Good evening everyone. Today I want to propose you one of the most important railway in my country: Milan-Venice Main Line. In particular, the section that goes from Verona Porta Nuova to Padua, also crossing the city of Vicenza. This is one of the busiest and most served routes in the entire country, with over 400 services a day! Mainly a flat (plain enviroment) route, which crosses 3 important cities in northern Italy, famous for the presence of numerous industries and industrial activities. Despite what one might think about an area like this, densely populated and industrialized, it reserves pleasant landscape and natural surprises. Furthermore, I feel particularly attached to this route, as I was born right near this line (but not on this section). And this is where my passion for trains began. A hectic and intense but pleasant journey, including numerous passenger and commuter services, long and heavy freight convoys as well as numerous freight maneuvers in the two freight terminals present and in some companies. This is Milan-Venice Main Line: Verona PN - Padua! GENERAL FEATURES The route in question boasts 82km / 51mi of tracks. As well as 6km/3,7mi of freight branches. 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 maximum gradient of this route reaches 0.3%. The maximum permitted speed ranges between 160 km/h and 175 km/h (100-110mph) 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) - Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori - Italo s.p.a ( private company owned by MSC) - Sistemi Territoriali s.p.a (public company of the Veneto Region for local transport services) - DB/ÖBB (German and Austrian state railways) - SBB/FFS (Swiss Federal Railways) The freight service is operated by: - Mercitalia Rail s.p.a (Trenitalia freight division) - Mercitalia Shunting & Terminal s.p.a (freight maneuvering operations inside main yards) - Rail Traction Comapny s.p.a (private freight operator) And numerous other private companies, such as Railpool Italia, MRCE, Medway (MSC), CFI, GTS Rail etc... ROUTE AND STATIONS The route has 13 stations (including the two terminus of Padua and Verona PN), including 7 main stations and 6 stops. The calls are, as follows: - Verona Porta Nuova RFI (Western terminal of the line, with large freight and passenger yards, freight and passenger rolling stock maintenance workshops, main repair workshop), km147* - Verona Porta Vescovo (RTC freight yard), km151* - San Martino Buon Albergo, km157* - Caldiero, km163* - San Bonifacio, km171* Verona---> Vicenza - Lonigo, km177* - Montebello, km183* - Altavilla-Tavernelle, km191* - Vicenza RFI (intermediate station of the route, equipped with freight yard, DMUs depot and main repair workshop. The second one serves secondary lines, not included in this route), km199* - Lerino, km207* - Grisignano di Zocco, km214* Vicenza---> Padua - Mestrino, km220* - Padova RFI (Eastern terminal of the line, equipped with passenger trains depot), km229* *Distance from route origin, Milan C.le (Km0) There are also two intermodal marshalling yards, one approximately 4 km west of Verona PN (Quadrante Europa freight terminal, serving the Milan-Venice, Verona-Mantua-Modena and Brennerbahn routes), the other near Padua (Padova Interporto freight terminal, serving the Milan-Venice, Padua-Calalzo-Treviso and Padua-Bologna routes). Two freight connections in Vicenza and between the two Verona stations allow the delivery/collection of steel products from steelworks. There's an additional freight yard in Verona Porta Vescovo (Rail Traction Company). Each station has 2 full platforms, except for: - Verona Porta Nuova RFI (12, 3 of which are secondary services terminals) - Verona Porta Vescovo (5) - San Martino Buon Albergo (3) - San Bonifacio (4) - Altavilla-Tavernelle (4) - Vicenza RFI (10, 3 of which are secondary services terminals) - Grisignano di Zocco (5) - Padova RFI (11, 4 of which are secondary services terminals) ROUTE PLAN Red: main line, Blue: Intermodal/freight branches. Padua: I = To Vicenza/Verona PN II = To Venice S. Lucia III = To Bologna IV = To Bassano, Calalzo and Treviso 1 = Main station 2 = Commuter trains depot Padua Interporto: I = To the main line A = Shunting engines depot 1 = Main yard 2 = Intermodal terminal 3 = Lorry trailers boarding Vicenza: I = To Padua, Venice S. Lucia Treviso and Schio branch II = To Verona PN, Brescia, Bergamo and Milan C.le A = Steam Engine "625.131" (monumented) 1 = Main station 2 = Freight yard 3 = DMU depot Please put your LIKE here first, thank you. Continue Below...
