Route Fréjus Railway: Turin - Modane + Susa / Italy - France Cross-border Route / New Country: Italy

Good afternoon everyone. Today I return to my beloved Italy, wanting to introduce you the Turin-Modane International Railway. Better known as Frejus Railway. It represents one of the essential Alpine railway passes in Italy, connecting Turin to Chambéry and Lyon (via Culoz/Maurienne). It would be set in late 2022/early 2023. This line starts from the Italian city, located in the North-West Plain. Surrounded by the Cottian and Graian Alps. After an initial urban/suburban stretch, moving away towards North-West, the line enters the Susa Valley. Never leaving it again until its end, Bardonecchia. Along the way: steady and sustained slopes, especially after Bussoleno; breathtaking passages halfway up the mountain and inside galleries (similar to Mittenwaldbahn); changes in slope etc... Then, the tracks reach the long and famous Frejus Tunnel, towards Modane. Our final destination. All surrounded by spectacular Alpine landscapes! This is the Fréjus Railway: Turin - Modane + Susa!

GENERAL FEATURES

Wikipedia Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turin%E2%80%93Modane_railway (English/Italian)

This route features:
- 103km(64mi) Turin Porta Nuova-Modane mainline length (including Frejus Tunnel).
- 8km(5mi) Susa Branch (Bussoleno-Susa stretch).
- 4.5km(3mi) towards Turin Orbassano Freight Terminal (freight only).
- 2.6km(1.6mi) Turin Porta Susa node stretch.
- 1.6km(1mi) towards Turin Smistamento Depot.

Total of: 120km(74,5mi) in length.

The line is served by:
- 4-5 tracks, standard gauge (1435 mm/4 ft 8+1⁄2 in), electrified 3kV DC OHLE (Italian standard network voltage)(Turin City Node).
- Double track, standard gauge, electrified 3kV DC OHLE (Turin-Modane mainline).
- Double track, standard gauge, electrified 3kV DC OHLE (Turin Orbassano freight link).
- Single track, standard gauge, electrified 3kV DC OHLE (Susa Branch).

Except for Modane area (after neutral section), 1.5kV DC OHLE powered.

The path is equipped with:
- CTC (Centralized Traffic Control) under BAcc (Coded Currents Automatic Block), as signaling system adopted (Italian territory).
- BAL (Block Automatic Lumineux), on Modane mainline/sidings area.
- SCMT (Train Operation Control System), as safety system adopted (Turin to Modane platforms).
- GSM-R (GSM F in Italian), as regards comm.

The maximum gradient on this route reaches:
- 0.6-1.6%(6-16x1000) on initial stretch (from Turin).
- 2.6-2.8%(26-28x1000) on central section.
- 3%(30x1000) inside Frejus Tunnel (double gradient).
The maximum permitted speed on this route reaches:
- 75-155 km/h(47-96 mph), faster initial section and 90-110km/h mid one.

The line is managed by:
- RFI s.p.a. (Italian Railway Network), as regards the infrastructure (Turin-Modane).
- SNCF Réseau S.A. (French Railway Network), as regards the infrastructure (Modane area).
Passenger service is operated by:
- Trenitalia s.p.a. Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane Group company (regional, suburban and Frecciarossa services).
- Trenitalia France S.A.S. Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane Group company (Frecciarossa Eurocity services).
- SNCF Voyages Italia s.r.l. (SNCF Group, TGV InOui Eurocity services).
Freight service is operated by:
- Mercitalia Rail s.r.l. (Trenitalia freight division).
- FRET SNCF S.A. (SNCF freight division).
- DB Cargo Italia s.r.l. (DB Schenker Rail A.G. subsidiary).
Plus other private operators in Turin and Modane.

ROUTE AND STATIONS

The route has 21 active stations/stops, plus one closed (Exilles, railtours only), including the two Turin Porta Nuova and Turin Porta Susa terminals.

The calls are as follows:

- Turin Porta Nuova Main terminal. Main railway hub of the city. Third busiest station in Italy! Km0*
----Zappata Junction--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Turin Porta Susa Main station. Second railway hub of the city. Located on the Milan-Turin Mainline. Km4***
----Crocetta Junction-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Grugliasco stop, opened in 2009. Km5*
- Collegno station. Km7.4*
- Alpignano stop. Km11.6*
- Rosta stop. Km17*
- Avigliana station. Km22*
- Sant'Ambrogio stop. Km25.4*
- Condove-Chiusa San Michele station. Km29*
- Sant'Antonino-Vaie station. Km32*
- Borgone station. Km38*
- Bruzolo stop. Km38.5*
- Bussoleno station, converging point with Susa Branch. Km43*/0**
----Susa Branch-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Susa terminal. Km8**
----Mainline-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Meana station. Km50.5*
- Chiomonte station. Km57*
- Exilles [closed], railtours only. Km63*
- Salbertrand station. Km67*
- Oulx-Cesana-Claviere-Sestriere station. Km73*
- Beaulard stop. Km78.5*
- Bardonecchia RFI station, last stop on Italian territory. Km84*
Frejus Tunnel (Italy-France border).
- Modane SNCF station, only stop on French territory. Km102.5*

* Distance from route origin, Turin Porta Nuova (Km0) [Turin-Modane].
** Distance from route origin, Bussoleno (Km0).
*** Distance from route origin, Turin Porta Nuova (Km0) [Turin-Milan].

