Good evening everyone. Today I'm here to propose my third Italian route. We're in Central/Eastern Italy, specifically between the territories of the Emilia Romagna and Marche region. The section in question is part of the larger Bologna-Ancona railway. In particular, this section goes from Rimini Centrale to Ancona, representing the second half of this line. The most scenic one, in my opinion. It's considered one of the busiest railways in Italy. This railway is familiarly called by us "The Holiday Railway", since it's widely used in the summer period to bring tourists from the cities of Northern Italy to the Romagna/Marche coast. This territory is characterized by a dense coastal urbanisation, with three important cities crossed: Rimini, Pesaro-Urbino and Ancona. The route is characterized by a purely city/suburban scenary in the first section, and then moves away from the coast in the central (hilly) area. Finally it runs a long, freer coastal stretch, where the tracks seem to touch the sea. Reaching up to Ancona. GENERAL FEATURES The route in question boasts 93km / 58mi of track. The line is served by double track (standard gauge - 1435 mm/4 ft 8+1⁄2 in), electrified 3kV DC (the standard voltage of all ordinary Italian networks). The entire path is equipped with Automatic Signal Repeat, Automatic Lock and SCC. The line is managed by RFI (Italian Railway Network), as regards the infrastructure. The passenger service is operated by: - Trenitalia s.p.a ( national railway company ) - Trenitalia - Tper s.c.a.r.l. ( Trenitalia department for the Emilia Romagna region) The freight service is operated by Mercitalia Rail s.p.a, Mercitalia Shunting & Terminal (Ancona harbor), DB Cargo Italia s.r.l and more private operators. ROUTE AND STATIONS The route has 15 stations, 14 of which are fully operational (including those at the beginning and end of the route). The stops are, as follows: - Rimini Centrale (Trenitalia and Tper rolling stock depot, rolling stock maintenance workshop), km111* - Rimini Miramare, km116* - Riccione, km121* - Misano Adriatico, km124* - Cattolica-San Giovanni-Gabicce, km129* Emilia Romagna ---> Marche - Pesaro (Trenitalia rolling stock yard), km144* - Fano (freight yard), km156* - Marotta-Mondolfo, km169* - Senigallia (freight yard), km178* - Marzocca, km185* - Montemarciano (refinery and freight yard), km190* - Falconara Marittima, km195* - Palombina (small station, served only by a few weekly trips), km198* - Ancona Torrette, km200* - Ancona (double yard: freight-intermodal and Trenitalia-RFI, with dedicated tracks towards the maritime intermodal terminal and the shipyard. There is also a depot and a rolling stock maintenance workshop), km 204* *Distance from route origin, Bologna (Km0) Each station has 2 full platforms, except for: - Rimini Centrale, with 7 platforms + 2 terminal platforms (Tper) - Pesaro (5) - Fano (4) - Marotta (3) - Senigallia with 3 (one of which can accommodate two trains simultaneously) - Falconara Marittima (4) - Ancona, with 7 platforms + 3 terminal platforms (regional services) ROUTE PLAN PASSENGER SERVICE There are different types of passenger service on this route: - Trenitalia Regional Service (R): from Rimini to Ancona, from Ancona to Rimini. From Bologna to Rimini, from Rimini to Bologna (AI only). from Pesaro to Rimini, from Rimini to Pesaro. From Pesaro to Ancona and from Ancona to Pesaro (stops all stations, 1 train every 20 minutes in each direction). - Trenitalia Fast Regional Service (RV): from Rimini to Ancona and from Ancona to Rimini (stops only the main stations, 1 train every 40/45 minutes in each direction). - Tper Regional Service (RTTPER): from Bologna to Rimini, from Rimini to Bologna (AI only). From Ravenna to Pesaro, through Rimini and From Pesaro to Ravenna, through Rimini (stops all stations, 1 train every hour). - Tper Fast Regional Service (RVTTPER): from Bologna to Ancona, through Rimini and Pesaro and From Ancona to Bologna, through Pesaro and Rimini (stops only the main stations, 1 train every 45 minutes). - Trenitalia Intercity Service (IC): from Bologna to Ancona, from Ancona to Bologna etc... (stops only in Rimini Centrale, Pesaro and Ancona, 1 train every 90 minutes). - Trenitalia Frecciarossa service (FR): from Venezia to Ancona, from Lecce to Ancona, from Bologna to Ancona and from Ancona to Bologna (stops only in Rimini Centrale, Pesaro and Ancona, 1 train every hour). ROLLING STOCK Below here, I list the most common units you can see on this route, but there are many more. - ETR 521/621 "Rock" EMU, for Regional and Fast Regional services Maximum line speed: 175 km/h - ETR 104 "Pop" EMU, for Regional services Maximum line speed: 160 km/h - ETR 324 "Jazz" EMU, for Regional services Maximum line speed: 160 km/h Continue below...
- FS E.464 Electric Locomotive, for Fast Regional services and Tper Fast Regional services Maximum line speed: 160 km/h The following carriages can be coupled to the E.464 locomotive: NCDP/CDPTR "Vivalto" - ETR 350 EMU "Flirt", for Tper Regional services Maximum line speed: 160 km/h - FS E.414 Electric Locomotive, for Intercity services Maximum line speed: 200 km/h The following carriages can be coupled to the E.414 locomotive: UIC-Z1 Typically an E.414 Intercity train uses two locomotives at the ends, with 8 UIC-Z type carriages If the cabcar is used, the locomotive required wouldn't be the E.414, but the E.302B/303. Continue below...
- ETR 500 "Frecciarossa", for Frecciarossa services Maximum line speed: 200 Km/h STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES STRONG POINTS - The route is long - The line allows regular services of approximately one hour and 10/20 minutes. - Good number of services during the day. - Good mix between direct Intercity services and local commuters. - Presence of the Frecciarossa service. - Good variety of rolling stock used. - Presence of straight sections and a central section with curves and slight slopes (Pesaro). - Presence of freight trafic during the day. WEAK POINTS - The line is quite linear and flat. - The landscape in the Emilia Romagna area is very dense with homes and buildings, especially in Rimini. IMAGES AND KEY POINTS Rimini Centrale station Left: Rocca Malatestiana, Fano Right: Mole Vanvitelliana, Ancona The coast (Marotta) General view of Ancona, its harbor and railway infrastructures. CONCLUSIONS If you like this beautiful country, this is the route for you! A stunning coast that seems never end. Enter and exit through the numerous urban centers that line the beaches of one of the most crowded and intricate areas in Italy! A journey along the Romagna and Marche coasts, also crossing the last stretch of the Apennines north of Pesaro. Let me know yours, if you liked this introduction. And don't hesitate to ask me anything about it! Caravatt.
PS. I just wanted to add a second type of carriages widely used on this route. They're used together with the E.464 locomotive, for Fast Regional services: MDVC/MDVE With related "Mazinga" cabcar.
I'd love to see Italy in TSW! however, i doubt DTG will do it, because they have no expertise. Hoping for an italian 3rd party soon.
I would love to see Italy more in Train Sim World as it's a beautiful country, and I think we need more routes outside of Britain, USA and Germany.
I'm afraid if they ever do it, they'll have Rivet do it... However, about a year ago I heard from a couple of guys who had done the Brescia-Iseo route for TSC. They were interested in bringing a map to TSW. Then I didn't know anything more.
Hmm... I think you're right. Because sadly, Rivet games is well known for making bad routes, probably except for the Island Line 2022.
I just hope they have mercy, at least for the rolling stock! Rolling stock that I would like to see: ETR521 and ETR104/E.464+MDVC carriages.
