Good afternoon everyone. Today I return to propose you an Italian route (after a while!), which represents one of the most historic and characteristic lines of my country: the Transapenninica Railway, from Bologna to Pistoia. Also known as "Porrettana". It's located in Mid/northern Italy, between the Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany Regions. The itinerary begins in Bologna, from its large and busy central station. Then continues through a short stretch of plain, starting to climb the Reno River Valley. Reaching Porretta Terme. From here a significant climb begins, which leads to a mountain pass. There, our route changes valley, passing into that of the Ombrone Stream, descending with steep slopes throught Tuscan hills. Reaching Pistoia, our final destination. A pleasant and challenging journey through the mountains, valleys, tunnels and bridges that divide the great Northern plain from Florence area! This is the Transapenninica Railway: Bologna to Pistoia! GENERAL FEATURES Wikipedia link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pistoia–Bologna_railway (English/Italian) The route in question features: - 99km(61.5mi) total length. - 48 Galleries/tunnels (18.5km/11.5mi total). - 64 bridges/viaducts, almost all standardized (form and style). - 2x 180° hairpin bends near Piteccio/Corbezzi. - 29 level crossings with automatic barriers. The line is served by: - Double track, standard gauge (1435 mm/4 ft 8+1⁄2 in), electrified 3kV DC OHLE (Italian standard network voltage) (PM Santa Viola-Casalecchio Garibaldi stretch). - Single track, standard gauge, electrified 3kV DC OHLE (Casalecchio Garibaldi-Pistoia stretch). Except for Bologna common area, which boasts 8 tracks! The path is equipped with: - CTC (Centralized Traffic Control) under BAcf (Fixed Current Automatic Block), as signaling system adopted (entire route). - SCMT (Train Operation Control System), as safety system adopted. - GSM-R (GSM F in Italian), as regards comm. The maximum gradient on this route reaches: - 0.5-1.1% on Bologna-Porretta Terme stretch. - 1.7-2.5% on Porretta Terme-Pracchia stretch. - 2.2-2.6% on Pracchia-Pistoia stretch. The maximum permitted speed on this route reaches: - 70-140km/h(44-87mph), even if in most of the route it doesn't exceed 70-100km/h(44-62mph) (curves, slopes etc...). The line is managed by: - RFI s.p.a. (Italian Railway Network), as regards the infrastructure. The passenger service is operated by: - Trenitalia s.p.a. Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane Group company (Tuscany departments). - Trenitalia-Tper S.C.a.R.L. (Trenitalia Emilia-Romagna department). The railtour service is operated by: - Fondazione FS Italiane, major heritage/railtour operator in the country. PS. There are also vocal announcements in both terminals (even on board EMUs) and all renovated stations along the route. Some stops are equipped with two warning bells, one for each direction of travel. ROUTE AND STATIONS The route features: - 26 active stops/stations. - 1 abandoned station (Pian Casale). - 1 summer only stop (Piteccio). - 1 closed station, railtours only (Valdibrana). Total: 29 stops/stations, including the two terminals of Bologna Centrale and Pistoia. The calls are, as follows: Bologna San Donato sidings (regional only depot). - Bologna Centrale RFI Main station. Northern terminal of the route, with 4 different areas: West Terminal; East Terminal; Main (surface); Underground (High Speed Terminal). Km132* Bologna Ravone sidings (regional, intercity, high speed etc...), with attached DL Lazzaretto maintenance shops. Santa Viola Junction. - Bologna Borgo Panigale (near Ducati factory), Km127* - Casteldebole, Km125* Junction toward Vignola (Casalecchio Garibaldi West). - Casalecchio Garibaldi (East) station, end of double track. Km123* - Casalecchio di Reno, Km122* - Borgonuovo, Km119* - Pontecchio Marconi, Km116* - Sasso Marconi station, Km113* - Lama di Reno, Km108* - Marzabotto station, terminal of some suburban services. Km105* - Pian di Venola, Km103* - Pioppe di Salvaro station, Km99* - Vergato station, Km93* - Cabona, Km89* - Riola station, Km85* - Silla, Km76* - Porretta Terme mid-station, terminal of some regional/suburban services. Equipped with convoy sidings and line maintenance warehouse.Km73* ---- Trenitalia (Tuscany)/Trenitalia-Tper competence area limit----------------------------------------------------------- - Ponte della Venturina, Km70* - Molino del Pallone, Km66* - Biagioni Lagacci, Km64* Emilia-Romagna/Tuscany limit. - Pracchia station, equipped with sidings (railtours/service only). Km59* Apex of Apennine Pass (616m above sea level). - San Mommè, Km56* - Castagno, Km54* - Corbezzi station, Km51* - Piteccio (summer only), Km45* - Valdibrana (railtours only), Km39* - Pistoia Ovest, Km35* Pistoia Ovest Junction. Heritage/railtours rolling stock Depot and sidings (DORS Pistoia). - Pistoia RFI station, Southwest Terminal of the route. Equipped with regional/maintenance sidings. * Distance from route origin, Florence S.M.N. (Km0). ROUTE PLAN General view of the route (3 sections). Main places and stations are indicated. Red: double-track section. Blue: single-track one. GOOGLE MAPS credit. General route scheme. Only the main galleries are indicated. PASSENGER SERVICE REGIONAL – SUBURBAN - S1A/R 14: Pianoro-Bologna Centrale-Marzabotto-Porretta Terme-->Pistoia a) Pianoro-Bologna Centrale-Marzabotto, 16 services/day (Bologna centrale-Marzabotto) 2Tph. b) Marzabotto-Bologna Centrale-Pianoro, 9 services/day (Marzabotto-Bologna Centrale) 1Tph. c) Pianoro-Bologna Centrale- Porretta Terme, 36 services/day (Bologna Centrale-Porretta Terme) 2Tph. d) Porretta Terme-Bologna Centrale-Pianoro, 21 services/day (Porretta Terme-Bologna Centrale) 1/2Tph. e) Bologna Centrale-Porretta Terme, 33 services/day (Bologna Centrale West Terminal-Porretta Terme) 2Tph. f) Porretta Terme-Bologna Centrale, 12 services/day (Porretta Terme-Bologna Centrale West Terminal) 1Tph. Total of 127 services/day. 1 Train every 20 Min. - S2A/R 26 Bologna Centrale-Casalecchio-Vignola a) Bologna Centrale-Vignola, 37 services/day (Bologna Centrale West Terminal-Casalecchio Garibaldi West) 2/3Tph. b) Vignola-Bologna Centrale, 36 services/day (Casalecchio Garibaldi West-Bologna Centrale West Terminal) 2/3Tph. Total of 73 services/day. 1 Train every 15/30 Min. - R 255: Pistoia-Porretta Terme-->Bologna a) Pistoia-Porretta Terme, 6 services/day (Pistoia-Porretta Terme) 1 Train every 2 Hours. b) Porretta Terme-Pistoia, 6 services/day (Porretta Terme-Pistoia) 1 Train every 2 Hours. Total of 12 services/day. 1 Train every 2 Hours. Total playabe services: 212/day. In addition to all Trenitalia/Trenitalia-Tper Regional (R), Fast Regional (RV), Suburban (S), Intercity (IC), Frecciarossa (FR) etc... services at Bologna Centrale. In addition to Regional (R) and Fast Regional (RV) services at Pistoia. Obviously AI Only! RAILTOURS The railtour services on this route has a May/November time window. They usually run on the last three October weekends + first November one (Saturdays-Sundays). - Porrettana Express: a) Pistoia-->Pracchia, with mid-stop in Valdibrana (30 min) and Piteccio (60 min). October/November. 1 outward service/morning and 1 return/afternoon. This railtour includes a walking tour of the ancient launch/stop ramps of Valdibrana, as well as the small Railway Museum of Piteccio (Mastery?). b) Pistoia-->Porretta Terme, with mid-stop in Valdibrana (30min), Piteccio (60min) and Pracchia (20min). May/September. 1/2 outward service/morning and 1/2 return/afternoon. This version also includes the possibility of carrying bikes (luggage wagon). Services are carried out both with electric and steam locos, with vintage coaches. Sometimes you can see an old EMU. FREIGHT SERVICE No freight services are available on this route. The last ones took place in early 2000s. However, it would be possible to include the E.193 Vectron (maybe a 191) on Bologna area. Possible recovery activities of faulty rolling stock along the route with 2 D.744 diesel shunters. ROLLING STOCK The following rolling stock can be seen on this route: PASSENGER – REGIONAL/SUBURBAN - ETR 104 "Pop" Coradia Stream EMU, for Trenitalia and Trenitalia-Tper Regional services. One of the most recent and modern EMUs in service in Italy, belonging to the Coradia Stream family by Alstom. It entered service in 2019, with 300 units planned and 2 series (2nd under construction). It's a one-handle unit, consisting of 4 cars, 2MW of power and 3kV DC power supplied. Its maximum speed reaches 160km/h(100mph). Relations