ROUTE PLAN


General view of the route. All main stops/points are indicated. Below, the diagram of the "sfm 3" line, explaining its stop pattern.


Turin suburban service diagram. The suggested line is light green marked (sfm 3). Just to give an idea of the local railway context! PS. The light blue line (A) wasn't opened at the time!

PASSENGER SERVICE

SUBURBAN-REGIONAL

- Sfm 3/ R 10: Turin Porta Nuova-Bussoleno-Susa-Bardonecchia-->Modane
a) Turin Porta Nuova-Susa [suburban], 19 services/day (Turin-Susa) 1/2Tph.
b) Susa-Turin Porta Nuova [suburban], 19 services/day (Susa-Turin) 1/2 Tph.
c) Turin Porta Nuova-Bardonecchia [regional], 18 services/day (Turin-Bardonecchia) 1/2 Tph.
d) Bardonecchia-Turin Porta Nuova [regional], 18 services/day (Bardonecchia-Turin) 1/2 Tph.

NOTE: thanks to overlapping patterns, on Turin-Bussoleno stretch there are 2/4 Tph, depending on time. Some services end in Bussoleno.

Total of 74 services/day.

EUROCITY

- EC/Frecciarossa Milan Centrale-Turin Porta Susa-Chambéry-Lyon-Paris G.d.L.
a) Turin Porta Susa-Modane, 2 services/day (entire route). Mid-stop in Oulx.
b) Modane-Turin Porta Susa, 2 services/day (entire route). Same as above.

Eurocity AV service, with 2+2 trains/day. All seasons.

- EC/TGV InOui Paris G.d.L.-Mâcon-Chambéry-Turin Porta Susa-Milan Porta Garibaldi
a) Modane-Turin Porta Susa, 3 services/day (entire route). Mid-stop in Bardonecchia and Oulx.
b) Turin Porta Susa-Modane, 3 services/day (entire route). Same as above.

Eurocity AV service, with 3+3 trains/day. All seasons.

HIGH SPEED CONNECTION

- Frecciarossa (FR) Naples-Rome-Florence-Bologna-Milan-Turin-Bardonecchia
a) Turin Porta Susa-Bardonecchia, 1 service/day (Turin-Bardonecchia). Mid-stop in Oulx.
b) Bardonecchia-Turin Porta Susa, 1 service/day (Bardonecchia-Turin). Same as above.

National AV service, active in December/January period (ski season). It's a single daily convoy (1+1), extended to Bardonecchia.

Plus all Trenitalia sfm traffic (suburban/regional), regional (R), fast regional (RV), intercity (IC/ICN), Frecciarossa (FR) etc... In Turin Node area. Some services, such as Milan ones, could be driveable (mini service?). In addition to TER AURA (SNCF) services at Modane. AI ONLY.

FREIGHT SERVICE

Freight service is an essential part on this route.

The following goods classes are visible here:
- Intermodal/TCA (containers/tanktainers and lorries).
- Automotive (cars-vans from Fiat plant in Turin).
- Steel (coils etc...).
- Cereals (hoppers).

Primary freight service:
- Turin Orbassano Freight Terminal-Modane sidings.

At French station, traction change takes place, in order to continue the journey.
Some services (such as intermodals), can travel directly without stops through this line (multi-voltage traction). They connect some Northwestern Italy locations (such as Novara Boschetto), to several French and Swiss destinations (such as Lyon Sibelin).

Approximately 30 freight services/day on this route (both directions).

Several AI Only freight services are present on Turin node area, to/from Orbassano Yard.

ROLLING STOCK

TRENITALIA/MERCITALIA RAIL

- E.464 FS Electric loco + MDVC/MDVE Regional coaches + UIC-X 1997R-MD Cabcar, for sfm Trenitalia Turin-Bardonecchia regional services.

A classic regional "push/pull" convoy visible in Italy, with an ordinary speed of 160km/h(100mph). Electric loco + Saloon/3-comp. (as on N-Wagen) coaches + cabcar. Convoys are made up of: 1x E.464 FS + 4/5x MDVC/MDVE + 1x UIC-X 1997R-MD. An MDVC "Mazinga" cabcar could also be seen here. The available liveries are: XMPR and DPR-1.

