Ferrovie della Calabria - anything operating?

[nwales58]

Help please.

Is any of Ferrovie della Calabria operating at present or likely to operate in the next couple of years?

Their web site lists rail service timetables most of which are shown as replacement buses (sostitutivo) but:

Catanzaro Citta-Catanzaro Lido (which has a timetable from 28/10/2023, is not listed as sostitutivo but stop at bus stops) according to italian Wikipedia has been closed since 2022 for doubling and realignment. Is work actually in progress, if so any idea of completion?

Catanzaro Citta-Soveria Mannelli according to Wikipedia is closed 15/07/2023 - 31/12/2023. Same question, is it actually nearing completion or effectively shut long term?

Cosenza-Rogliano has a timetable not 'sostitutivo' but I'm beginning to doubt what I see because ...

Gioia Taura-Palmi also is in the rail timetable list but is overgrown in places (Google Streetview 02/2021 3km south of Gioia Taura)!

 

[Watershed]

There certainly were some services running when I visited earlier this year. I did Cosenza to Rogliano and that was a stunning journey, albeit on a very tatty old unit.

Rogliano to Soveria Mannelli was an FdC operated replacement coach, which also offered great views whilst on the dual carriageway between the two (sit on the left hand side going south or right hand side going north). The one I took ran non-stop, shaving a lot of mileage off the journey, after the driver established everyone was for Soveria Manneli - no idea how that would work if you were waiting for the coach at an intermediate station!

Soveria Manneli to Catanzaro Citta trains were running, again with brilliant scenery but decrepit stock. So I do think that this line will return, albeit I wouldn't be surprised if the long-term works of whatever description overrun.

I believe our local correspondent, @Iskra, may be able to elaborate

 

[D6130]

Gioia Taura-Palmi also is in the rail timetable list but is overgrown in places (Google Streetview 02/2021 3km south of Gioia Taura)!

The two isolated FdC narrow gauge lines from Gioia Tauro to Cinquefrondi and Palmi have been bustituted for more than ten years now as a result of the precarious state of the tall, slender steel viaduct just outside of Gioia. The locos and railcars are still all stored in and outside of the depot and I believe that there is a long-term aspiration for reopening the two lines, but the longer it takes to find the finance to rebuild the viaduct, the more overgrown they will become and the more it will cost to renew and relay them. The similar parallel double track standard gauge viaduct has already been replaced by a new reinforced concrete version - presumably using national and/or EU funding....but the narrow gauge one will require regional and provincial funding, which I suspect is in very short supply.

 

[Lxd2]

According to https://www.egtre.info/wiki/Italy_-_Lines_with_Obscure_or_Sparse_passenger_services:

Catanzaro Lido – Catanzaro Città (Ferrovie della Calabria Srl) Closed for modernisation, doubling and a new underground section; re-opening was originally planned for July 2023 but has slipped to 2024
Catanzaro Città – Soveria Mannelli Closed for modernisation work; should reopen December 2026
Soveria Mannelli – Rogliano Closed due to a landslide; re-opening has slipped several times, latest news (October 2022) says this section should re-open late 2024

So according to this, all sections of the main line should reopen, even the Soveria Mannelli to Rogliano section which has been bustituted for the last 13 years! It looks like Cosenza to Rogliano is the only section currently operating trains.

Interesting to hear of a Rogliano to Soveria Mannelli replacement bus going via the dual carriageway. I've done it twice and on both those occasions it was a small bus which wiggled along on the local roads to serve all the villages, and there were a handful of people making local journeys.

 

[Iskra]

Help please.

Is any of Ferrovie della Calabria operating at present or likely to operate in the next couple of years?

Their web site lists rail service timetables most of which are shown as replacement buses (sostitutivo) but:

Catanzaro Citta-Catanzaro Lido (which has a timetable from 28/10/2023, is not listed as sostitutivo but stop at bus stops) according to italian Wikipedia has been closed since 2022 for doubling and realignment. Is work actually in progress, if so any idea of completion?

Catanzaro Citta-Soveria Mannelli according to Wikipedia is closed 15/07/2023 - 31/12/2023. Same question, is it actually nearing completion or effectively shut long term?

Cosenza-Rogliano has a timetable not 'sostitutivo' but I'm beginning to doubt what I see because ...

Gioia Taura-Palmi also is in the rail timetable list but is overgrown in places (Google Streetview 02/2021 3km south of Gioia Taura)!

