Italy - General Information

Country Name

Italy (Italia)

National Railway System

Ferrovie dello Stato S.p.A. (FS) www.ferroviedellostato.it. Companies in the Gruppo Ferrovia dello Stato include:

• Società Trenitalia S.p.A. www.trenitalia.com, generally known just as Trenitalia, has operational and commercial responsibility for passenger and freight train operations.
• RFI S.p.A., generally known as Rete Ferroviaria Italiana www.rfi.it/default.asp, is responsible for infrastructure.
• TAV S.p.A. tav.ferroviedellostato.it is responsible for development of the high speed routes Torino – Padova and Milano – Napoli. TAV denotes Treno Alta Velocita.
• Grandi Stazioni S.p.A. www.grandistazioni.it is responsible for major stations. 40% of the company is owned by Eurostazioni SpA, a joint venture of SNCF, Pirelli, Benneton and Caltagirone.

Language

Italian. Some German is spoken in the Alto Adige (Süd Tirol) region, and some French in the Valle d'Aosta.

Currency

Euro

UIC code

• FS: numeric 83; alpha I
• Società del Gruppo FNM: numeric 64; alpha FNM

Timetable

Journey Planner

www.trenitalia.com

Downloadable Timetable

No official source identified

Printed Timetable

The FS official timetable "In Treno" includes FS services and most private lines. It is published (in Italian only) in a nationwide version (on CD as well) and also in 12 regional versions. FS services, plus most private lines, are included in the "Pozzorario Generale", which has been published twice yearly by Pozzo Gros Monti Spa although it is not clear if it is still published as at 2010. This is/was also entirely in Italian, and the timetables have a rather old-fashioned look. Both "In Treno" and "Pozzorario Generale" are available in regional and national versions. "In Treno" is on sale at bookstalls, but not generally at ticket offices. Both publications include route diagrams, which show major stations only. Private railways are shown separately in "In Treno". There are errors in the "Pozzo" diagram. An alternative publication "Orario Velero" is available from La Veltro di P. Fruscalzo. However, although their website provides a list of every table (in alphabetical order of starting point name), the only information available on-line is tables updated in the course of the year.

Engineering Information

Lavori e modifiche al servizio. The heading "PLANNED WORKS Lines under maintenance" (Rallentamenti programmati) points to Treni con ritardi programmati. However, this link, which allows the download of a .pdf, seems to refer to the winter 2008 - 2009 timetable ('....Per tutta la durata dell'orario invernale 2008 - 2009....').

Maps

In addition to M.G. Ball's "European Railway Atlas", there is the very good “Atlante ferroviaro d'Italia e Slovenia” (ISBN 978-3-89494-129-1) published by Verlag Schweers + Wall GmbH (website www.schweers-wall.de) in German and Italian, similar to atlases from the same publisher for Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The Touring Club Italiano publishes extremely attractive 1:200.000 sheet maps and atlases depict railways to a very high standard. They are generally accurate, though some railways that have closed or are still under construction appear as if open. The three-volume road atlas includes 1:80.000 enlargements of the major urban areas, on which railways are depicted well. Touring Club Italiano publications are not sold at many stations, but can be obtained from good bookshops in Italy (or outlets such as Stanfords in London).

Gauge

Standard. Some private lines are narrow gauge.

Electrification

3kV dc. The majority of the Torino – Novara – Milano – Bologna – Firenze and Roma – Napoli high speed lines are electrified at 25 kV 50 Hz, as is Milano – Verona – Padova - still under construction. .

