Italy (Veneto) - 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
Verona west-north avoiding line: Castelnuovo del Garda (Bivio Fenilone) – Domegliara-Sant'Ambrogio (Bivio San Massimo)
[12, 50] (ERA-E 82C1; ERA-R 153B1; S+W 137B4) IT25/31
This curve enables trains to run between the Brescia and Trento lines without having to reverse at Verona Porta Nuova. Click on the thumbnail for a full-size map.
There are usually some excursions using this route on the dates around 8 December, typically leaving from Milano in the morning to reach the Christmas markets around Trento and Bolzano and returning in the late afternoon. In 2024 the following excursions are running:
- Trenitalia on all weekends from 29 November to 23 December (except the weekend 6-8 December) from Milano, Treviglio and Brescia to stations between Bolzano and Brennero;
- Verbano Express on 30 November from stations between Luino and Milano to Trento, Bolzano, and Bressanone;
- Ferrovie Turistiche Italiane on 1 December from stations between Milano and Brescia to Trento (timings);
- Associazione Rotabili Storici Milano Smistamento on 14 December from Milano and Brescia to Trento and Bolzano (timings);
- Trenord on 14 December from Milano, Treviglio, and Brescia to Bolzano.
Since December 2024 the following trains run regularly on this route.
| R2691/2693 | Milano Porta Garibaldi – 08:26 Peschiera del Garda – Bolzano/Bozen | ||
| R2695/2697 | Bolzano/Bozen – 18:02 Rovereto – Milano Porta Garibaldi |
Verona west-south avoiding line: Castelnuovo del Garda (Bivio Fenilone) – Buttapietra or Dossobuono (Bivio Santa Lucia)
[12, 51] (ERA-E 82C1; ERA-R 153B1; S+W 137B4) IT25/32
This curve enables trains to run between the Brescia and Bologna lines without having to reverse at Verona Porta Nuova. It is typically used by a train pair in the summer, called Freccia Orobica.
Due to maintenance work on the Linea tradizionale between Milano and Bologna, all EuroCity (EC), InterCity (IC) and InterCityNotte (ICN) trains between Torino or Milano and Bologna are diverted on this curve on weekends 11&12 January 2025, and do not call at Lodi, Piacenza, Parma, Reggio Emilia, and Modena.
| D1 | R18125 | 08:17 Brescia – Pesaro | |
| D1 | R18126 | Pesaro – 21:04 Nogara – Brescia |
D1: From 15 June to 31 August
Castelnuovo del Garda (Bivio Fenilone) – Verona Porta Nuova
[1, 12] (ERA-E 82C1, not shown; ERA-R 153B1; S+W 137B4) IT25/33
There is a route between Verona Porta Nuova and the main line to Brescia and Milano via Verona Porta Nuova Scalo.
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.
It may be used by trains to and from platforms 10, 11 and 12 at Verona Porta Nuova (on the south side of the station), but there are few of them. The following are scheduled to use this route.
| SSuX | ITA8951 | Brescia – 06:52 Peschiera del Garda – Roma Termini | |
| SSuX | FR8503 | Brescia – 09:09 Peschiera del Garda – Roma Termini | |
| SSuX | R2608 | 06:55 Verona Porta Nuova – Milano Centrale | |
| SuX | R2620 | 07:43 Verona Porta Nuova – Milano Centrale | |
| D1 | SuX | RV3540/3542 | Venezia S. Lucia – 08:47/49 Verona Porta Nuova – Desenzano del Garda-Sirmione |
| SSuO | R2684 | 19:20 Verona Porta Nuova – Brescia |
D1: 15 June - 14 September
Domegliara-Sant'Ambrogio (Bivio San Massimo) – Verona Porta Nuova
[5, 50] (ERA-E 82C1, not shown; ERA-R 153B1; S+W 137B4) IT25/34
There are two routes from the Trento line into Verona Porta Nuova, which divide at Bivio San Massimo. The connection used by most trains joins the Brescia line from the north.
The alternative route passes beneath the Brescia line and joins the line from Bologna at Verona Porta Nuova Scalo. This is used by trains between the Trento line and platforms 8 to 12 at Porta Nuova. Through trains between the Bologna and Trento lines mostly use this route.
