Italy (Liguria) - 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

Savona – San Giuseppe di Cairo

[144] (ERA-E 81A3; ERA-R 155C3; S+W 44B2-44C2) IT25/61

There are two separate routes between Savona and San Giuseppe di Cairo, via Ferrania and via Altare. Most trains non-stop from Savona to San Giuseppe di Cairo run via Ferrania whereas most trains non-stop from San Giuseppe di Cairo to Savona run via Altare. These arrangements may vary in practice.

Arquata Scrivia – Ronco Scrivia – Genova Piazza Principe or Genova Sampierdarena

[26, 30] (ERA-E 81A3; ERA-R 156A4; S+W 32D4-45A2) IT25/62

There are two railways between Genova and Arquata Scrivia, the original line to the east (Linea vecchia dei Giovi) and a newer fast line, largely in tunnels, to the west (Linea succursale dei Giovi). There are connections between the two lines in Arquata Scrivia, Genova Sampierdarena and Ronco Scrivia, plus a diveunder just south of Arquata Scrivia which is typically used by trains departing from lower numbered platforms (platforms numbered 4 or lower) towards the Linea vecchia.

Trains non-stop between Genova Piazza Principe and Arquata Scrivia, or stopping only at Ronco Scrivia, normally use the Linea succursale, while stopping trains use the Linea vecchia.

The diveunder south of Arquata Scrivia might be used by the following trains:

• From Arquata Scrivia: R12011 04:24, R12015 05:36 SuX, R12017 06:06;
• From Isola del Cantone: R12014 06:46 SuX, R12022 08:53 (last stop Rigoroso 09:05), R12068 20:17 SX (last stop Pietrabissara 20:23), R12070 20:53, R12074 21:53.

The following trains are scheduled to use the Linea vecchia between Arquata Scrivia and Ronco Scrivia, where they use the crossovers to the Linea succursale north of the station. Train IC519 is scheduled to use this connection to let another fast train past but travellers in early 2022 and March 2023 both reported that IC519 ran on the Linea succursale throughout, so it appears this routing is unreliable at best. Further reports on the routing of these trains would be welcomed by the compilers.

D1	SuX	RV3013	Milano Rogoredo – 08:10 Arquata Scrivia – Genova Brignole
D2	SO	IC1549	Milano Centrale – 10:16 Voghera – Savona
		IC519	Bardonecchia/Torino Porta Nuova – 19:16 Novi Ligure – Genova Brignole
D3	SuO	RV2108	Genova Brignole – 19:37 Ronco Scrivia – Torino Porta Nuova
D4	SuO	IC1588	Reggio di Calabria Centrale – 22:23 Genova Piazza Principe – Milano Centrale

D1: 21 July - 29 August

D2: not 21 July - 29 August

D3: 6 April - 14 September

D4: From 5 October

The line connecting the Linea succursale and Linea vecchia south of Ronco Scrivia is not normally used by passenger trains and very rarely for engineering work diversions. It is typically used used by an annual excursion in late September/early October from Genova to Ronco Scrivia. In 2025 the excursion runs on 4 October, departing Genova Brignole at 09:30 and Borgo Fornari, the last useful stop before the unusual route, at 10:35; the return leaves Ronco Scrivia at 18:39. This excursion is promoted by Fondazione FS.

Genova Bolzaneto (Bivio Rivarolo) – Genova Piazza Principe (Bivio Bersaglio)

[30, M45] (ERA-E 81C3; ERA-R 156A1; S+W 143A3) IT25/63

This spur enables trains using the Linea vecchia from Ronco Scrivia to join the Linea succursale and run directly to and from Genova Piazza Principe via the Granarolo tunnel, bypassing Genova Sampierdarena.

Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.

Previously used only for diversions, it gained daily passenger services in June 2021.

It is also used by the following trains.

		R2078	Genova Brignole – 11:25 Genova Piazza Principe – Piacenza
		R2090	Genova Brignole – 17:14 Genova Piazza Principe – Rimini
D1	SSuO	RV3079	Imperia – 17:34 Genova Piazza Principe – Milano Centrale
D2		RV3044/3344	Genova Brignole – 19:34 Genova Piazza Principe – Milano Centrale/Rogoredo
D3	SSuX	RV3046	21:03 Genova Piazza Principe – Voghera

D1: Not 21 July - 29 August

D2: From 18 June

D3: 1 June - 28 September

Ronco Scrivia (Bivio/P.C. Fegino) – Genova Sampierdarena (Bivio Polcevera)

[26, 30] (ERA-E 81A3, not shown; ERA-R 156A1; S+W 143A2) IT25/64

There are two routes into Genova from the Linea succursale dei Giovi from Arquata Scrivia. The main line runs direct to Genova Piazza Principe through the Granarolo tunnel, this route is an alternative joining the line from Ovada at Bivio Polcevera and continuing to Genova Sampierdarena.

Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.

Trains via route IT25/66 (below) run this way, when not routed via the Linea vecchia dei Giovi nor reversing in Genova Piazza Principe. Those trains diverge towards Genova Cornigliano before reaching Genova Sampierdarena.