Verona Porta Nuova: I = To Vicenza, Padua and Venice S. Lucia II = To Quadrante Europa Terminal, Brescia, Bergamo, Milan C.le, Mantua/Modena III = To Brennerbahn (Trento, Bolzano) A = Main freight yard B = Auxiliary freight yard (closed now, demolition by 2025) 1 = Main station 2 = Main commuter trains depot 3 = IMC (Passenger rolling stock maintenance shop) 4 = IM (Freight rolling stock maintenance shop) and dedicated yard (closed now, deactivation by 2025) Verona Quadrante Europa Interporto: I = To Verona PN station, Vicenza, Padua and Venice S. Lucia II = To Brescia, Bergamo, Milan C.le A = Shunting engines depot 1 = Main yard 2 = Intermodal terminal 3 = loading/unloading cars (cars transport terminal) GOOGLE MAPS Credits. PASSENGER SERVICE There are different types of passenger service on this route: - Trenitalia Regional Service (R): From Verona PN to Venice S. Lucia, from Verona PN to Milan C.le (AI only) and from Milan C.le to Venice S. Lucia. And, obviously, vice versa. The number of services varies, according to the time of day and rush hours (6 AM to 10 AM and 4 PM to 8 PM). During the mentioned hours there's a service every 10/20 minutes! While at other times, there's a train every 50/60 minutes. From 5 AM to 12PM. There are also services to Bologna, Treviso, Bolzano etc... Trenitalia Fast Regional Service (RV): It runs on the same itineraries as the Regional Service, but with 60% less stops. Normally, it alternates with any other standard Regional Service: R-->RV-->R. - Frecciarossa AV Service (FR): From Milan C.le to Venice S. Lucia, from Venice S. Lucia to Reggio Calabria(AI only), from Venice S. Lucia to Naples C.le (AI only), from Venice S. Lucia to Lecce (AI only) etc... And vice versa. One train every 45/50 minutes. - Sistemi Territoriali Regional Service (RST): From Verona PN to Padua, From Padua to Venice S. Lucia (AI only). And vice versa. One train every 60 minutes. - Italo Treno AV Service (NTV): Fromo Milan C.le to Venice S. Lucia, from Rome T.ni to Venice S. Lucia(Ai only), from Venice S. Lucia to Naples C.le (Ai only) etc... And vice versa. One train every 60 minutes. - SBB/FFS Eurocity Service (EC): From Venice S. Lucia to Chiasso (Switzerland and Frankfurt A.M.), from Milan C.le to Venice S. Lucia (cross connection). And vice versa. 4 trains/day in each direction. - DB/ÖBB Eurocity Service (EC): From Brenner (Brennerbahn, to Innsbruck and München) to Venice S. Lucia, from Venice S. Lucia to Tarvisio (Wien)(AI only). And vice versa. 4 trains/day in each direction. FREIGHT SERVICE From all the major Italian/foreign freight destinations to the two terminals of Verona and Padua (from Brenner to Verona QE, from Trieste to Padova Interporto etc...). In addition to normal freight traffic in both directions. Switching activity was also very intense in the two terminals (from Verona QE to Porta Vescovo freight yard RTC and from Verona PN yard to the steelwork), on Vicenza freight yard (to and from the two steelworks). The major freight activities are carried out by Mercitalia Rail/Shunting & Terminal and RTC. ROLLING STOCK Below here, I list the most common units you can see on this route, but there are many more. PASSENGER - ETR 521/621 "Rock" EMU, for Trenitalia Regional and Fast Regional services 3kV DC fitted. Max Speed: 175km/h. These units are made up of 5 or 6 cars. Here in Trenitalia Territorial Department Verona-Venice livery, with characteristic graphics (lion of San Marco). This detail can also be found on the ETR 103/104 "Pop" (Not present on this proposal). - FS E.464 Electric Locomotive, for Trenitalia Regional and Fast Regional services 3kV DC fitted. Max speed: 160 km/h The following carriages can be coupled to the E.464 locomotive: A) MDVC/MDVE, with related "Mazinga" cabcar Continue Below...
B) NCDP/CDPTR "Vivalto", with related cabcar - ETR 343 "Flirt" EMU, for Sistemi Territoriali Regional services 3kV DC fitted. Max speed: 160km/h These units are made up of 4 cars. - ETR 700 "Albatros" EMU (former NS "Fyra" V250), for Trenitalia Frecciarossa AV services 3kV DC and 25kV AC fitted. Max speed: 250km/h (175km/h on this line). These units are made up of 7 cars. - ETR 675 Avelia EVO EMU, for Italo Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori AV services 3kV DC and 25kV AC fitted. Max speed: 250km/h (175km/h on this line). These units are made up of 7 cars. - RABe 501 "Giruno" EMU, for SBB/FFS Eurocity services 3kV DC and 15/25kV AC fitted. Max speed: 250km/h (175km/h on this line). These units are made up of 11 cars. Continue Below...