The following trains are scheduled via Verona Porta Nuova Scalo.
| SuX | FR8505 | Bolzano/Bozen – 05:57 Rovereto – Roma Termini | |
| SuX | FR8513 | Bolzano/Bozen – 06:36 Rovereto – Roma Termini | |
| SuX | ITA8953 | Bolzano/Bozen – 07:27 Rovereto – Roma Termini | |
| SuX | FR8507 | Bolzano/Bozen – 07:57 Rovereto – Roma Termini | |
| D1 | SO | FR8805 | Bolzano/Bozen – 08:41 Rovereto – Pescara Centrale |
| SSuX | R16667 | Bolzano/Bozen – 10:36 Domegliara-S. Ambrogio – Verona Porta Nuova | |
| SuX | IC611 | Bolzano/Bozen – 12:54 Rovereto – Bari Centrale/Pescara Centrale | |
| RV3841 | Bolzano/Bozen – 13:56 Domegliara-S. Ambrogio – Bologna Centrale | ||
| FR8519 | Bolzano/Bozen – 13:57 Rovereto – Sibari | ||
| RJ83 | München Hbf – 14:19 Rovereto – Bologna Centrale/Ancona | ||
| RV3843 | Brennero/Brenner – 15:50 Domegliara-S. Ambrogio – Bologna Centrale | ||
| FR8525 | Bolzano/Bozen – 15:57 Rovereto – Napoli Centrale | ||
| RV3845 | Brennero/Brenner – 17:56 Domegliara-S. Ambrogio – Bologna Centrale | ||
| FR8529 | Bolzano/Bozen – 17:57 Rovereto – Roma Termini | ||
| RJ87 | München Hbf – 18:19 Rovereto – Bologna Centrale | ||
| D2 | ITA8965 | Bolzano/Bozen – 18:59 Rovereto – Roma Termini | |
| RV3847 | Brenner/Brennero - 19:56 Domegliara-S Ambrogio - Verona Porta Nuova | ||
| SSuX | R16705 | Bolzano/Bozen – 20:32 Domegliara-S. Ambrogio – Verona Porta Nuova | |
| SSuX | R16711 | Bolzano/Bozen – 22:32 Domegliara-S. Ambrogio – Verona Porta Nuova | |
| SuX | RJ88 | Bologna Centrale – 09:01 Verona Porta Nuova – München Hbf | |
| SSuX | R16610 | 12:06 Verona Porta Nuova – Bolzano/Bozen | |
| RJ84 | Venezia S. Lucia – 13:01 Verona Porta Nuova – München Hbf | ||
| FR8510 | Sibari – 14:20 Verona Porta Nuova – Bolzano/Bozen | ||
| D2 | ITA8958 | Roma Termini – 14:55 Verona Porta Nuova – Bolzano/Bozen | |
| RJ82 | Ancona/Bologna Centrale – 14:58 Verona Porta Nuova – Brennero/Brenner | ||
| RV3844 | Bologna Centrale – 15:50 Verona Porta Nuova – Brennero/Brenner | ||
| RV3846 | Bologna Centrale – 17:50 Verona Porta Nuova – Brennero/Brenner | ||
| SX | FR8520 | Roma Termini – 18:20 Verona Porta Nuova – Bolzano/Bozen | |
| RV3848 | Bologna Centrale – 19:50 Verona Porta Nuova – Brennero/Brenner | ||
| SSuX | R16690 | 21:06 Verona Porta Nuova – Bolzano/Bozen |
D1: From 15 June to 14 September
D2: Daily 28 July - 31 August, SSuO 29 November - 13 December
Buttapietra or Dossobuono (Bivio Santa Lucia) – Verona Porta Nuova
[5, 51, 202, 204] (ERA-E 82C1, not shown; ERA-R 153B1; S+W 137B4) IT25/35
There are two routes from the Bologna and Mantova lines into Verona Porta Nuova, which divide at Bivio Santa Lucia. One route runs south of the locomotive depot via Verona Porta Nuova Scalo and the other runs on an embankment north of the locomotive depot. All platforms at Verona Porta Nuova are accessible from both routes but the embankment line is by far the preferred route.
