Italy (Emilia Romagna) - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services
Introduction
This list is based on the timetable in force from 15 December 2024. Although the timetable is shown as valid until 14 June 2025, most long-distance services are shown as operating only for a couple of months. 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
Connections between the old main line (Linea Tradizionale) and the high-speed Linea AV/AC are listed in geographic order from Piacenza to Bologna, irrespective of whether they have a regular passenger service or not. Note all the connections are grade separated.
Bivio Piacenza Ovest – Piacenza (P.M. Piacenza Ovest)
[45] (ERA-E 80C4; ERA-R 156C5; S+W 34B2) IT25/71
This connection north of Piacenza links the Linea AV/AC and the Linea Tradizionale.
| D1 | daily/MSuO | FR9303 | Milano Centrale – 06:00 Milano Rogoredo – Roma Termini |
| D2 | FR8803 | 07:35 Milano Centrale – Bari Centrale | |
| D3 | FR8823 | 17:50 Milano Centrale – Pescara Centrale | |
| D3 | FR8825 | 18:50 Milano Centrale – Ancona | |
| D3 | FR8802 | Ancona – 08:44 Piacenza – Milano Centrale | |
| D4 | daily/SSuO | FR9330 | Roma Termini – 23:52 Piacenza – Milano Centrale |
D1: not 11&12 January, MSuO 11 February - 31 March
D2: 5&6 January
D3: not 11&12 January
D4: not 10&11&12 January, SSuO 10 February - 31 March
Piacenza (2° Bivio Piacenza Est) – 1° Bivio Piacenza Est
[45] (ERA-E 80C4-C5; ERA-R 156C5; S+W 141B1-C2) IT25/72
This connection east of Piacenza runs from the Piacenza – Cremona line to the Linea AV/AC. It is occasionally used for diversions.
1° Bivio Fidenza Ovest – Fidenza (2° Bivio Fidenza Ovest)
[45] (ERA-E 80C5; ERA-R 156C5; S+W 48A1) IT25/73
This connection west of Fidenza between Linea AV/AC and the Cremona – Fidenza line gained passenger service in December 2019. It enables trains to use the Linea AV/AC between Milano and Fidenza and call at Parma.
| D1 | FR9303 | Milano Centrale – 06:10 Milano Rogoredo – Roma Termini | |
| D2 | FR8803 | 07:50 Milano Centrale – Pescara Centrale/Bari Centrale | |
| D3 | FR8809 | 11:50 Milano Centrale – Lecce | |
| FR8819 | 15:50 Milano Centrale – Pescara Centrale/Bari Centrale | ||
| D1 | FR8823 | 17:50 Milano Centrale – Pescara Centrale | |
| D1 | FR8825 | 18:50 Milano Centrale – Ancona | |
| FR8829 | 19:50 Milano Centrale – Ancona | ||
| D | FR9561 | Milano Centrale – 22:55 Milano Rogoredo – Lecce | |
| D | FR9562 | Lecce – 06:34 Parma – Milano Centrale | |
| D1 | FR8802 | Ancona – 08:20 Parma – Milano Centrale | |
| FR8804 | Ancona – 09:15 Parma – Milano Centrale | ||
| FR8806 | Pescara – 10:15 Parma – Milano Centrale | ||
| FR8818 | Lecce – 16:15 Parma – Milano Centrale | ||
| FR8820 | Taranto/Pescara Centrale – 17:15 Parma – Milano Centrale | ||
| FR8824 | Lecce/Pescara Centrale – 18:15 Parma – Milano Centrale | ||
| FR8830 | Bari Centrale/Pescara Centrale – 23:15 Parma – Milano Centrale | ||
| D4 | FR9330 | Roma Termini – 23:22 Parma – Milano Centrale |
D1: 11&12 January
D2: not 5&6 January
D3: not 15 - 23 January
D4: 10&11&12 January
Parma (2° Bivio Parma Est) – 1° Bivio Parma Est
[45] (ERA-R 157A5; S+W 35B3) IT25/74
The Linea Tradizionale is linked to the Linea AV/AC east of Parma by a connection which runs from the Parma – Suzzara line to the Linea AV/AC. It is occasionally used for diversions.
1° Bivio Modena Ovest – Modena (2° Bivio Modena Ovest)
[45] (ERA-R 157B4; S+W 141C3) IT25/75
This connection west of Modena runs from the Linea AV/AC to the Mantova – Modena line. It is occasionally used for diversions.
