Good afternoon everybody. Today I'm here to propose you another Italian route. A very particular one. We're located in northern Italy, specifically in the Independent Province of Bolzano. A few kilometers from the Austrian border. The route I propose to you today is the Fortezza-San Candido, better known as Pustertalbahn. A unique and spectacular journey that crosses the Pusteria Valley, along the Rienza river, crossing unique and spectacular mountain panoramas. I also remember the famous passage through the Fortezza Fort (excuse my pun) and the route that runs alongside three hydroelectric basins: Fortezza, Rio Pusteria and Valdaora. In fact, this railway is familiarly called here "The Three Dam Railway". It would be set in 2013. GENERAL FEATURES The route in question boasts 65 km / 40,3 mi of tracks + 8km / 5 mi of international section. The line is served by single track (standard gauge - 1435 mm/4 ft 8+1⁄2 in), electrified 3kV DC (the standard voltage of all ordinary Italian networks) and 15kV AC after the San Candido station. The entire path is equipped with Automatic Reversible Axle Count Block (B.ca) and ERTMS/ETCS level 2. The maximum gradient reaches 2.2% between Brunico and Perca-Plan de Corones. The maximum height of the route is reached at Dobbiaco station (1210 m). The line is managed by RFI (Italian Railway Network), as regards the infrastructure. The passenger service is operated by: - SAD s.p.a/AG, public-private transport company of the Italian South Tyrol area. - Trenitalia s.p.a ( national railway company ). - ÖBB Italia ( Austrian railway company). ROUTE AND STATIONS The route has 15 stations (2013), plus one under construction at the time. The stops are, as follows: - Fortezza (Franzensfeste), station located on the Brenner Line (Brennerbahn Süd), with which it shares the infrastructures. ---> Passage at 25 km/h throught Fortezza Fort, alongside the first dam - Rio Pusteria (Mühlbach), alongside the second dam - Vandoies (Vintl) - San Gismondo (Chienes/Kiens) - Casteldarne (Ehrenburg) - San Lorenzo (St. Lorenzen) - Brunico (Bruneck), Intermediate station of the route - Brunico Nord (Bruneck Nord), Just opened in 2013 - Perca-Plan de Corones (Percha-Kronplatz), Connection with the namesake cable car - Valdaora-Anterselva (Olang-Antholz) ---> Passage next to the third dam - Monguelfo-Valle di Casies (Welsberg) - Villabassa-Braies-Val di Braies (Niederdorf-Prags) - Dobbiaco (Toblach) - San Candido (Innichen), Terminus of the Italian section of the route. Beginning of the San Candido-Sillian international section. Neutral section 3kV Dc <---> 15kV AC - Versciaco-Elmo (Vierschach-Helm), under construction in 2013, not operational - Prato alla Drava (Winnebach), Last station on Italian territory Italian-Austrian border. Each station has 1/2 platforms, except for: - Fortezza (4), Including two used by SAD for this route. - Brunico (3) - Dobbiaco (3) - San Candido (4), Including two used by SAD for this route. ROUTE PLAN PASSENGER SERVICE There are different types of passenger service on this route: - SAD Regional Service, from Bolzano to Sillian and from Sillian to Bolzano, with 1 train per hour in each direction (stops all stations). - SAD Local Commuter Service, from San Candido to Brunico, from Brunico to San Candido - From Brunico to Fortezza, from Fortezza to Brunico. Service with a train every 30/40 minutes (stops all stations). - Trenitalia Intercity Night service (ICN), with only one weekly service (Saturday), from Rome Termini to San Candido (stops only in Fortezza and San Candido). Service in two parts: the arrival in San Candido in the morning (6/6.30 AM), and then returning to Rome the same evening (8.30/9 PM). During the summer and Christmas holidays a second service is scheduled on Sunday. - ÖBB City Shuttle service, From Lienz to Bolzano, via San Candido and from Bolzano to Lienz, via San Candido. The service operates twice a week on this route (Friday and Sunday), with an additional service on Saturdays during the summer and Christmas periods. It's a ride in the morning, returning to Austria in the afternoon. ROLLING STOCK On this route, the following rolling stock is used: - ETR 155/170 "Flirt" SAD EMU, fitted with 3kV DC and 15kV AC power supply. For SAD Regional and Commuter services. in SAD Südtirol livery. The only difference between the ETR 155 and 170 is the number of cars fitted. On the 155: 4, on the 170: 6. - ÖBB 1216 Taurus Electric locomotive, fitted with four-voltage AC/DC power supply. In ÖBB Italia livery. The following coaches are used for this service: - Bmpz-s coaches (3 coaches + cabcar formation), In ÖBB City Shuttle livery Continue below...
