Italy (Veneto) - 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

Domegliara-S Ambrogio (Bivio S Massimo) - Verona Porta Nuova

[50] (ERA-E 82C1, not shown; ERA-R 153B1; S+W 137B4) IT23/31

There are two routes from the Trento line into Verona Porta Nuova, which divide at Bivio S Massimo. The connection used by most trains joins the Brescia line from the north.

The alternative route passes beneath the Brescia line and joins the line from Bologna at Verona Porta Nuova Scalo. This is used by trains between the Trento line and platforms 10, 11 and 12 at Porta Nuova. Through trains between the Bologna and Trento lines mostly use this route.

Verona west-south avoiding line: Castelnuovo del Garda (Bivio Fenilone) – Buttapietra or Dossobuono (Bivio S. Lucia)

[12, 51, 186] (ERA-E 82C1; ERA-R 153B1; S+W 137B4) IT23/32

This curve enables trains to run between the Brescia and Bologna lines without having to reverse at Verona Porta Nuova. It is normally used between June and August by a train pair between Bergamo and Pesaro, though these are not shown in In Treno. The schedule in 2022 was:

D1		Tper 18125	Bergamo - 08:17 Brescia - Pesaro
D1		Tper 18126	Pesaro - 21:06 Nogara - Bergamo

D1: 12 June to 28 August 2022

Verona west-north avoiding line: Castelnuovo del Garda (Bivio Fenilone) – Domegliara-S.Ambroglio (Bivio S. Massimo)

[12, 50] (ERA-E 82C1; ERA-R 153B1; S+W 137B4) IT23/33

This curve enables trains to run between the Brescia and Trento lines without having to reverse at Verona Porta Nuova. Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.

In recent years Ferrovie Turistiche Italiane has run excursions in November and December from Milano and Lecco to the Christmas market at Trento via this route.

Buttapietra or Dossobuono (Bivio S. Lucia) - Verona Porta Nuova

[50] (ERA-E 82C1, not shown; ERA-R 153B1; S+W 137B4) IT23/34

There are two routes from the Bologna and Mantova lines into Verona Porta Nuova, which divide at Bivio S Lucia. One route runs south of the locomotive depot via Verona Porta Nuova Scalo and the other runs on an embankment north of the locomotive depot. All platforms are accessible from the embankment line. Most trains use platforms 7 or 8 at Verona Porta Nuova and mostly appear to use the embankment route. Any using higher-numbered platforms may run via Porta Nuova Scalo, but the embankment line appears preferred for terminating trains. Through trains between the Bologna and Trento lines are more likely to run via Porta Nuova Scalo.

Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.

Castelnuovo del Garda (Bivio Fenilone) - Verona Porta Nuova

[12] (ERA-E 82C1, not shown; ERA-R 153B1; S+W 137B4) IT23/35

There is a route between Verona Porta Nuova and the main line to Brescia and Milano via Verona Porta Nuova Scalo. Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.

It may be used by trains to and from platforms 10, 11 and 12 at Verona Porta Nuova (on the south side of the station), but there are few of them. The following were noted to be using these platforms in 2019:

	SSuX	R2608	06:55 Verona Porta Nuova - Milano Centrale
D1	SuX	R2620	07:45 (since retimed to 07:43) Verona Porta Nuova - Milano Centrale
	SuO	R2698	19:23 (since retimed to 19:20) Verona Porta Nuova - Lecco

D1: Train runs via the main line and not via Porta Nuova Scalo on Sunday mornings

The compilers would welcome reports of current platform use at Verona and of use of this route in particular.

Venezia avoiding line: Venezia Mestre Ospedale or Venezia Carpenedo (Confluenza UD/TS) - Mira-Marano (G.S. Mestre AC)

[D] (ERA-E 82C2; ERA-R 154A1; S+W 138B3) IT23/36

This curve allows trains to run between the Treviso or Trieste and Padova lines without reversing at Venezia Mestre. Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.

It is used by overnight trains between Italy and Austria via Tarvisio. These run with no advertised stops between Bologna or Padova and Villach.

Spinea - Mogliano Veneto (Bivio Marocco)

[ERT 88](ERA-E 82C2; ERA-R 154A1; S+W 138A3-138B2) IT23/37

This is a reinstated section of the Venezia Cintura that provides an an alternative route between Venezia Mestre and the Treviso line. No Trenitalia passenger services are scheduled to use it, but the following runs this way to facilitate access to the higher numbered platforms at Venezia Mestre:

RJ131

Wien Hbf - 13:32 Treviso Cle. - Venezia S Lucia

In future years other RJ trains may use this route; in 2022 they took the more direct route via Venezia Mestre Ospedale. An inspection of the departure and arrival boards at Venezia Mestre revealed no services to/from Treviso which used the higher numbered platforms, with the exception of RJ131. RailJet services are not shown in In Treno, but can be found in table 88 of the European Rail Timetable and appear on the Interrail app journey planner. Tickets for RJ trains in Italy cannot be booked via the Trenitalia website or App, but they can be booked via the OBB website and App.

Routes used occasionally for diversions

Padova avoiding line: Mestrino (G.S. Monta) - Padova Campo Marte

[5, 51] (ERA-R 153C1; S+W 138B1) IT23/39

This west to south curve allows trains to run between the Verona and Bologna lines without reversal at Padova. It is occasionally used for diversions if the direct line between Verona and Bologna is blocked.