Bivio Castelfranco Est: Castelfranco Emilia – Bologna Centrale
[45, 202] (ERA-E 83A1; ERA-R 157B4; S+W 48A1) IT25/76
Most high-speed trains between Modena and Bologna are to and from the Ancona line, so use the ground-level platforms at Bologna Centrale. The following trains use the connection between the Linea Tradizionale and Linea AV/AC at Castelfranco Est, in order to use the low-level platforms in Bologna and call at Modena.
| FR9301 | Mantova – 06:47 Modena – Roma Termini | ||
| FR9303 | Milano Centrale/Rogoredo – 07:42 Modena – Roma Termini | ||
| FR9328 | Roma Termini – 21:51 Bologna Centrale – Mantova | ||
| FR9330 | Roma Termini – 22:16 Bologna Centrale – Milano Centrale/Rogoredo |
Anzola dell'Emilia: P.M. Anzola – P.M. Lavino
[45] (ERA-E 83A1; ERA-R 158B5; S+W 144A2) IT25/77
This connection north of Bologna links the Linea AV/AC with the Linea Tradizionale. It is occasionally used for diversions, such as the trains from the Linea AV/AC to the Bologna Cintura (route IT25/81 from PM Lavino).
The FR trains between the Ancona line and the Linea AV/AC need to stop at the ground-level platforms in Bologna but typically use the crossovers in P.M. Santa Viola/P.M. Reno to reach those platforms instead of this route.
P.M. Santa Viola – Bologna Centrale – Bivio Emilia
[45, 46] (ERA-E 83A4-B4; ERA-R 156B5-156C4; S+W 144B3-144C4, not shown in full) IT25/78
High-speed trains via Bologna Centrale use the low-level platforms, except those to and from the Ancona line which has no connection to the low-level.
[55] (ERA-E 83A4; ERA-R 156B5; S+W 144C2-144B3, shown as under construction) IT25/79
High-speed trains between Padova and Bologna Centrale use this line, which came into use in December 2017, to access the low-level platforms at Bologna Centrale, unless running to or from the Ancona line.
Routes used occasionally for diversions
Bologna Cintura
[55] (ERA-E 83A3-A4; ERA-R 156B5-156C5; S+W 144A2-144C3) IT25/81
The Bologna Cintura runs round the north and east of the city, avoiding Bologna Centrale, with connections to all main lines. Long-distance trains are occasionally diverted via the Cintura and this is indicated by omission of a usual stop at Bologna Centrale. Use of this route is much less frequent following completion of the Linea AV/AC through Bologna.
The sections PM Lavino – Bologna Corticella and Bivio Tavernelle – Bologna Corticella are expected to be used on several weekends from 2023 to 2026 by long-distance trains between Milano and Venezia, as a result of engineering work between Brescia and Padova related to the construction of new sections of Linea AV/AC.
Diversions on those two sections in 2025 are expected on the following dates: 8-10 March, 26-28 April, 23-24 May, 5-25 August, 3-5 October, 17-19 October, 31 October - 2 November, 14-16 November, 22-24 November, 28-30 November, 6-8 December, 12-13 December. These dates may vary depending on the actual work schedule and are generally confirmed a couple weeks in advance when trains are sold with extended journey times and fewer stops by Trenitalia and Italo.
Similar diversions are very likely to take place during 2026.
P.M. Lavino – Bologna Corticella
This route between the Milano and Padova lines is used by trains with no advertised stop between Milano and Padova and an extended journey time. These trains need to switch between the Linea AV/AC and the old main line north of Bologna, so also use route IT25/77.
Bivio Tavernelle – Bologna Corticella
This route between the Verona and Padova lines is used by trains diverted between Verona and Padova, not calling at Vicenza and with a much extended journey time between Verona and Padova.
Bologna Arcoveggio – Bologna Corticella
Bologna Arcoveggio is a station near Bologna Centrale that can be reached only from the Bologna Cintura. It is used for trains terminating in Bologna on the rare occasions when Bologna Centrale cannot be reached.
Bologna Corticella – Bivio San Vitale
This route is used for trains between the Padova and the Rimini lines when Bologna Centrale cannot be reached.
Bologna Corticella – Bologna San Ruffillo
This route is used for trains between the Padova and the Firenze lines when Bologna Centrale cannot be reached.
Overnight trains between Trieste and Roma are diverted on this route 10 - 14 March and will probably be diverted again around 18 April.
| D1 | ICN770 | Trieste Centrale – 23:23 Ferrara – Roma Termini |
D1: 26 and 27 April, the curve is used overnight
Bologna San Ruffillo – Bivio Emilia
[46] (ERA-R 158C4; S+W 144C3) IT25/82
This connection south of Bologna to the Linea AV/AC enables trains to call at the ground-level platforms at Bologna Centrale and use the Linea AV/AC to Firenze. It has not been used regularly since the line through the low-level platforms at Bologna Centrale opened.
As a result of engineering work on the Direttissima Bologna – Firenze, on several occasions in 2023 passengers on some IC trains were carried by special services, using Frecciarossa trains (sold at Intercity fares), via this connection and the Linea AV/AC.
Note the line has separate tunnels by direction so the connection at the south end at Bivio Emilia is underground grade separated which is not reflected in the Schweers + Wall Atlas.