D1	SSuO	RV3090	Bergamo – 08:06 Voghera – Ventimiglia
D2	SSuO	RV3090	Milano Porta Garibaldi – 09:03 Alessandria – Ventimiglia
D3	SSuO	RV3085	Gallarate/Voghera – 10:07 Tortona – Ventimiglia
D4	SSuO	RV3093/3053	Ventimiglia – 20:38 Arenzano – Bergamo/Milano Porta Garibaldi

D1: 29 March - 28 September except from 26 July to 24 August

D2: 26 July - 24 August

D3: 29 March - 28 September, originates in Voghera from 26 July to 24 August

D4: 29 March - 28 September, destination Milano Porta Garibaldi from 26 July to 24 August

Ronco Scrivia (Genova Sampierdarena Smistamento) – Genova Cornigliano (Deviatoio binario Curva)

[25, 26] (ERA-E 81C3; ERA-R 156A1; S+W 143A3) IT25/66

This route comprises a line through Genova Sampierdarena Smistamento and a north to west curve (“Curva Molini”) avoiding Genova Sampierdarena passenger station. It is used by trains between Arquata Scrivia and Savona, if not booked to call at Genova Piazza Principe.

Trains via this route also run on IT25/64, when not routed via the Linea vecchia dei Giovi.

Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.

D1	SSuO	R3001	Saronno – 07:07 Tortona – Taggia Arma
D1	SSuO	RV3090	Bergamo – 08:06 Voghera – Ventimiglia
D2	SSuO	RV3090	Milano Porta Garibaldi – 09:03 Alessandria – Ventimiglia
D3	SSuO	RV3085	Gallarate/Voghera – 10:07 Tortona – Ventimiglia
D3	SSuO	RV3087/3051	Ventimiglia – 18:47/19:23 Arenzano – Gallarate/Voghera
D1	SSuO	R3003	Taggia Arma – 20:13 Arenzano – Saronno
D4	SSuO	RV3093/3053	Ventimiglia – 20:38 Arenzano – Bergamo/Milano Porta Garibaldi

D1: 29 March - 28 September except from 26 July to 24 August

D2: 26 July - 24 August

D3: 29 March - 28 September, originates/terminates in Voghera from 26 July to 24 August

D4: 29 March - 28 September, destination Milano Porta Garibaldi from 26 July to 24 August

Genova Sampierdarena – Genova Brignole (Deviatoio estremo lato Genova Piazza Principe)

[M45] (ERA-E 81C3; ERA-R 156B1-156A1; S+W 143A3-143C4) IT25/67

In addition to the main line between Genova Sampierdarena and Genova Brignole (which includes two separate double-track tunnels between Genova Brignole and Genova Piazza Principe: “Galleria Traversata Vecchia” connecting the southern lower-numbered tracks, and “Galleria Traversata Nuova” connecting the northern higher-numbered tracks of the two stations), there is a separate low-level line via the former Genova Marittima Santa Limbania station, which diverges from the main line in Genova Sampierdarena and re-joins it inside the tunnels between Genova Brignole and Genova Piazza Principe with an underground grade-separated junction. Note that the underground grade-separated junction will be dismantled around June 2026 when the low-level line will directly reach the high-numbered platforms in Genova Brignole.

The low-level line is used by trains booked to use the sotterranea (underground) platforms 1 and 2 at Genova Piazza Principe and to pass through or call at Genova Via di Francia station. There are usually two to four trains each way hourly.

This route is only used by westbound trains since August 2021, because of long-running construction work; previously, it was used only by eastbound trains between September 2010 and August 2021.

Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.

Casella Deposito (Ferrovia Genova Casella)

(ERA-E 81A4; ERA-R 156B2; S+W 45A1) IT25/68

Trains to and from Casella Paese mostly reverse at the junction points at Casella Deposito. Those attaching or detaching carriages have been known to run into the depot.

Note that the Ferrovia Genova Casella is often closed due to maintenance work.

Riomaggiore – La Spezia Centrale

[31] (ERA-E 81B4; ERA-R 156C3; S+W 46A4) IT25/69

There are two different routes between Riomaggiore and La Spezia Centrale, both being reversibly-signalled single tracks. Trains generally observe left-hand running, as is usual in Italy. Accordingly, southbound trains normally use the inland route via the longer tunnel, whereas northbound trains run through the shorter tunnel and then follow the coast.

Routes used occasionally for diversions

Bretella Voltri-Borzoli: Genova Voltri (G.S. Genova Voltri) – Genova Costa di Sestri Ponente (Deviatoio estremo Genova Borzoli)

[121, M45] (ERA-R 156A1) IT25/70

This line, opened in 1997, directly connects the freight terminal in Genova Voltri and the line to Ovada. The line is mostly in a tunnel. In the future, part of this line will be used for a new line between Genova Voltri and Genova Sampierdarena.

It is very rarely used for diversions. Two train pairs were scheduled on this route in August 2024, due to the closure of the line between Genova Borzoli and Genova Sampierdarena.

Most of this route will be used from August 2025 for direct trains between Genova Voltri and Genova Sampierdarena, which will use a new line between Bivio/P.C. Corvi and Bivio Polcevera. The section between Bivio/P.C. Corvi and Deviatoio estremo Genova Borzoli connecting to the Ovada line will probably continue to be rarely used for diversions.