Italy (Emilia Romagna) - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services

Introduction

This list is based on the timetable in force from 11 December 2022. Although the timetable is shown as valid until 10 June 2023, 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 in General Information.

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 - Italy) 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 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.

Bivio Piacenza Ovest – Piacenza (P.M. Piacenza Ovest)

[45] (ERA-E 80C4; ERA-R 156C5; S+W 52D3) IT23/71

High-speed trains calling at Piacenza run via the Linea Tradizionale, except for the following which use the connection to the Linea AV/AC north of Piacenza.

		FA8823	17:50 Milano Centrale - Pescara Centrale
		FA8825	18:50 Milano Centrale - Ancona
		FA8802	Ancona - 08:33 Piacenza - Milano Centrale
		FR9330	Roma Termini - 23:41 Piacenza - Milano Centrale

All trains via the Linea AV/AC use this coonnection between 14 and 17 August 2023, due to maintenance work on the River Po viaduct.

Piacenza (2° Bivio Piacenza Est) – 1° Bivio Piacenza Est

[45] (ERA-E 80C4-C5; ERA-R 156C5; S+W 52D3) IT23/72

This connection south of Piacenza links the Linea Tradizionale with the Linea AV/AC. It is occasionally used for diversions.

All trains via the Linea AV/AC use this coonnection between 14 and 17 August 2023, due to maintenance work on the River Po viaduct.

1° Bivio Fidenza Ovest - Fidenza (2° Bivio Fidenza Ovest)

[45] (ERA-E 80C5; ERA-R 156C5; S+W 48A1) IT23/73

This connection between Linea AV/AC and the Cremona to Fidenza line first gained a passenger service in December 2019. It enables trains to use the Linea AV/AC between Milano and Fidenza and call at Parma.

Southbound trains from Milano do not use this route on 4 to 6 July 2023 and instead run via route IT23/71.

		FR8803	08:05 Milano Centrale - Bari Centrale
		FR8807	11:05 Milano Centrale - Taranto
		FR8809	12:05 Milano Centrale - Lecce
		FR8811	13:05 Milano Centrale - Lecce
		FR8813	14:05 Milano Centrale - Lecce
		FR8819	16:05 Milano Centrale - Bari Centrale
		FA8829	20:05 Milano Centrale - Ancona
		FA8804	Ancona - 09:09 Parma - Milano Centrale
		FA8806	Pescara - 10:09 Parma - Milano Centrale
		FR8810	Bari Centrale - 12:09 Parma - Milano Centrale
		FR8814	Lecce - 14:09 Parma - Milano Centrale
		FR8818	Lecce - 16:09 Parma - Milano Centrale
		FR8820	Taranto - 17:09 Parma - Milano Centrale
		FR8824	Lecce - 18:09 Parma - Milano Centrale
		FR8830	Bari Centrale - 23:09 Parma - Milano Centrale

The following trains use this route and route IT23/76 on a limited number of days in August 2023:

D1		FR9505	05:00 Milano Centrale - Salerno
D1		FR9603	05:40 Milano Centrale - Napoli Centrale
D1		FR9511	06:00 Milano Centrale - Lecce
D2		FR9573	21:05 Milano Centrale - Reggio di Calabria Centrale
D3		FR9556	Napoli Centrale - 20:36 Bologna Centrale - Milano Centrale
D3		FR9662	Napoli Centrale - 20:56 Bologna Centrale - Milano Centrale
D3		FR9810	Pescara Centrale - 21:18 Bologna Centrale - Milano Centrale
D3		FR9560	Lecce - 21:36 Bologna Centrale - Milano Centrale
D3		FR9668	Napoli Centrale - 21:56 Bologna Centrale - Milano Centrale
D3		FR9592	Salerno - 22:38 Bologna Centrale - Milano Centrale
D2		FR9672	Roma Termini - 22:56 Bologna Centrale - Milano Centrale

D1: 8 to 11 August 2023

D2: 10 August 2023

D3: 7 to 10 August 2023

Parma (2° Bivio Parma Est) - 1° Bivio Parma Est

[45] (ERA-R 157A5; S+W 35B3) IT23/74

This connection south of Parma links the Linea Tradizionale with 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) IT23/75

This connection north of Modena links the Linea Tradizionale with the Linea AV/AC. It is not normally used by passenger trains, but is occasionally used for diversions.

