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

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Introduction

This list is based on the timetable in force from 10 December 2023. Although the timetable is shown as valid until 8 June 2024, 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 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.

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

[45] (ERA-E 80C4; ERA-R 156C5; S+W 52D3) IT24/71

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.

FR8823 17:50 Milano Centrale – Pescara Centrale
FR8825 18:50 Milano Centrale – Ancona
FR8802 Ancona – 08:33 Piacenza – Milano Centrale
FR9330 Roma Termini – 23:41 Piacenza – Milano Centrale

All high-speed trains via the Linea AV/AC used this connection 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) IT24/72

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 used this connection between 14 and 17 August 2023, due to maintenance work on the River Po viaduct. It was also used by trains of IT24/71 on the weekend between 30 October and 1 November 2023, due to maintenance work on the Linea Tradizionale between Reggio Emilia and Modena.

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

[45] (ERA-E 80C5; ERA-R 156C5; S+W 48A1) IT24/73

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.

FR8803 08:05 Milano Centrale – Bari Centrale
FR8809 12:05 Milano Centrale – Lecce
FR8819 16:05 Milano Centrale – Bari Centrale
FR8829 20:05 Milano Centrale – Ancona
FR8804 Ancona – 09:09 Parma – Milano Centrale
FR8806 Pescara – 10:09 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

This route and route IT24/76 were used by some trains on a limited number of days in August 2023.

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

[45] (ERA-R 157A5; S+W 35B3) IT24/74

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

It was used by all the trains of route IT24/73 on the weekends 30 October & 1 November 2023, 18 & 19 November, and 2 & 3 December 2023, due to maintenance work on the Linea Tradizionale.

1° Bivio Modena Ovest – Modena (2° Bivio Modena Ovest)

[45] (ERA-R 157B4; S+W 141C3) IT24/75

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.

It was used by all the trains of route IT24/73 on the weekends 30 October & 1 November 2023, and 18 & 19 November 2023, due to maintenance work on the Linea Tradizionale.

Bivio Castelfranco Est: Castelfranco Emilia – Bologna Centrale

[45, 202] (ERA-E 83A1; ERA-R 157B4; S+W 48A1) IT24/76

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 connections 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 – 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 IT24/73 in August 2023 also used this route.

Anzola dell'Emilia: PM Anzola – PM Lavino

[45] (ERA-E 83A1; ERA-R 158B5; S+W 144A2) IT24/77

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 IT24/81 starting 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 PM Santa Viola/PM Reno to reach them instead of this route.

Bologna S Viola – Bologna Centrale – Bivio Emilia

[45,46] (ERA-E 83A4-B4; ERA-R 156B5-156C4; S+W 144B3-144C4, not shown in full) IT24/78

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) IT24/79

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

(ERA-E 83A3-A4; ERA-R 156B5-156C5; S+W 144A2-144C3) IT24/81

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.

These routes were used in 2023 on 28 January, 25 & 26 February, 11 & 12 March, 15 & 16 April, 6 & 7 May, 29 & 30 July, 27 to 29 December; and in 2024 on 8, 14, 22, 27 January.

Diversions in 2024 are expected on 23 & 24 March, 6 & 7 April, from 31 July to 20 August, and around 10 December. Additional diversions during the evening after 20:00 are expected on 17 February, 18 February, 25 February, 25 March, 15 April, 13 May, 25 May, 15 June. These dates may vary depending on the actual work schedule and are generally confirmed a couple weeks in advance.

Similar diversions are very likely to take place during 2025 and 2026.

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 use also route IT23/77.

Trains diverted on the evening of 27 January:

  • From Milano Centrale: none
  • From Padova: none

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 the evening of 27 January:

  • From Verona Porta Nuova: Italo8995 20:02, FR36461 20:12, FR9757 20:48, FR35279 21:08, Italo8997 20:58, EN235 23:11
  • From Padova: EN233 04:59 (when leaving Wien Hbf on 27 January, the Cintura is traversed the next morning)

EN235/EN233 stop in Italy only to pick up/set down

Bologna S Ruffillo – Bivio Emilia

[46] (ERA-R 158C4; S+W 144C3) IT24/82

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. This seems to be no longer happening.

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.

See also