Good afternoon everybody. Today I want to propose you one of the most particular and fascinating routes in my country. This is the Circumetnea Railway or, as I call it, the "West Highlands of Italy". A fascinating and challenging journey, at the foot of one of the largest and most active volcanoes in Italy and Europe: Mount Etna. It dominates Catania plain, with its 3357 meters. This railway makes a semicircle, skirting the slopes of the volcano, passing on inland side. From city center of Catania to the small coastal village of Riposto, located on the coast, on the other side of volcano. This route crosses a classic suburban environment, and then goes up, encountering vineyards and small towns (such as Paternò and Bronte). Through some expenses of prickly pears and cacti, this reaches the famous "Sciare". The latter are nothing more than the ancient accumulations of solidified lava, which give life to a Martian landscape. The black of lava flows mixes with lichens and brooms of Mediterranean scrub. Then head down, towards coast, again. A journey to the most evocative and panoramic place in Sicily. An almost inaccessible place, which offers unique emotions. This is the Circumetnea Railway: Catania Borgo to Riposto! GENERAL FEATURES The route in question boasts 111km / 69mi of tracks. The line is served by single track (with the exception of crossing loops at stations), narrow gauge 950mm (3 ft 1+3⁄8 in Italian Meter Gauge), not electrified. The maximum gradient of this route reaches 3,6/3,8%. The maximum permitted speed ranges between 25km/h (16mph) and 70km/h (43mph). The route is equipped with traffic Light Block, Radio Block and BCA (Axle-Counter Block), along the entire route length. The new underground variant is already planned for introduction of the SCC. The line is managed by DGTPL (Italian Ministry of Infrastructures and Transports), as regards the infrastructure. The passenger service is operated by FCE s.a. (Public transport company of the Province of Catania and Sicily Region). ROUTE AND STATIONS The route has 34 stops (including the two terminus of Catania Borgo and Riposto), As well as other unused one. Some on the line, others bypassed with new route variations. The calls are, as follows: - Catania Borgo FCE (South-East terminal of the route, equipped with workshop, rolling stock depot (outdoors) and diesel refueling station). - Cibali - Nesima - Lineri - Misterbianco - Belpasso-Piano Tavola - Valcorrente - Giaconia - Paternò FCE (Terminal for suburban services) --->Urban area of S. Maria di Licodia - S. Maria di Licodia South - S. Maria di Licodia Centre --->Urban area of Biancavilla - Biancavilla Poggio Rosso - Biancavilla Centre - Biancavilla Colombo - Biancavilla Pozzillo --->Urban area of Ardano - Ardano Cappellone - Ardano Centre - Ardano Naviccia - Ardano North FCE (terminal for some services and sidings depot) - Bronte Casello 54 - Bronte FCE (rolling stock depot (now museum of historic trains)) - Maletto FCE - Gurrida - Randazzo FCE (terminal for some services and sidings depot) - Passo Pisciaro (Moio) - Solicchiata - Cerro - Linguaglossa - Piedimonte Etneo FCE - S. Venera - Mascali (Nunziata) - Villa di Giarre - Giarre FCE - Riposto FCE (North-East terminal of the route, equipped with workshop, rolling stock depot (covered) and diesel refueling station). Each station has 2/3 platforms, which also act as loops for train crossing. In some stations there are additional tracks for overnight storage of trains. Several other stops are closed. Some of them still retain the main building, others still have their sidewalks. However, tracks have been removed. Ardano Centro and Biancavilla urban area stops are underground. Catania Borgo and Bronte stations. The entrance to Paternò station and the steam locomotive "Le Meuse", exhibited at Catania terminal. S. Maria di Licodia, Ardano North and Biancavilla Pozzillo new stations. Riposto terminal, Randazzo and Giarre stations. ROUTE PLAN The route is represented by the "C" shape, which runs inland. Note variants built between 2009 and 2016. Some of these are underground, with related stations below ground level of the towns crossed. PASSENGER SERVICE See the timetable linked below, to discover pattern and cycle of services. LINK FCE TIMETABLE: https://old.circumetnea.it/linee_orari_ferrovia/orario al pubblico TRENI.pdf Note that there is no services that completely goes throught the route. The passenger services is divided into three main stretches: - Catania Borgo FCE - Paternò FCE (Suburban) - Paternò FCE - Randazzo FCE (turistic/connection) - Randazzo FCE - Riposto FCE (auxiliary) There is also a daily round trip from Catania Borgo to Ardano North. Please put your LIKE here first, thank you. Continue below...
