Italy (Sardegna) - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services

Introduction

This list is based on the timetable in force from 15 December 2024. Although the timetable is shown as valid until 14 June 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

Ozieri-Chilivani avoiding line: Giave (deviatoio Chilivani lato Macomer) – Ploaghe (deviatoio Chilivani lato Porto Torres)

[360] (ERA-E 85B3; ERA-R 159B4; S+W 114D1) IT25/211

This south to west curve is used by trains between the Cagliari and Sassari lines if not calling at Ozieri-Chilivani.

D1	SuX	R4826	Cagliari – 12:27 Macomer – Sassari
D1	SuX	R4834	Cagliari – 20:24 Macomer – Sassari
D1	SuX	R4825	06:26 Sassari – Cagliari
D1	SuX	R4837	Sassari – 19:23 Ploaghe – Cagliari

D1: Until 14 April

D2	SuX	R4826	Cagliari – 12:32 Macomer – Sassari
D2	SuX	R4834	Cagliari – 20:29 Macomer – Sassari
D2	SuX	R4825	06:37 Sassari – Cagliari
D2	SuX	R4837	Sassari – 19:27 Ploaghe – Cagliari

D2: From 15 April

Ferrovie della Sardegna obscure services

Limited services, marketed as Il Trenino Verde della Sardegna, normally operate over the following Ferrovie della Sardegna lines. Excursions are more frequent during the summer, but also run in spring and autumn. Details are shown on website www.treninoverde.com, but it should be noted that these may vary in practice, particularly if there are insufficient advance bookings. It is also possible to charter trains.

Proposals to close all lines which do not have year-round passenger traffic have been dropped in favour of plans to rehabilitate them, but some have been shut for over five years. Traffic was suspended from 24 June 2016 between Laconi and Sorgono and between Seui and Arbatax, because of the poor condition of some bridges. The line between Gairo and Arbatax re-opened for the 2017 season. Services resumed over the full length of the line between Macomer and Bosa Marina in 2021, but there was no service in 2022.

Changes in 2023 were that the service from Tempio Pausiana was extended from Luras to Arzachena, but the line thence to Palau remained without a service. Macomer to Bosa Marina was reinstated. The service between Mandas and Seui was cut back to Flumendosa (between Villanova Tulo and Betilli) and the service between Arbatax and Gairo was cut back to Lanusei.

In 2024 the service between Mandas and Seui was suspended. It is unclear if line between Macomer and Bosa Marina is operational.

Currently there are no passenger trains over the following Ferrovie della Sardegna lines.

• Palau Marina – Arzachena
• Sassari – Tempio Pausania
• Laconi – Sorgono
• Mandas – Lanusei

The advertised service in 2024 was the following.

Tempio Pausania – Arzachena

(ERA-E 85B3; ERA-R 159C5-159B5; S+W 113C1-113A3) IT25/212

Summer service from 14 May to 29 September:

D	SuO		09:00 Tempio Pausania – Luras
D	SuO		15:30 Tempio Pausania – Luras
D	SuO		10:00 Luras – Tempio Pausania
D	SuO		16:25 Luras – Tempio Pausania

Autumn service from 6 October to 8 December:

D	SuO		06:40 Tempio Pausania – Arzachena
D1	SuO		09:00 Tempio Pausania – Arzachena
D	SuO		16:00 Tempio Pausania – Arzachena
D	SuO		09:45 Arzachena – Tempio Pausania
D1	SuO		15:30 Arzachena – Tempio Pausania
D	SuO		19:00 Arzachena – Tempio Pausania

D1: 6 October – 20 October

Macomer – Bosa Marina

(ERA-E 85B2; ERA-R 159A3; S+W 114B3-114C3) IT25/213

It seems this line is suspended in 2024, though the Trenino Verde della Sardegna website shows the following service.

Summer service from 19 June to 7 September:

D	WSO		06:00 Macomer – Bosa Marina
D	WSO		09:15 Bosa Marina – Macomer

Autumn service from 10 September to 29 October (TFSuO until 29 September, then only Sunday plus another day during the week):

D	TFSuO/varying		09:30 Macomer – Bosa Marina
D	TFSuO/varying		15:30 Bosa Marina – Macomer

Mandas – Laconi

(ERA-E 85B1-B2; ERA-R 159B2; S+W 117A3-117A2) IT25/214

Excursions on this line run until 8 December every Sunday and public holiday, except 1 December.

D	SuO		09:00 Mandas – Laconi
D	SuO		16:30 Laconi – Mandas

Arbatax – Lanusei

(ERA-E 85B2-C2; ERA-R 159C2; S+W 117D1-117C2) IT25/215

Excursions on this line run until 13 October.

D	WSuO		09:00 Arbatax – Lanusei
D	WSuO		16:00 Lanusei – Arbatax