- FS E.402B Electric locomotive, for Trenitalia Intercity Night services In Intercity livery. The following coaches are used for this service: - UIC X Grand Comfort revamped (IC Night sleeper Coaches) and UIC Z4 (IC Night seating Coaches), in Intercity Night livery IMAGES AND KEY POINTS Some pictures of the ETR 170 and 155 in service on the Pustertalbahn. on the left the characteristic Fortezza station. Some pictures of the valley, with one of the three lakes present. View attachment upload_2024-4-14_19-39-38.jpeg The metal bridge at the exit of the Fortezza fort, the line literally runs through it! I also add a video that introduces the railway and the places it crosses: STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES STRONG POINTS - The route is long and non-linear. - The route presents a good timetable of both regional/cross-border and local commuter services. - The route has wonderful scenery and is quite simple to do. - Characteristic passage through an ancient military fortress. - The GTW FLIRT is already present in luzern-Sursee. It would just be enough to redo the interiors and the skin (I don't remember if the one already in TSW is dual voltage). - The Taurus 1216 is very similar to the DB 182 MRCE already present in the game. WEAK POINTS - The Intercity Night and City Shuttle service timetable is not constant during the week. - The line would see the absence of two stations, constructed after 2013. CONCLUSIONS If you like this beautiful country, this is the route for you! An enchanting journey through the Pusteria Valley, passing green meadows, dense coniferous forests, magnificent alpine lakes and small ancient villages on the slopes of the valley. Without forgetting the beautiful towns of Brunico and San Candido (which also host famous Christmas markets). An adventure for those who love quiet but challenging Alpine routes! Caravatt.
There is one cab ride available, even if it's just low resolution. (this would be important for creating the route)
Super nice Robert, thank you! That would be an interesting route for the game. But the choice of year is crucial.
Brilliant suggestion! I would love to see more routes that cross into 2 or more countries in the game... It gives other countries that aren't in TSW or countries that rarely appear a chance at appearing.
Yes, if they wanted to make an additional effort, they could also model the stations of Weitlanbrunn, Arnbach b. Sillian and Sillian into the route. It would only be 3/4 km more and you would also have the complete international section!
I forgot to mention in the suggestion that on this route, during peak traffic times on the Brenner Railway, some of the slow freight trains (car transporters and Shimmns mostly) were diverted onto this secondary route at the time. EDIT- Below I leave you the complete playlist. The POVs of the other two SAD lines are also present. LINK: PS. if you watch it on YouTube you can also find the other videos in the playlist.
Bring it on to the game I wonder which one of the Italian Roots going into the German Swiss and Austrian 15kv 16.7hz AC territory has a higher chance of making it into the game this one or the major one Gotthardbahn SBB-CFF-FFS Bellenz Mailand Hbf. Rolling Stock that can layer to KkStb Semmeringbahn & Voarlberg Bahn ÖBB Baureihe 1216 future 1822. Oddly the 1216 we'll need to use it's Italian pantograph 1.45m to run on Swiss Tracks. you do see this on Swiss trains going into Italy they simply use the same profile even though the strips are different Copper for Italy but Carbon for Switzerland
You mean my suggestion Gotthardbahn international Bellinzona Milano Centrale via Chiasso. When this one where is played on consoles Italian train safety systems play it like a normal American in British route however after Innichen German and Austrian Punktförmige Zugbeeinflussung rules apply. Change voltage Control Shift P open MCB Shift P lower Pans P raise pans which requires the game to say to continue the journey please change voltage
Thank you for telling me about that the reason why I brought up Bellinzona Milano Centrale segement because the community wanted an international route to introduce a new country from an existing one we have in game yours is going from Austria to Italy