Departures from Verona via the southern route can be observed by how the points are set at the platform end. If it can be observed, the number below the signal aspect indicates which route is to be taken. Routes are always numbered from left to right, so the route south of the locomotive depot is numbered 1 while the normal passenger route north of the depot is 2.
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.
The following trains are scheduled via Verona Porta Nuova Scalo.
| D2 | ITA8958 | Roma Termini – 13:46 Bologna Centrale – Bolzano/Bozen | |
| RV3844 | Bologna Centrale – 15:17 Isola della Scala – Brennero/Brenner | ||
| RV3848 | Bologna Centrale – 19:17 Isola della Scala – Brennero/Brenner | ||
| RV3465 | 12:26 Verona Porta Nuova – Bologna Centrale | ||
| RV3841 | Bolzano/Bozen – 14:26 Verona Porta Nuova – Bologna Centrale | ||
| SuX | R16113 | 15:16 Verona Porta Nuova – Bologna Centrale | |
| D3 | SuX | R16343 | 17:17 Verona Porta Nuova – Bologna Centrale |
| D4 | R16289 | 17:31 Verona Porta Nuova – Mantova |
D2: Daily 28 July - 31 August, SSuO 29 November - 13 December
D3: Until 26 July and from 24 August
D4: From 30 March to 25 October
Venezia avoiding line: Venezia Mestre Ospedale or Venezia Carpenedo (Confluenza UD/TS) – Mira-Mirano (G.S. Mestre AC)
[D] (ERA-E 82C2; ERA-R 154A1; S+W 138B3) IT25/36
This curve allows trains to run between the Treviso or Trieste and Padova lines without reversing at Venezia Mestre.
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.
It is typically used by overnight trains between Italy and Austria via Tarvisio. These run with no advertised stops between Bologna or Padova and Villach.
Spinea – Mogliano Veneto (Bivio Marocco)
[14, ERT 88](ERA-E 82C2; ERA-R 154A1; S+W 138A3-138B2) IT25/37
This is a reinstated section of the Venezia Cintura providing an alternative route between Venezia Mestre and the Treviso line to facilitate access to platforms numbered 8 or higher at Venezia Mestre. Note that platform 8 can be accessed from either route but the RJ below is booked into 11, and, in several occasions in the past, it still took this alternative route despite being late, with the driver once advising it is scheduled for crew route knowledge.
| RJ131 | Wien Hbf – 13:33 Treviso Centrale – Venezia S. Lucia | ||
| D1 | ICN770 | Trieste Centrale – 21:19 Treviso Centrale – Roma Termini |
D1: SO 25 January - 6 April, daily 28 September - 13 December
In future years other RJ trains may use this route. Note RailJet services are not shown in In Treno, but can be found in table 88 of the European Rail Timetable and appear on the Interrail app journey planner. Tickets for RJ trains in Italy cannot be booked via the Trenitalia website or App, but they can be booked via the ÖBB website and App.
Routes used occasionally for diversions
Padova west-south avoiding line: Mestrino (G.S. Montà) – Padova Campo Marte
[5, 51] (ERA-R 153C1; S+W 138B1) IT25/39
This west to south curve allows trains to run between the Verona and Bologna lines without reversal at Padova. It is occasionally used for diversions if the direct line between Verona and Bologna is blocked.
This curve is used by excursions between Milano, Treviglio, Brescia and Abano Terme and Terme Euganee on 24-26 January and 14-16 February 2025, further details from FSNews.
Padova north-south avoiding line: Vigodarzere (G.S. Altichiero) – Padova Campo Marte
[5, 226] (ERA-R 153C1; S+W 138B1) IT25/40
This north-to-south curve allows trains from Bologna to continue north without reversal at Padova. Between December 2023 and February 2024, it was used both ways by an overnight train from Roma to Calazo, operated by Treni Turistici Italiani. A similar train ran during summer 2024, but reversing at Padova and not using the obscure route. It seems this train is not running during 2025, but it might run in 2026.