Rule of the road

Left

Private Railways

• ATCM S.p.A. (Azienda Del Trasporti Consorziala di Modena): Modena – Sassuolo (electrified) www.atcm.mo.it
• Circumvesuviana S.r.l.: Local lines south and east of Napoli (950mm gauge, electrified at 1500 V dc) www.vesuviana.it
• Ferrotramviaria S.p.A.: Bari - Bitonto - Barletta (electrified) www.ferrovienordbarese.it
• Ferrovia Adriatico Sangritana S.P.A.: Operates passenger services over its own new railway between Lanciano and San Vito-Lanciano and over the Teramo - Giulianova - Pescara and Pescara - San Vito-Lanciano - Vasto FS lines. Services on its other routes (including the lengthy line to Castel di Sangro) have been replaced by buses or withdrawn entirely. www.sangritana.it
• Ferrovia Centrale Umbra S.r.l.: Terni - Perugia - Sansepolcro; Perugia Ponte S Giovanni - Perugia S Anna (in course of re-electrification) www.fcu.it
• Ferrovia Circumetnea: Catania Borgo - Randazzo - Riposto (950mm gauge). Also operates the Catania Metro (standard gauge, electrified). www.circumetnea.it
• Ferrovia Elettriche ed Autoservizi Riuniti Bolzano: L'Assunta/Maria Himmelfahrt - Soprabolzano/Oberbozen - Collalbo/Klobenstein (metre gauge, electrified 1500V dc) www.sii.bz.it
• Ferrovia del Gargano: San Severo - Peschici (electrified; out of use between Vico S Menaio and Peschici) www.ferroviedelgargano.com
• Ferrovia Genova Casella S.r.l.: Genova Piazza Manin - Casella (metre gauge, electrified) www.ferroviagenovacasella.it
• Ferrovie Appulo-Lucane: Bari Centrale - Gravina in Puglia - Potenza Citta; Avigliano Luciana - Avigliano Citta; Altamura – Matera Sud (950 mm gauge) www.fal-srl.it
• Ferrovie della Calabria S.r.l.: Cosenza - Catanzaro Citta - Catanzaro Lido (includes a rack section); Pedace - Camigliatello; Camigliatello - S Giovanni In Fiore (no passenger service other than excursions); Gioia Tauro - Palmi; Gioia Tauro - Cinquefrondi (950 mm gauge) www.ferroviedellacalabria.it
• Ferrovie Emilia Romagna S.r.l.: Bologna Centrale – Portmaggiore, Codigoro - Ferrara - Poggio Rusco – Suzzara – Parma www.fer-online.it
• Ferrovie della Sardegna: Sassari - Sorso; Sassari - Alghero; Sassari - Nulvi; Nulvi - Palau Marina (no passenger service); Nuoro - Macomer; Macomer - Bosa (no passenger service); Cagliari - Isili; Isili - Sorgono (no regular passenger service); Mandas - Arbatax (no regular passenger service) (950mm gauge) www.ferroviesardegna.it
• Ferrovie del Sud Est e Servizi Automobolistici S.r.l.: Bari - Martina-Franca - Taranto; Mungivacca - Casamassima - Putignano; Martina-Franca - Lecce; Novoli - Gallipoli - Casarano; Nardo - Casanaro - Gagliano-Leuca; Lecce - Gagliano-Leuca; Nardo - Zollino; Maglie – Otranto www.fseonline.it
• GTT S.p.A. (Gruppo Torinese Trasporti): Torino Dora - Ceres (electrified); Settimo - Rivarolo Canavese (electrified); Rivarolo Canavese – Pont Canavese; Sassi – Superga (electrified rack railway) www.gtt.to.it
• MetroCampania NordEast S.r.l.: S Maria Capua Vetere - Piedimonte Matese, Cancello - Benevento (electrified) www.metrocampanianordest.it
• Reggio Emilia Azienda Consorziale Trasporti: Reggio Emilia - Guastalla; Reggio Emilia - Sassuolo; Reggio Emilia - Ciano d'Enza www.actre.it
• SAD Trasporto Locale S.p.A: Merano/Meran – Malles Venosta/Mals www.sii.bz.it
• Sistemi Territoriali S.p.A.: Venezia Mestre – Adria www.sistemiterritorialispa.it
• Società per l'Esercizio di Pubblici Servizi S.p.A.: Napoli Montesanto - Torregaveta; Napoli Montesanto - Licola - Torregaveta (electrified) www.sepsa.it
• Società del Gruppo FNM: Milano Nord Cadorno - Asso; Milano Bovisa - Laveno Mombello Nord; Saronno - Como Nord Lago; Saronno - Novara; Busto Arsizio Nord - Malpensa Aeroporto (all electrified); Saronno - Seregno (freight only); Brescia - Edolo; Bornato-Calino - Rovato (freight only) www.lenord.it
• Società Ferrovie Udine Cividale s.r.I.: Udine - Cividale del Friuli www.ferrovieudinecividale.it
• Società Subalpina di Imprese Ferroviare S.p.A.: Domodossola - Camedo (metre gauge, electrified 1200V dc) www.vigezzina.com
• Società Suburbana FBV: Casalecchio di Reno - Vignola (electrified; operated by Ferrovie Emilia Romagna) www.suburbanafbv.it
• Trasporto Ferroviario Toscano S.p.A.: Sinalunga - Arezzo - Pratovecchio Stia (electrified) www.trasportoferroviariotoscano.it
• Trentino Trasporti S.p.A: Trento - Marilleva (metre gauge, electrified) www.ttspa.it

