are sometimes diverted via the first two entries, exceptionally via the third. This can be checked by looking at the northbound part of table 55 of In Treno, which shows Bologna to Venezia, with connections to Udine and Trieste. Look for trains passing through Portogruaro-Caorle, but not Udine. Udine and Trieste connections are not shown in the southbound part of the table, but it is normally the case that southbound trains will be diverted on the same nights as northbound ones.
No trains appear likely to use this route during the December 2022 to June 2023 timetable period.
Udine avoiding line: Tricesimo-S. Pelagio (PM Vat) - Buttrio
(ERA-E 82B3; ERA-R 154B3; S+W 140D1, but not as shown) IT23/42
This route enables trains to run between the Tarvisio and Gorizia lines without reversing at Udine. The curve shown in the Atlante ferroviario d'Italia e Slovenia to Udine Parco scambio estremo lato Gorizia has been replaced by a spur east from the avoiding line to the Gorizia line.
Monfalcone avoiding line: Ronchi dei Legionari Nord - Ronchi dei Legionari Sud
(ERA-E 82B4; ERA-R 154C2; S+W 27B2) IT23/43
This route enables trains to run between the Gorizia and Venezia lines without reversing at Monfalcone.
[Villa Opicina -] Aurisma - Bivio d'Aurisina [- Monfalcone]
(ERA-E 82B4; ERA-R 154C2; S+W 27B2) IT23/43A
With closure of the via Tarvisio route, only the Wien Hbf - Milano sleepers [but truncated to terminate at Venezia Mestre] were diverted via Slovenia, assumed Ljubjlana [reverse] and Villa Opicina and this rare curve between 30 June – 30 July 2022.
