Good afternoon everyone! I'm here today to propose you my beloved Brescia-Iseo-Edolo Railway, in TSW. We're in Northern Italy, Lombardy Region & Brescia Povinciality, on the picturesque Lake Iseo (Sebino) and historical Camonica Valley. The route represents one of the most characteristic and interesting lines (due to its location and valuable landscape/scenery) in my country. Furthermore, the first third of route passes through the Franciacorta Territory, famous for its wines! An exciting and challenging journey, starting from Brescia city centre, crossing its northwestern suburbs, passing through the iconic Franciacorta vineyards, alongside Lake's eastern coast; reaching the highest point of the Camonica Valley and "Adamello" (near Tirano and Bernina Line). Along the way, you'll have to manage Trenord's Suburban, Regional and RegioExpress services, in addition to the iconic "Flavors Train" railtour. Braving some steepy climbs, impressive passages overlooking the lake and within tunnels. This is my Brescia-Iseo-Edolo Railway! GENERAL FEATURES - 103km(64mi) mainline length. - 6km(4mi) Bornato-Rovato branch length. - Single track served, standard gauge (1435mm/4 ft 8+1⁄2 in), no electrification on site. - 2,1%(21x1000) max gradient. - 30km/h(19mph)-90km/h(56mph) max speed. 60-85km/h most of the time. The line is equipped with: - BCA(Axle-Count Block), CTC(Centralized Traffic Control) operated (DCO Iseo). - SSC[line](Conduct Support System) SSC/SCMT[units] safety system adopted. The line is managed by: - Ferrovienord s.p.a (FNM Group). Passenger service & railtours are operated by: - Trenord s.r.l. (FNM Group). STATIONS There are 33 active stations/stops + 6 closed. Including the 3x stops on Bornato-Rovato branch. The calls are, as follows: - Brescia (FN) terminal, detached from main station (Brescia RFI) - Brescia Borgo S. Giovanni - Brescia Violino (2023) - Mandolossa (closed) - Castegnato - Paderno Franciacorta - Passiriano ----Bornato-Rovato branch------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - Cazzago S. Martino (weekend only) - Rovato Centro (weekend only) - Rovato FN (weekend only) ----Mainline-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Bornato-Calino node station - Borgonato-Adro - Provaglio-Timoline - Iseo FN node/terminal (Km0) - Pilzone - Sulzano - Sale Marasino - Marone-Zone - Vello - Toline - Pisogne - Piancamuno-Gratacasolo - Artogne-Gianico (closed) - Darfo-Corna - Boario Terme - Erbanno-Angone (closed) - Pian di Borno - Cogno-Esine - Cividate-Malegno - Breno - Niardo-Losine (closed) - Ceto-Cerveno - Capo di ponte - Sellero (closed) - Cedegolo - Forno d'Allione (closed) - Malonno - Sonico - Edolo FN terminal Legend - Lake Iseo section Reference depots are: - DL Iseo (diesel units) - IMT Rovato (future hidrogen units) - Edolo shed (backup) ROUTE PLAN General route map, all stations/stops and major points/locations are indicated. PASSENGER SERVICE The following services are present (Sept. 2025+): - RE3 Trenord RegioExpress Brescia-Iseo-Edolo: 1Tp2h Brescia<->Edolo. Service run: 35-120min. Stops only at main stations. - R3 Trenord Regional Brescia-Iseo-Breno(Edolo): 1Tph Brescia<->Iseo, 1Tp2h Iseo<->Edolo. Service run: 50-130min. Stops at most stations. - R9 Trenord Regional Rovato-Bornato-Iseo: 6Tpd Rovato<->Iseo, weekends only! Service run: 35-40min. Stops at most stations. - S31 Trenord Suburban Brescia-Bornato-Iseo: 1Tph Brescia<->Iseo. Service Run: 60min. Stops every station. Sept. 2025 Timetable HERE - Trenord "Flavors Train" Iseo-Borgonato-Bornato(culinary railtour): 1Tpd each direction, February-December on weekends, holidays and selected weekdays. Iseo-Pisogne stretch occasional runs are also operated. "Flavors Train" Website HERE ROLLING STOCK The following stock are included: - ATR 115 GTW 2/6 & ATR 125 GTW 4/12 DMUs, Trenord Suburban, Regional & RegioExpress services. ATR 115 Number in service: 6 (8x TN fleet) Seats: 104+7 Cars: 2+1x diesel module Max speed: 140km/h(87mph) ATR 125 Number in service: 2 (20x TN fleet) Seats: 231+12 Cars: 4+2x diesel modules Max speed: 140km/h(87mph) - ALn 668 130/140 Series Diesel-mechanical railcars & DE.520 Diesel-electric loco + Bz 80 Railtour coaches, Trenord Suburban, Regional & "Flavors Train" services. ALn 668 Number in service: 2+6 (3+8 built, 3 demolished) Seats: 68 Cars: single (can be coupled to another railcar) Max speed: 95km/h(59mph) [130 Series], 120km/h(75mph) [140 Series] DE.520 Number in service: 1 (14x DB fleet) Cabins: 2 Rebuilt/Caterpillar powerplant Max speed 100km/h(62mph) Bz 80 Number in service: 2 (6x original fleet) Seats: 85 (total) Layouts: dining room+kitchen; dining room+bar/lounge LAMPOIL This route meets almost entirely the LAMPOIL process, except licenses and little knowledge outside Italy (interest about it is growing, however)! STATIONS PICS Up: Brescia station (Left: FN detached terminal; Right: RFI side general view). Located on Milan-Venice Mainline. A) Bornato-Calino station, node with Rovato-Bornato branch. B) New Rovato FN terminal. A) Provaglio-Timoline stop. B) Iseo station, main intermediate hub & terminal of some services. C) Sale Marasino (Monte Isola) station. D) Iconic Vello stop. Please, put your LIKE here first, Thank You! Continue Below...
