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

Introduction

This list is based on the timetable in force from 15 June 2025. Although the timetable is shown as valid until 13 December 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 on the high-speed line and two are grade-separated on the old main line as well (Piacenza Ovest and Castelfranco Est).

In headings to each section below, junctions and the next open station on the old main line are listed in the order they would be passed by a southbound train. In all cases 1° Bivio (sometimes just Bivio) is on the high-speed line and 2° Bivio is on the old main line.

Bivio Piacenza Ovest – P.M. Piacenza Ovest – Piacenza

[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.

All high-speed trains normally running the full lenght of the Milano – Bologna high speed line will use this connection and Castelfranco Est (IT25/76) between 11 and 17 August due to maintenance work on the Linea AV/AC; the trains listed in the Fidenza Ovest entry (IT25/73) normally use that connection and the Linea Tradizionale between Fidenza and Bologna and will continue to do so in that period.

In addition the following trains use this connection.

		FR9303	Milano Centrale – 06:00 Milano Rogoredo – Roma Termini
D1	MSuO	FR8803	07:35 Milano Centrale – Bologna Centrale/Bari Centrale
		FR8823	17:50 Milano Centrale – Pescara Centrale
		FR8825	18:50 Milano Centrale – Ancona
		FR8802	Ancona – 08:44 Piacenza – Milano Centrale
		FR9330	Roma Termini – 23:52 Piacenza – Milano Centrale

D1: 23 June - 14 September

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 – 2° Bivio/P.P. Fidenza Ovest – Fidenza

[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	MSuX/daily	FR8803	07:50 Milano Centrale – Pescara Centrale/Bari Centrale
D2		FR8809	11:50 Milano Centrale – Lecce
D3		FR8819	15:50 Milano Centrale – Bologna Centrale/Bari Centrale
		FR8829	19:50 Milano Centrale – Ancona
D4	FSO	FR9561	Milano Centrale – 22:55 Milano Rogoredo – Lecce
D4	SSuO	FR9562	Lecce – 06:34 MSuO 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/Bari Centrale – 17:15 Parma – Milano Centrale
		FR8824	Lecce – 18:15 Parma – Milano Centrale
D2		FR8830	Bari Centrale/Pescara Centrale – 23:15 Parma – Milano Centrale

D1: MSuX 23 June - 14 September, then daily

D2: not 15 June - 14 September

D3: not 28&29 July and 4-6 August

D4: typically runs around holiday periods, known to run 4 July - 15 September

Parma – 2° Bivio/P.C. 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.

Bivio Modena Ovest – Quattro Ville Sud – Modena

[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.

Castelfranco Emilia – Deviatoio interconnessione Castelfranco – Bivio Castelfranco Est

[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.

All high-speed trains normally running the full lenght of the Milano – Bologna high speed line will use this connection and Piacenza Ovest (IT25/71) between 11 and 17 August due to maintenance work on the Linea AV/AC; the trains listed in the Fidenza Ovest entry (IT25/73) normally use that connection and the Linea Tradizionale between Fidenza and Bologna and will continue to do so in that period.

In addition 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.

D1	daily/SuX	FR9301	Mantova – 06:47 Modena – Roma Termini
		FR9303	Milano Centrale– 07:42 Modena – Roma Termini
D1	daily/SX	FR9328	Roma Termini – 21:51 Bologna Centrale – Mantova
		FR9330	Roma Termini – 22:16 Bologna Centrale – Milano Centrale/Rogoredo

D1: FR9301 SuX and FR9328 SX 15 June - 14 September

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 P.M. 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.

The following trains are scheduled on this route:

D1	FR8809	Milano Centrale – 13:53 Reggio Emilia – Lecce
D2	FR35674	11:18 Bologna Centrale – Milano Centrale
D3	FR35676	12:18 Bologna Centrale – Milano Centrale
D1	FR8830	Bari Centrale/Bologna Centrale – 22:18 Bologna Centrale – Milano Centrale

D1: 15 June - 14 September

D2: 21-25 July and 28 July - 1 August

D3: 21-25 July and 30 July - 1 August

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 and thus use the ground-level platforms.

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

[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, 4-5 October, 18-19 October, 25-26 October, 1 - 2 November, 15-16 November, 22-23 November, 29-30 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.

From 18 to 25 August, the roughly half-hourly regional trains between Bologna and the Padova line will originate/terminate in Bologna Arcoveggio.

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.

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.