- NCDP/CDPTR "Vivalto" Coaches + Related cabcar, for sfm Trenitalia Turin-Bardonecchia and Turin-Susa regional/suburban services.

Other (double-decker) coaches that can be used together with E.464 FS. They can replace both MDVC/MDVE and TAF on both relations. Convoys are made up of: 1x E.464 FS + 3/4 NCDP/CDPTR + related cabcar. The available livery is: DPR-1, with old and new "Vivalto" logos.

- ALe 426/Le 736/ALe 506 TAF (High Attendance Train) EMU, for sfm Trenitalia Turin-Susa suburban service.

Modern double-decker EMU for urban/suburban purposes. Widely used in Milan (Trenord), Rome, Naples, Turin etc... It's composed of 4 locked cars, two of which are power-drive (head cars). It reaches a max speed of 140km/h (87mph). The available livery is: DPR-1.

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- ETR 400(1000) "Zefiro" High speed train, for Frecciarossa Trenitalia & Eurocity services.

Ultra-modern and powerful Italian high-speed train, flagship of Trenitalia AV fleet. Capable of 400km/h (249mph)(300km/h commercial service, potentially up to 350 km/h in the future). Officially the fastest train in commercial service in Europe. It's composed of 8 cars, 16 bogies (8 power-drive) and 4 multi-voltage pantographs. It's used here on the Eurocity FR services, as well as a national FR seasonal one. The available liveries are: FR first scheme (FR&Eurocity), FR second scheme (FR only).
NOTE: In order to run on ordinary/AV French lines, the 6 Eurocity units are equipped (in addition to ERTMS/SCMT) with TVM, KVB and RSO.

- E.652 FS "Tigre" Electric loco, for Mercitalia Rail freight services.

The undisputed "freight queen" on this line. Evolution of the previous E.632/633 FS, from which inherits its nickname. It's a DC loco, Bo'Bo'Bo' wheel arrangement (3 bogies) and max speed of 160km/h(100mph)(limited to 120km/h). It's now only relegated to freight role with Mercitalia Rail. The available liveries are: XMPR (with MIR logos) and Zinc-MIR.

SNCF/FRET

- TGV Réseau (tri-current) High speed train & BB 36300/E.436 Astride Electric loco, for SNCF TGV InOui Eurocity & FRET SNCF services.

The first represents the max evolution of the first TGV gen. Used here on TGV InOui Eurocity services. It's composed of 8 cars+2x power units, max speed of 320km/h (200 mph). The 6 Eurocity units are also equipped with SCMT, being able to run on the Italian network (only ordinary lines!). The available livery is: Carmillon-Italie InOui, with dedicated side graphics.

The second is a famous series of French multi-voltage freight/passenger locos, capable of operating also on Italian, Belgian territories and beyond. The "Italian" units are known as E.436, capable of 220km/h (137mph) (limited to 160km/h). The available livery is: SNCF Grise-Vert, with red front whiskers. They're also equipped with SCMT.

OTHERS

- E.483 TRAXX Electric loco & D.146 FS "Firemas" Diesel-hydraulic heavy-switching loco, for DB cargo Italia & Mercitalia Rail freight services.

The first is the DC version of the famous Bombardier loco family. Used by DB Cargo Italia for its freight services (northern Italy/France). It's equipped with both SCMT and KVB, reaching a max speed of 140km/h(87mph). The available livery is: DB Schenker IT Red.

The second is a unique Italian heavy-shunting loco, which owes its nickname to its manufacturing company. Equipped with a powerful V12 Isotta-Fraschini turbodiesel engine, with a 2-speed hydraulic transmission. It reaches a max speed of 100km/h (62mph) [mainline] and 50km/h (31mph) [shunting].

NOTE: both E.464 and E.652 can operate under 1.5kV DC, applying the so-called "half power". They can thus run in Modane area, with much reduced performances.
On this line, freight convoys (almost) always have a double traction at their head.

STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

STRONG POINTS
- Long and complex route, full of changes in slope, curves, tunnels and diversions.
- Good line speed, despite route irregularities.
- Good number of services during day (116+ playable).
- Excellent mix of regional and suburban services. Many matching between them, along the initial part of the route.
- Presence of Eurocity and Frecciarossa services.
- Presence of ECS services (both freight and passenger).
- Presence of shunting activities (same a sabove).
- Presence of local delivery/collection activities (freight).
- Good number of stops along the route. Close together in the suburban area, more spaced out in the regional one.
- Excellent articulation, with many overtaking points (passenger>freight), depots, yards etc...
- Difficult route to play, suitable for anyone who loves challenges!
- Stunning and immersive landscape, full of details. This route is literally surrounded by some of the highest mountains in Europe!
- Excellent scenery variety: urban, suburban, alpine valley (similar to Mittenwaldbahn) and alpine pass.
- Presence of many landmarks, historical and not.
- Frejus Tunnel, famous European rail cross-border.
- Right rolling stock variety included. Highly layerable on future Italian routes.
- Possibility to insert some layers with proposed stock.
- Possible layering of the E.464+MDVC/MDVE convoy on many possible Italian routes or vice versa.
- Same about all the remaining Trenitalia and Mercitalia Rail stock.
- Possibility of including the TGV Réseau on a futureLGV Marseille-Avignon remaster, or vice versa (Maybe debrandend?).
- Possibility to introduce layers from further future routes, such as Rock, Pop, Jazz DMUs and so on...
- Possibility to extend the route, adding new sfm lines in the future (some are short and interesting). Forming a real network or as standalone DLCs.