Page 2 A) Pisogne station. B) Breno station, terminal of some services. C) Capo di Ponte station. D) Edolo station, northern terminus of the route. ROUTE PICS A) Brescia general view from its fortress. B) Bornato countryside & its castle (Franciacorta vineyards). C) Rovato general view (near Rovato Centro stop). D) Sebino Peat Bogs, bordering Lake Iseo southern area. A) Lake Iseo South-North view & Monte Isola. B) Iseo view & its diesel depot. C) Vello urban passage, famous railspotting location. D) Toline scenic lakeside passage(tunnels, overhanging sections, etc...). A) Pisogne & its promenade (end of lake area). B) Breno & its castle (Adamello/Rhaetian Alps in the background). C) Sonico Edison hydroelectric plant (many others in the area). D) Edolo panoramic view & upper Camonica Valley. ROUTE VIDEOS Route POV cabcar, R3 Trenord Edolo-Brescia service (ATR 115 GTW 2/6). Route and places introduction (there should be English subtitles). Some footage from lower part of the route. The "Flavours Train" railtour in action! All Credits to the Original Authors! Do you like my proposal? Put like and feel free to tell yours below! Caravatt .
Just think that almost the entire section from Iseo to Pisogne is like this! There are tunnels that literally pass under the villages, with points where you pass more than 60m above the lake!
Lainzer Tunnel in Vienna is like that and the one after that, Wienerwald Tunnel, passes under the hills and forests of Wienerwald thus forming a crucial part of new Westbahn from Vienna to St. Polten and further
Consider that here you will have some slope points and sections where you will be almost flat. I'm not familiar with the route you mentioned, but I think there are good slopes there too, right?
if you mean those tunnels, not sure what gradient they are... I know that after Meidling station in Vienna trains dive right into Lainzer Tunnel... as for gradients on the route, not sure if you mean Badner Bahn, it has an underground section shared with some trams, and outside of Vienna it mostly runs on dedicated tracks winding in between small towns, sometimes running on the streets of some of them, last section also street running in Baden and terminating on the main square there and here is my own video taken pretty recently, from the position of a passenger aka me - the whole route from Oper/Karlsplatz in the very center of Vienna all the way to the terminus in Baden, Josefsplatz:
However, I assure you that this route is different from the one you showed. It's much more like a hill/mountain course in the final two thirds. While in the first section it is substantially suburban. Here's a video for you, from Edolo to Brescia central station:
INTEGRATIONS Starting from January 2025, the new Alstom Coradia Stream H2O have arrived in Lombardy. The first HMUs in regular service in Italy! These will enter in service in 2026. For a total of 14 4-car+hydrogen/fuel cell module trains. They'll replace all diesel units here. A new dedicated depot/workshop has been built in Rovato; 3 new hydrogen refueling point are under construction in Rovato, Iseo and Edolo. This upgrade of the fleet is part of the H2iseO Project, started in 2020. First pics (HMU 214 001-003): "002" Test livery at Rovato depot. "002" at the new hydrogen refilling point in Rovato. "003" pseudo-definitive livery at Expo Ferroviaria 2023 (Milan). "001" during its transfer (Emilia Romagna area). Hope this was helpful. Have a good day!
An Italian route? I would love one with such diverse scenery. The length is a plus! The only thing is that their is no freight service…
Oh, I was wrong! You meant HMU speed! It will be limited to 140km/h, like ATRs. Its autonomy will be around 600km.
Another year, another TSW, bumping up my first proposal on the forum again! Fully updated to my latest standard and featuring a pleasant surprise... That "gogled" loco, also present in my country! Waiting for hydrogen traction debut... Hope you enjoy this in the meantime!