Note: services on some of these lines appear in both "In Treno" and "Pozzo", some in one but not the other, and some in neither.

Many private railways operate through services onto FS lines, and there are a few private lines over which FS trains regularly operate.

Tourist lines

• Mendrisio to Cantello (partly in Switzerland) www.clubsangottardo.ch
• Palazzolo-sull'Oglio - Paratico-Sarnico www.ferrovieturistiche.it
• Ferrovie della Sardegna: Occasional trains over non-passenger lines www.treninoverde.com
• Asciano - Monte-Antico www.ferrovieturistiche.it

The railway museum at Trieste Campo Marzio www.retecivica.trieste.it/museofer occasionally runs historic trains over freight lines in Trieste.

Metro

Catania, Genova, Milano, Napoli, Roma, Torino.

Some Trenitalia suburban services are referred to "Metro" and this may give rise to confusion, particularly in Napoli.

Trams

Genova, Milano, Napoli, Roma, Sassari, Torino, Trieste

Recent and Future Changes

Due to the mountainous nature of much of Italy, most lines are very scenic. However, the original railways were very slow, due to sharp curves and steep gradients. For much of the 20th century, cut offs and completely new main lines were built to speed up services. Foremost among these is the Roma - Firenze direttissima. Unlike high-speed lines in France and Germany, this does not have special signalling and can be used by most trains without modification. The high speed trunk line from Torino to Salerno is now complete, with the openings on 13 December 2009 between Novara and Milano, Milano and Bologna, Bologna and Firenze and between Napoli and Salerno, and the extension of the Roma - Napoli line from Gricignano into Napoli. They are electrified for most of their length at 25KV 50Hz and used only by a limited train fleet, apart from Napoli - Salerno which is common user and electrified at 3kV dc. The high speed line from Milano to Padova is still under construction. There is an ambitious plan for a new line, in a long tunnel under Mont Cenis, to link Torino with Lyon and the French high speed network, but this is many years from realisation.

Many other cut-offs and new lines are under construction, but work may proceed slowly and some projects are suspended periodically. Routes that include sections which have been rebuilt and diverted significantly in recent years include: Verona to Brennero, Gemona del Friuli to Tarvisio, Ventimiglia to Genova, Parma to La Spezia, parts of the Adriatic coast line, Bari to Taranto, Messina to Palermo and the railway into Siracusa from the north.

Recent urban developments have been construction of metros in Torino and Catania, a tram system in Sassari and a new railway, the Passante, in tunnel under the centre of Milano. The Passante runs from Certosa to Porta Vittoria and is used by FNM trains, as well as FS ones, by means of a connection from Nord Bovisa Politecnico. Some trains continue to Pioltello Limito and others from Porta Vittoria via a reinstated curve to Milano Rogoredo. Opening of the Passante has been accompanied by a reorganisation of local train services around Milano, including re-introduction of regular trains between Milano S Cristoforo and Milano Lambrate via Porta Romana. Some FNM trains have been extended from Seveso over the link, previously used only for freight, to Camnago-Lentate on the FS main line to Chiasso.