WEAK POINTS
- Trenitalia and SNCF licenses (Maybe debranded?).
- Some missing layers (intercity etc...), luckily all AI Only at Turin node area.
- Lack of traffic in the city's terminals (partially).
- Difficulty creating assets for a new country (catenary, signs etc...).
- The final stretch is only covered by Eurocity and freight (no regional services).

STATIONS


Turin Porta Nuova Main terminal. The city's busiest hub.

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Turin Porta Susa Main station. Modern structure, equipped with surface and underground areas.


Clockwise: Grugliasco stop, characteristic modern style. Alpignano stop. Collegno station.


Clockwise: Condove-Chiusa S. Michele station. Bussoleno station, important stop between mainline and towards Susa. Chiomonte station. Susa branch terminal.


Clockwise: Modane station, also known as "the chalet" (French territory). Oulx-Cesana-Claviere-Sestriere station. Bardonecchia station.

NOTE: All stations are equipped with PIS and vocal announcements (Roberto, the official Trenitalia voice).
At that time (2022/23), many stations/stops had already been deeply renovated: new platforms, new furniture and new PIS screens.

ROUTE VIDEOS


Cabview Turin Porta Susa-Modane, Eurocity Milan-Turin-Paris (TGV Réseau).


Cabview Modane-Turin Porta Susa, Eurocity Paris-Turin-Milan (TGV Réseau).

I apologize for quality and date of this cabviews, but I couldn't find more recent videos (2012 actually)!






Trainspotting at some stations along the line (February 2020).

IMAGES


Left: Olympic Arch, imposing structure dating back to the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics. Located right across the line, near Torino Smistamento Depot.
Left: Antonelliana Mole, Symbol of the city and home to the National Cinema Museum 8167m, 1889).

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Left: Intesa Sanpaolo Skyscraper, next to Turin Porta Susa (166m, 2015).
Right: Collegno Royal Charterhouse, giant 18th Century asylum, now home to the city campus and other educational/commercial facilities.


Left: general view of Susa, beautiful town with Roman remains.
Right: Holy San Michele Abbey, incredible structure dating back to 1255. It dominates Sant'Ambrogio from its 960m.


Left: Exilles Fort, imposing military structure right middle of the Susa Valley, near the namesake town.
Right: spectacular winter view of Bardonecchia, famous alpine ski resort.


Left: Frejus Tunnel Portal (Italian side). Dating back to 1871, it represents the symbol of the line (just after Bardonecchia).
Right: general view of Modane, with its station and freigth sidings. Foreground, the railway roundabout (depot).

I also remember the presence of Piendemont Region Skyscraper (administrative headquarters in Turin), Ruffini Hall (strange circular building, hosting sporting events), as well as many ancient fortresses that dot the banks of the Susa Valley.

CONCLUSIONS

Welcome to Piedmont! The beautiful Turin is ready to offer you the best of its railway scene! Take service at the large and busy Turin Porta Nuova, managing regional/suburban services through the busy urban railway node. Enter the beautiful Susa Valley, straight to Bussoleno. From here, you can reach Susa or Bardonecchia. Also manage the important Eurocity connections to France, starting from the ultra modern Turin Porta Susa. You'll take these international runs through the infamous Frejus Tunnel, braving its gradients. Finally reaching Modane. Not to mention the large amount of freight services, being able to take advantage of a large freight terminal and other yards/sidings along the route! It's up to you! The Western Alps are waiting for you! This is the Fréjus Railway: Turin - Modane + Susa!

Caravatt.

 

Nice suggestion! Actually, this is my local line, so I'm glad someone is giving it some light!

 

As I don't live on the second part of the line, I don't know, but if I remember from the last time I went there, I didn't see any hint of TAV construction work.

Yes, they are electrifying the line to Pont. It's estimated that the works will be finished in 2026.

 

Something Italian would be new and great. What we don't know is where FS etc. stand as regards licensing or access to technical information and the trains for research.

 

Impressive speaking of the E436s you need to have a formation of them carrying lorries which is quite common over here. Which would then open up the possibility for Semmeringbahn to have the 1116 1293s carry lorries behind them.