- ÖBB 1216/E.190 Electric locomotive + Bmpz Intercity coaches, for ÖBB Eurocity services 1.5/3kV DC and 15/25kV AC fitted. Max speed: 160km/h (capable of 230km/h). FREIGHT - MR E.412/EU 43 Electric locomotive, for Mercitalia Rail and RTC freight services 1.5/3kV DC and 15kV AC fitted. Max speed: E.412 160km/h (capable of 200km/h), EU 43 140km/h. Equipped with both PZB and SCMT/ETCS. - MR E.405 Electric locomotive, for Mercitalia Rail freight services 3kV DC fitted. Max speed: 160km/h. SCMT only fitted. - DB Cargo IT, MRCE E.191/ÖBB 1293/RTC E.193 VECTRON Electric locomotives, for freight services E.193: 1.5/3kV DC and 15/25kV AC fitted. Max speed: 160km/h (capable of 200km/h). Equipped with both PZB and SCMT/ETCS. E.191 1.5 and 3kVDC fitted. Max speed: 160km/h. SCMT only fitted. - MR, GTS Rail E.494 TRAXX Electric locomotive, for freight services 1.5 and 3kV DC fitted. Max speed: 140 km/h. SCMT only fitted. Some specimens feature the "Last Mile" system: 500kW diesel engine for recovery in non-electrified depots. I remind you that the following operators also use it: Railpool (rental), Captrain Italy and Medway (MSC). Continue below...
- MR E.652 "Improved Tiger" Electric locomotive, for Mercitalia Rail Freight services 3kV DC fitted. Max speed: 120km/h (capable of 160km/h). SCMT Only fitted. I also mention the presence of the following locomotives: - Siemens ES 64 F4 Electric locomotive - Bombardier TRAXX E.483 Electric locomotive SHUNTING - FS, MS&T D.245 Diesel-hydraulic Switching engine 4/5 units on Verona area, 4 units on Vicenza area. - MS&T D.741 Diesel-electric Heavy switching locomotive 1 specimen on Verona QE Terminal. - MS&T, RTC D.744 Diesel-electric Heavy switching locomotive 1 specimen Mercitalia Shunting&Terminal on Verona QE Terminal and 2 Rail traction Company specimens on Verona Porta Vescovo yard. A second MS&T unit may arrive later (end of 2024). - MS&T Vossloh G2000 BB Diesel-hydraulic Locomotive (small freight shipment and switching) 2 units on Padua Intermodal Terminal. FREIGHT WAGONS On this route, the following freight wagons can be seen: - Sgnss - Sggmrss - Sdggmrss - Laaers - Habbiins - Habbillns - Shimmns - Roos - Falns - Eanos - Tadgs - Zacs - Uagpps - Rgmms - Rgs - Rhlmms STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES STRONG POINTS - The route is long but quite linear. - The line allows regular services of approximately 45/60 minutes (Regional and Fast Regional). - Huge number of services during the day. - Presence of the Frecciarossa/Italo service. - Good mix between direct Frecciarossa/Italo services and local commuters. - Large variety of rolling stock used. - Presence of freight trafic during the day and night. - Possible future expansion towards Venice. WEAK POINTS - The line is quite linear and flat. - The area is very dense with homes and industries. this could lead to both modeling problems and game stability problems (low frame rate etc...). - Starting from 2022, the line will be affected by the construction of the Milan-Venice high-speed variant. This involves a large construction site along one side of the route, between Verona PN and Vicenza (possible backdating to 2019?) Continue Below...
IMAGES AND KEY POINTS From left to right: Padua, Vicenza and Verona. Padua RFI station Vicenza RFI station Verona Porta Nuova RFI station: Low left: The Railway Bridge on Adige River. Low Right: characteristic fresco from 1949, in the entrance hall. GOOGLE MAPS Credits. ROUTE VIDEO Journey from Verona Porta Nuova to Venice S. Lucia, with an Eurocity SBB Service (EC). CONCLUSIONS If you like this beautiful country, this is the route for you! A gripping and intense journey across the northern Italian plain, in one of the most industrialized and populated areas of the country. Drive regional services along the entire route, testing your driving skills and respecting your timetable on a busy main line. Manage long and heavy freight convoys on the main line, also using 3 yards and two Terminals that this area is equipped with. You'll also have to carry out numerous freight maneuvers, composing goods convoys, delivery/collection of steel to/from three steel mills present. This is the unforgettable journey on the Milan-Venice Main Line: Verona PN to Padua! Caravatt.
Agreed. Italy is a perfect country for TSW. Even locos like the 182, 193 and 187 could be reused in some way. Sadly, i don't think DTG is going to do it. So we have to hope for a 3rd party or a community project.
