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

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.

D1		FR8823	17:50 Milano Centrale – Pescara Centrale/Ancona
D1		FR8825	18:50 Milano Centrale – Ancona
D2		FR8802	Ancona – 08:33/46 Piacenza – Milano Centrale
D2		FR9330	Roma Termini – 23:41/54 Piacenza – Milano Centrale

D1: Not 25-30 October

D2: Not 1-7 November; leaves Piacenza earlier on 13-15 September, 20-22 September, 22-24 November

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.

D1	SSuO	FR9303	Milano Centrale – 06:35 Piacenza – Roma Termini
D1	SSuO	FR8823	Milano Centrale – 18:20 Piacenza – Pescara Centrale
D1	SSuO	FR8825	Milano Centrale – 19:20 Piacenza – Ancona
D1	SSuO	FR8802	Ancona – 07:53 Reggio Emilia AV – Milano Centrale
D1	FSSuO	FR9330	Roma Termini– 22:56 Reggio Emilia AV – Milano Centrale

D1: 13-15 September, 20-22 September, 22-24 November

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.

D1		FR8803	08:05 Milano Centrale – Bari Centrale
D1		FR8809	11:50 Milano Centrale – Lecce
D1		FR8819	15:45 Milano Centrale – Bari Centrale
D1		FR8829	19:50 Milano Centrale – Ancona
D2		FR8804	Ancona – 09:18 Parma – Milano Centrale
D2		FR8806	Pescara/Ancona – 10:18 Parma – Milano Centrale
D2		FR8818	Lecce – 16:21 Parma – Milano Centrale
D2		FR8820	Taranto – 17:16 Parma – Milano Centrale
D2		FR8824	Lecce – 18:09 Parma – Milano Centrale
D3		FR8830	Bari Centrale – 23:09 Parma – Milano Centrale

D1: Not weekends 14&15 September, 21&22 September, 23&24 November (via IT24/75 only on the last weekend)

D2: Not weekends 14&15 September, 21&22 September, 23&24 November (via IT24/75 on all weekends)

D3: Not Friday to Sunday 13-15 September, 20-22 September, 22-24 November (via IT24/75)

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.

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

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

This connection west 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.

D1	SSuO	FR9303	Milano Centrale – 07:07 Reggio Emilia AV – Roma Termini
D1	SSuO	FR8803	Milano Centrale – 08:51 Reggio Emilia AV – Bari Centrale
D1	SSuO	FR8809	Milano Centrale – 12:51 Reggio Emilia AV – Bari Centrale
D1	SSuO	FR8819	Milano Centrale – 16:51 Reggio Emilia AV – Bari Centrale
D1	SSuO	FR8823	Milano Centrale – 18:50 Reggio Emilia AV – Pescara Centrale/Ancona
D1	SSuO	FR8825	Milano Centrale – 19:50 Reggio Emilia AV – Ancona
D1	SSuO	FR8829	Milano Centrale – 20:51 Reggio Emilia AV – Ancona
D2	SSuO	FR8802	Ancona – 07:37 Modena – Milano Centrale
D2	SSuO	FR8804	Ancona – 08:37 Modena – Milano Centrale
D2	SSuO	FR8806	Pescara – 09:37 Modena – Milano Centrale
D2	SSuO	FR8818	Lecce – 15:37 Modena – Milano Centrale
D2	SSuO	FR8820	Lecce – 16:37 Modena – Milano Centrale
D2	SSuO	FR8824	Lecce – 17:37 Modena – Milano Centrale
D2	FSSuO	FR8830	Bari Centrale – 22:37 Modena – Milano Centrale
D2	FSSuO	FR9330	Roma Termini– 22:43 Modena – Milano Centrale

D1: 23&24 November

D2: 13-15 September, 20-22 September, 22-24 November

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
D1		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

D1: Not 21&22 September and 8-10 November

Anzola dell'Emilia: P.M. Anzola – P.M. 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 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 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) 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.

Diversions in 2024 are expected from 31 July to 20 August, 16 to 18 November and 8 to 10 December. These dates may vary depending on the actual work schedule and are generally confirmed a couple weeks in advance with trains being sold by Trenitalia and Italo.

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 also use route IT24/77.

No trains are diverted on this route from 31 July to 20 August.

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.

All high speed trains between Verona and Padova are diverted on this route from 31 July to 20 August.

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.