ROLLING STOCK The following rolling stock can be seen on this route: - ADe FCE (Diesel-electric railcar), 11-20 series Type: Diesel railcar with electric traction Year: from 1973 Manufacturer: Fiat Ferroviaria s.p.a Gauge: 950mm (3 ft 1+3⁄8 in) Wheel arrangement: Bo' Bo' Power supply: 2 x 136 kW O.M.S.-Fiat flat 6 cylinders, turbocharged Max speed: 75km/h (47mph) Number of cars: 1 (can be used with a second ADe 11-20 in remote control). Seats: 56 Specimens: 10. 8 of which are operational, one demolished and one stored. As you can see from photos above, 4 specimens have received a revamping: - 4 units (ADe 15, 16, 18 and 19) revamped, with new LED front lights, FCE's white-green livery and new passenger interiors. The roof air conditioning unit was also updated. The remaining operational units have only been repainted and arranged: - 4 units (Ade 12, 14, 17 and 20), repainted in the original Orange-Cream livery and original vinyl seats was rebuilt. However, they are equipped with the old roof air conditioning unit. Unit 11 was destroyed in a bad accident (1984), while unit 13 is stored. - ADe FCE (Diesel-electric railcar), 21-25 series Type: Diesel railcar with electric traction Year: from 1991 Manufacturer: ITIN-Fiat Ferroviaria s.p.a Gauge: 950mm (3 ft 1+3⁄8 in) Wheel arrangement: Bo' Bo' Power supply: 2 x 160 kW IVECO I6 cylinders, turbocharged Max speed: 90km/h (56mph) Number of cars: 1 (can be used with a second ADe 21-25 in remote control). Seats: 54 Specimens: 5. 4 of which are operational and one is stored. 4 ADe 22-25 units have been repainted in FCE's white-green livery, while vinyl seats have been rebuilt. These specimens are awaiting a major revamping, which will equip them with new LED front lights and new interiors. The roof air conditioning unit will also be upgraded. The ADe 21 unit is stored. - Newag FCE "Vulcano" DMU, 001-004 series Type: Diesel-electric multiple unit Year: from 2016 Manufacturer: Newag Group Poland Gauge: 950mm (3 ft 1+3⁄8 in) Wheel arrangement: Bo'Bo'+ Bo'Bo' Power supply: 2 x 390 kW Cummins V6 cylinders, turbocharged Max speed: 100km/h (62mph) Number of cars: 2, locked Seats: 106 Specimens: 4, all operational Modern DMU, introduced to replace the now obsolete existing units. Delivery of another 4 units in the future (TBC) is expected, which will replace the ADe 11-20s. STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES STRONG POINTS - The line is long and non-linear (not at all!). - The route includes a constant but not sudden change of scenery: city, suburban, cultivated hills, Mediterranean scrub, volcanic etc... - There are many villages and points of historical, landscape and cultural interest on this line (such as Bronte, for example). - Stunning landscape, full of details and panoramic points. - Presence of the new underground section, between S. Maria di Licodia and Ardano. WEAK POINTS - The fullness of detail would require a lot of work to achieve (however there are also less "expensive" areas). - The Catania area is full of buildings, which would probably make game performance unstable. - The route doesn't have a high number of services during day, except in the first stretch: from Catania Borgo to Paternò. In fact, it is to be considered as a tourist line. IMAGES AND KEY POINTS Below here, I put some images of what you could see, crossing these places. VIDEO CONCLUSIONS One of the few narrow gauge routes (950mm) left in Italy. A fascinating journey among hills, overlooking the city of Catania. Climbing up and down the barren terrain beneath Mount Etna. Without forgetting dense Mediterranean scrub, chestnut and vine cultivations that you will find along the route. small villages, perched on hills and slopes, complete the landscape. A Mediterranean classic! This is Circumetnea Railway: Catania Borgo to Riposto! Caravatt.