I agree with you. I just hope it's not Rivet... They're usually the ones who create them, see the Swiss maps... EDIT- I forgot to include the Railjet! Since last month they have been operational on both the Brennerbahn and the Rudolfsbahn (Tarvisio). Obviously new sets! As regards the locomotives you mentioned, 182 in Italy is called E.190 (ES 64 U4). The 187 is part of the same TRAXX 3rd generation family, like E.494. While the DB 193 is the same as the Italian Vectron E.193. The variant with two pantographs (E.191) could also be created, almost nothing changes.
I'd be very happy to see this one. I love Italy so it would be lovely drive a train between two such iconic cities.
Yes, it would be one of the best lines to aim for. Especially for the amount of services and variety of activities included.
In reality, it wouldn't be directly reusable. DB 182/Dispolok/ÖBB 1116 are all very similar to each other. E.190/ÖBB 1216 differs in some details (see photos below), such as different nose/headlights (smoother), presence of the doors on cab block (and not on the engine room block), driver's desks etc... This unit adopts a cabin much more similar to the Vectron one, in terms of general structure (not the shape, which remains almost the same). Furthermore, there are both the ÖBB version with 4 pantographs (1216, AC/DC) and two pantographs version (E.190, DC only). DB 182/182 Dispolok/ÖBB 1116 ÖBB 1216/E.190
Very impressive list of rolling stocks some of them are actually capable of running into Switzerland and German/Austrian PZB routes we have in the game
Yes, practically all Vectron and TRAXX Material. As well as ÖBB and SBB ones I've included (+ Railjet). E.412 also makes regular cross-border trips, but only to the nearby cities (cross-border freight shuttle). Don't forget RTC (Rail Traction Company), which also provides many services in Austria/Germany, via Brennerbahn and Rudolfsbahn. They also perform regular trips to Slovenia, via Südbahn and Jesenice-Trieste Railway. EDIT- D.744 (CZ Loko EffiShunter 1000) heavy switcher would also be a great addition. In Italy, 10 companies already use it. DB, SŽ and other European operators are also adopting it!
Ok and for the Rudolfsbahn its connected to my suggestion the SFS Salzburg-Wien Westbahn at St Valentin. 1216 is the fastest loco
Almost overlooked this one! I'd definitely love to get my hands on this route, having travelled it before a couple of times during vacations. Very scenic and beautiful, and truly busy and bustling with activity. It seems to offer something for all kinds of players, be it fast trains, regional services and freight hauling. For me, I'd sure enjoy trying out the E.464 Since more and more 3rd party developers seem to hop on to TSW, and with them adding more and more countries to the route roster, perhaps one of them could try their hands on something Italian? If it's done well, I'd take it gladly
Yes, E.464 (AdTranz/Bombardier pre-TRAXX) is a good locomotive. Rather particular, given that it has only one main cab. It's often seen here with single deck carriages (MDVC/MDVE) and cabcar. However, there are also convoys with double-decker "Vivalto" carriages. I prefer it to ETR 521/621, as it's similar in terms of driving experience to a Stadler (cruise control lever etc...). The "Rock", on the other hand, is almost similar to any modern EMUs. A bit flat and not so emotional to drive. Furthermore, when it will completed, it would be possible to add the high-speed variant, alongside the slow line. It will runs almost parallel to the old one.
Ah yes, I can remember both these combinations from my trips to the area around Verona, Bologna and Parma. Always enjoyed taking them... the Frecciarossa is quite nice too, but I guess in the end I'm more of a regional train lover And we've got so many modern locos and EMU's in the game already, why not something older for a change? The route could take place in the 80's or early 90's
Stay Tuned! I've in mind a route... Set in Chianti (Central Tuscany), with Diesel traction (1990/95 ). Commuters, shuttle services and freight!
I would love the Rock EMU and those highspeed reds, I am a big Frecciarossa fan, even though my fav one is Frec.1000 havent had a chance to drive anything Italian in-game, and I am a fan of more modern traction
Yes, it would also be good from a marketing point of view. An ETR 521 and, maybe, a freight locomotive (E.405/412). Obviously, the second as an add-on. 193 could also be introduced without problems. One day, if it'll be published, Railjet could also be included! I'm open to both eras (modern and '90/'00).
That sounds lovely! Don't get me wrong, each era has got its benefits. But when I look at the German content in TSW at its current state, there's so much modern stuff to choose from already... and only a few treats for fans of the more vintage, rustic, hands-on trains. Adding a couple of routes and rolling stock set in the 90's or even 80's might attract some new customers after all