covered: - Bologna Centrale-Porretta Terme. - Pistoia-Porretta Terme. Here present in DPR-2 livery, Tuscany (side logos) and Emilia-Romagna Region (Tper graphics) variants. - ETR 350 Flirt 1 EMU, for Trenitalia-Tper Regional/Suburban services. Silent and Modern EMU, belonging to the Flirt family by Stadler. It entered service with Tper (then Trenitalia-Tper) in 2013, with 26 units delivered (3 series). It's a double-handle unit, very similar to those of Luzern-Sursee. Consisting of 5 cars, 2.6MW of power and 3kV DC power supplied. Its maximum speed reaches 160km/h(100mph). Relations covered: - Bologna Centrale-Marzabotto/Porretta Terme. - Bologna Centrale-Casalecchio Garibaldi (to Vignola). Here present in the old "Watermelon" Tper livery, with updated/new logos. RAILTOURS - FS E.626 Rheostatic electric locomotive, for Fondazione FS services. First series of 3kV DC locomotives built in Italy, between 1927 and 1939 (448 units and 3 series). 3 "B" bogies, 6x2 traction motors (1.9MW) and 3kV DC power supplied. Its maximum speed reaches 95km/h (59mph). These units made the history of railways in my country. Among the longest-lived locos in the world, in regular service for 72 years (1928-1999)! Today some units have been completely restored, updating the on-board safety systems. They're used on historical railtours in many areas of Italy. Here present in its original "FS Brown-Isabel" livery. Please, put your LIKE here firs, Thank You! Continue Below...
The following coaches are used alongside the previous locomotive: - Az Type 1921 + Bz/Cz Type 1928R "Centoporte" Railtour coaches. Old bogies passenger coaches, dating back to the 1920-30s. - "Az": 1st class units (10.000-20.000 series). (max speed 120km/h-75mph). - "Bz": 2nd class units (36.000-39.000 series). - "Cz": former 3rd class units, converted to 2nd class in the 50s (same as above). (max speed 100km/h-62mph). Here present in "FS Green" (Type 1928R), "FS Brown" (both) and "FS Brown-Isabel" (both) liveries. Typical convoy: 1xE.626+1xAz Type 1921+2xBz Type 1928R+2x Cz Type 1928R. - FS ETR 250 "Arlecchino" EMU, for Fondazione FS services. This is the most iconic and particular train you'll see in my country. The spearhead of the Milan-Naples express services in the 50-60s. Built in 1957-59 (4 specimens), consisting of 4 cars: 2x power cars, with elevated driving cabin and panoramic "belvedere"; 1x bar-lounge car; 1x end to end car (all 1st class!). 2.3MW of power and 3kV DC power supplied. Initially capable of 200km/h (125mph), today it's limited to 160km/h(100mph) because safety/preservation. The only survivor (ETR 252), completely restored, is now used on Mid-northern Italy periodic railtours. Obviously, either the EMU or loco+coaches should be chosen. STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES STRONG POINTS - The route is long and non-linear at all. - Good number of services during day (212 playable). - Good mix of regional/suburban services, with some timetable intersections/coincidences. - Excellent number of stops and their location on this route. - Right variety of rolling stock included. So that would be easier to make. - Presence of railtours, even if only in one section of the route. - Presence of services from/to depot/sidings (Bologna Ravone/San Donato, Porretta Terme and Pistoia). - Good route articulation, with busy common section (Bologna), junction between two lines (Casalecchio Garibaldi) etc... - Difficult route to play, with steep slopes, curves etc... Challenging to drive on it! - Stunning and immersive landscape, full of details. - Excellent scenery variety: urban/suburban, countryside, hills, valley/forest and mountain pass. - Presence of many scenic structures, such as bridges, tunnels etc... - Possibility to convert the Flirt from Luzern/sursee. - Possibility to reuse all the remaining rolling stock (current and historic) on a wide range of possible Italian routes (RFI and private). - Possibility to introduce Br 193 (E.193) as freight layer (Bologna, AI Only). - Possibility to introduce layers from further future routes, such as "Rock" EMUs, Frecciarossa, Intercity and freight stock. Mainly on Bologna area. - Possibility to extend the route with a future update, including the Casalecchio-Vignola suburban branch (24km, 15 stops, single track