The line from Merano to Malles-Venosta/Mals has been re-opened and the line from Trent to Malé extended to Marilleva. New railways have been built to airports at Milano Malpensa and Palermo. The line from Treviso to Portogruaro Caorle has been electrified and re-opened to passengers. The ATCM line from Sassuolo has been extended to the FS station at Modena and a passenger service to Bologna reinstated on the Vignola branch.

Although many rural lines have a very sparse service, closures have been few in recent years. By far the most significant has been the Sangritana line from S Vito to Castel di Sangro. Numerous lines might be considered at risk of closure due to little use and sparse service, but it seems very difficult to withdraw train services in Italy.

Special notes

Theft is a particular problem at main stations. Luggage should be closely watched at all times and precautions taken against pickpockets. Some thieves are very young and many operate in groups. A common technique is to create a distraction, such as engaging a traveller in conversation, to draw attention from robbery by accomplices. Crime can also be a problem on overnight trains, which may also be very crowded. It is sensible to book a couchette, at modest cost, as these provide more space and greater security.

Railway police will be found at all but local stations. They, or other Trenitalia staff, may raise objections to photography or waiting for trains on platforms, rather than in waiting rooms, and seem particularly keen to prevent anyone crossing the tracks where a subway ("sottopassagio") is provided. At some main stations access to platforms is confined to those with travel tickets, and tickets are sometimes checked at platform barriers.

Tickets and reservations issued in Italy must be validated before use by stamping them in "obliteratrici", yellow machines found at stations: it is not possible to buy or stamp them on board a train. Having an unstamped ticket or none at all will require payment of the full ticket price plus a fine. Passengers holding international return tickets issued in Italy are required to have them stamped by the train conductor upon re-entering the country. Tickets may be used any time up to two months from date of sale, but are valid for a much shorter period from time of stamping. Those for journeys less than 200 km are valid for 6 hours from the time of stamping; those for 200 km or more for 24 hours.

Reservations are compulsory on National service trains - defined as Eurostar Italia Alta Velocità (AV and AV Fast), Eurostar Italia (ES* and ES* Fast), Eurostar City (ES* City), Intercity (IC), Intercity Notte [night] (ICN) and Express (E). Overnight trains (ICN and E) offer Excelsior Wagon Lit (sleeping) cars and National Couchettes (CC and WL). Boarding these trains without a ticket will incur payment of a surcharge in addition to the ticket price. Reservations are not possible on Regional trains.

At places served by private railways and Trenitalia interchange arrangements vary considerably. In certain cases there is significant integration and co-ordination of operations, but at some places connections seem unplanned and merely by chance, so trains may not wait for the other operator’s late running service. Private railways may use the FS station, but often have their own platforms and booking office (often private railway tickets are obtained from the station bar or café). Their services may not be listed on the Trenitalia arrivals and departures posters. There are entirely separate stations at a few places. Through tickets are usually available between private railways and Trenitalia, but some private railways do not issue return tickets for local journeys.

Departure information at stations, especially in the South, can be sparse and incorrect. Services operated by Ferrovie del Sud Est may vary from the published timetable, particularly south of Lecce. Trains depart at the advertised times, but passengers may be required to change trains at junctions where a through service is shown and, conversely, some connections may work as through trains.

Train ferries between Civitavecchia and Golfo Aranci and between Villa S Giovanni and Messina connect the mainland system with railways on the islands of Sardegna and Sicilia respectively. The Sardegna train ferry is freight only, though foot passengers are carried. Passenger trains are conveyed by ferry to and from Sicilia.

Strikes (scioperi) are quite common, but a guaranteed minimum service is advertised to operate on such occasions. Trenitalia trains supposed to run on strike days are listed in “In Treno” and details are sometimes posted at stations.

The Italian for "motor coach" is "pullman", so any reference to travel by pullman is to a trip by road. Although "carrozza" usually means a railway carriage, a journey advertised to be by carrozza (rather than by train) will use a horse-drawn road vehicle.

See also

• Italy
• Italy - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services