Bivio Castelfranco Est: Castelfranco Emilia - Bologna Centrale

[45, 202] (ERA-E 83A1; ERA-R 157B4; S+W 48A1) IT23/76

Most high-speed trains beween Modena and Bologna are to and from the Ancona line, so use the ground-level platforms at Bologna Centrale. The following use the connections between the Linea Tradizionale and Linea AV/AC at Castelfranco Est, in order to use the low-level platforms and call at Modena.

		FR9301	Mantova - 06:47 Modena - Roma Termini
		FR9303	Milano Centrale - 07:41 Modena - Roma Termini
		FR9328	Roma Termini - 21:51 Bologna Centrale - Mantova
		FR9330	Roma Termini - 22:16 Bologna Centrale - Milano Centrale

The additional trains running via route IT23/73 in August 2023 also use this route.

Anzola dell'Emilia: PM Anzola - PM Lavino

[45] (ERA-E 83A1; ERA-R 158B5; S+W 144A2) IT23/77

This connection from the Linea AV/AC to the to the Linea Tradizionale, just north of Bologna, is normally used by FR trains to and from the Ancona line which are non-stop between Milano and Bologna or only calling at Reggio Emilia AV.

Bologna S Viola - Bologna Centrale - Bologna S Ruffillo - Bivio Emilia

[45,46] (ERA-E 83A4-B4; ERA-R 156B5-156C4; S+W 144B3-144C4, not shown in full) IT23/78

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.

Bologna Corticella (Bivio Navile) - Bologna Centrale (Bivio Venezia)

[55] (ERA-E 83A4; ERA-R 156B5; S+W 144C2-144B3, shown as under construction) IT23/79

High-speed trains beween 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

(ERA-E 83A3-A4; ERA-R 156B5-156C5; S+W 144A2-144C3) IT23/81

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 Cintura is expected to be used on several weekends during 2023 by long-distance trains between Milano and Venezia, as a result of engineering work between Verona and Padova in connection with construction of the Linea AV/AC.

These routes were used on 28 January 2023, 25 & 26 February, 11 & 12 March, 15 & 16 April, and 6 & 7 May 2023.

Further diversions are scheduled for the afternoon of 29 July and all day on 30 July 2023 and further dates may be announced.

PM 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 may use route IT23/77.

Trains diverted on 29 and 30 July 2023:

• From Milano Centrale: FR9705 07:15 SuO, FR9709 08:15 SuO, FR9711 08:45 SuO, FR9723 11:45, FR9731 13:45, FR9735 14:45, FR9741 15:45 SuO, FR9747 16:45 SuO, Italo8995 18:35
• From Padova: EN233 05:04 SuO, FR9718 09:16 SuO, FR9724 11:16 SuO, FR9732 13:16, FR9740 15:16, FR9744 16:16, FR9752 18:16

EN233 is also diverted via this route when leaving Wien Hbf on 5 August 2023. The last station at which passengers may join the train is Villach Hbf, 01:34.

Bivio Tavernelle - Bologna Corticella

This route between the Verona and Padova lines is used by trains not calling at Vicenza and with a much extended journey time between Verona and Padova.

Trains diverted on 29 and 30 July 2023:

• From Verona Porta Nuova: Italo8973 08:49 SuO, FR9707 09:15 SuO, FR9715 10:39 SuO, FR9717 11:09 SuO, Italo8981 12:49 SO, EC1281 13:13, FR9727 14:09, FR9743 17:39, FR9749 18:39, Italio8993 18:49, FR9755 20:09, FR9757 20:39, Italo8997 20:49, FR9763 22:12
• From Padova: FR9702 06:46 SuO, FR9708 SuO 07:46, FR9713 08:16 SuO, Italo8976 09:26 SuO, FR9728 12:16, FR9736 14:16, Italo8984 14:26, Italo8986 15:26, FR9748 17:16, EC1280 17:23, FR9750 17:46, Italo8992 18:26, FR9758 19:16, FR9762 20:16

Bologna S Ruffillo - Bivio Emilia

(ERA-R 158C4; S+W 144C3) IT23/82

This connection from the Direttissima Bologna - Firenze to the Linea AV/AC has not been used since the line through the underground platforms at Bologna Centrale opened. As a result of engineering work on the Direttissima Bologna - Firenze passengers on some IC trains are 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 to/from the Direttissima at Bivio Emilia is underground grade separated which is not reflected in the Schweers + Wall Atlas.

D1		IC1517	16:41 Bologna Centrale - Firenze Campo di Marte
D1		IC1519	20:45 Bologna Centrale - Firenze Campo di Marte
D1		IC1516	19:47 Firenze Campo di Marte Bologna Centrale

D1: Until 10 September, also 23 September, 7, 14 & 21 October and 11 November 2023