and 3kV DC OHLE). The stock would already be included here (Flirts). WEAK POINTS - Lack of possibility to travel the entire route with a single service (only Pistoia-Porretta Terme or Bologna-Porretta Terme). - Few Pistoia-Porretta Terme daily services (12), integrated by railtours. - The route requires several custom assets (bridges, tunnel portals, stations etc...). - Without additional future layers (from other routes), the Bologna Centrale area would be rather empty. STATIONS Bologna Centrale Main station, the northernmost terminus of this route. It's one of the busiest stations in Italy, a key hub between North and mid-South of the country. Composed of 4 distinct areas: West Terminal, East Terminal, central platforms and underground high-speed ones. Left: Sasso Marconi Station, one of the many stops in the Reno River Valley. Right: Marzabotto Station, terminal of some suburban services from Bologna. Left: Riola Station, one of the many revamped stops along the Bologna-Porretta Terme stretch. Right: Porretta Terme Station, services terminal of the two route relations (Bologna and Pistoia), as well as some railtours. Equipped with large sidings. Continue Below...
Left: Pracchia Station, apex of the line and first/last station on Tuscan territory. It's located at the northern entrance of the Apennine Gallery (the longest). Righ: Corbezzi Station, one of the many stops located in the free stretch between two closely spaced galleries. Pistoia Station, the southernmost terminus of this route. It's also an important stop on the Florence-Lucca Line, which connects the iconic city with the Versilia area. ROUTE VIDEOS Window trip between Bologna Centrale and Porretta Terme. Unfortunately I couldn't find a recent cabride . ETR 104 "Pop" Trenitalia-Tper. Complete journey aboard the Pistoia-Pracchia railtour, made last November (celebrations relating the 160th anniversary of this line, 1864-2024). Internal review of the vintage coaches, stops made and the electric and steam unit maneuvers! Nice passage of the ETR 350 "Arlecchino" on Piteccio, a few years ago. IMAGES A) General view of Bologna. B) View of the Bologna Lazzaretto Depot (DL Bologna), with Ravone Sidings on bottom left. C) General view of Pistoia. D) View of the Pistoia Historic Rolling Stock Depot (DORS Pistoia). A) Leonardo da Vinci Viaduct, near Sasso Marconi. It dates back to the 50s and the railway passes directly underneath it! B) Vergato Bridge, near the namesake station. It's one of the various crossings point of our line on the Reno river. C) General view of Porretta Terme. Middle of, its station. D) View of the ancient Etruscan site of Kainua, just outside Marzabotto. Note the line coming out at the top, as well as the beautiful valley landscape. A) San Mommè Viaduct. On the left hill, the South portal of the Apennine Gallery. B) Piteccio Viaduct. It represents, together with the Grazzini and 2 other ones, the symbol of this route. C) Grazzini Viaduct, slightly South of the previous one. D) Valdibrana Ramp. Once used to launch steam engines convoys up the steep slope. In the background, the namesake station. On left (on the hill), the old braking track, once used to stop downhill trains. Note the different landscape on this Tuscan side of the route. CONCLUSIONS If you love this beautiful country and unique railway adventures, this is the route for you! Immerse yourself in the railway reality of one of the largest and busiest stations in Italy: Bologna Centrale. Take regional and suburban services from here to Porretta Terme. Passing through the beautiful Reno River Valley and heading towards the mountains. From here, you can climb with the Tuscan regional services up to the Apennine pass, at Pracchia. Then, starting to descend along dizzying slopes, tunnels, hairpin bends and viaducts. Until you reach Pistoia. Oh, and don't forget to take care of the periodic railtours, which go up from the Tuscan side of this route. You'll try to drive old units on remarkable climbs and a not so friendly line! This is the Transapenninica Railway: Bologna to Pistoia! Caravatt.
As my country and near where I live, this it's a must to have! If DTG's came to ours country with TSW obviously.... And of course, they can use the Italian assets I'm working on for my route, if this can help