Most of your questions have been answered at this point, but I expect all of the Cosenza and Catanzaro lines to reopen at some point. The work on the Catanzaro Lido-Citta line has been ambitious and should significantly modernise the line. I have travelled all those lines in the last few years (see my thread in the trip reports section for details) and they are worth a visit- very inexpensive too. I don’t have much faith in the Gioia Taura network ever coming back to life, I think it is too far gone now.

 

[nwales58]

Thanks for all the replies.

According to [snip] all sections of the main line should reopen, even the Soveria Mannelli to Rogliano section which has been bustituted for the last 13 years!

Has anyone seen evidence of work on the middle section? 2026 sounds as if no contracts so possibly not yet funded.

I assumed it was closed permanently now due to the combination of high engineering costs and low demand. It would be a great tourist route if it ever does.

I know that Italian plans are more like aspiration and projects start with a fraction of the necessary funding and unrealistic timescale then the work stops as the inadequate budget runs out (I worked with an Italian firm in the sector years ago, never again).

... work on the Catanzaro Lido-Citta line has been ambitious and should significantly modernise the line.

Any guess how far the work has progressed from what you have seen?

 

[Iskra]

Thanks for all the replies.


Has anyone seen evidence of work on the middle section? 2026 sounds as if no contracts so possibly not yet funded.

I assumed it was closed permanently now due to the combination of high engineering costs and low demand. It would be a great tourist route if it ever does.

I know that Italian plans are more like aspiration and projects start with a fraction of the necessary funding and unrealistic timescale then the work stops as the inadequate budget runs out (I worked with an Italian firm in the sector years ago, never again).


Any guess how far the work has progressed from what you have seen?

They’ve been building the new stations on the new alignment for a couple of years, so work is well underway. I did the replacement bus on the line last year and saw quite a bit of the line and the work going on from a distance. It was meant to be completed by now, but I think they will do it as quick as they can as it’s an important link to the mainline for the city. It’s very impressive how this line climbs and curls around the hilltop city within tunnels on a rack and pinion track.

You can see the new station on the new alignment taking shape here back in 2021, plus one of the old units at Catanzaro Citta:

 

[D6130]

What about the (Cosenza)-Pedace-Camitello-San Giovanni in Fiore line? This route includes the highest station in Italy and is often snowbound in winter. It's an incredibly scenic line over the Sila Mountains and - at certain times of the year is covered by steam-hauled tourist trains. However, I believe that the regular passenger service is now bustituted beyond Camitello.

 

[rvdborgt]

What about the (Cosenza)-Pedace-Camitello-San Giovanni in Fiore line? This route includes the highest station in Italy and is often snowbound in winter. It's an incredibly scenic line over the Sila Mountains and - at certain times of the year is covered by steam-hauled tourist trains. However, I believe that the regular passenger service is now bustituted beyond Camitello.

I think you mean bustituted beyond Camigliatello Silano. That was already the case when I went there in 1998 (still by regular train).

 

[Iskra]

This is the best summary of the current operation (barring temporary works) that I have found.



I would like to do the Sila steam train but it’s a logistical challenge from the Southern Coast of Calabria and I think it only operates on Saturdays.

 

[D6130]

I think you mean bustituted beyond Camigliatello Silano. That was already the case when I went there in 1998 (still by regular train).

Yes. Sorry....I was writing from memory (1984!), as I have left my Italian rail atlas at our place in Tuscany.

 

[Gag Halfrunt]

I have left my Italian rail atlas at our place in Tuscany.

Is that what the young folks call a humblebrag?

 

[D6130]

Is that what the young folks call a humblebrag?

Not being a young person, I've never heard that word before....but it sounds good!

 

[Lxd2]

The Sila steam train is a nice run but it is mostly across a high plateau - I didn't think it was as spectacular as the scenery on the Cosenza to Catanzaro line. It is not the easiest to get to, but it is possible by bus from Cosenza to Camigliatello Silano. When I did it the steam train was fully booked, and seats were allocated, however there are open balcony ends so I mostly stood there. The steam runs from Camigliatello Silano (maybe sometimes from Moccone?) to San Nicola, about 11 or 12km. I think the rest of the line (Pedace to Moccone and San Nicola to San Giovanni in Fiore) is closed but with the track still in place.

On the replacement bus journey from Soveria Mannelli to Rogliano, I could see the railway at various points, and it looked to be in pretty good condition, the track was rusty but it was free of weeds. The lack of weed growth after 13 years disused made me think they must be putting down weedkiller.

From what can be seen on Google Streetview, it does look like they are serious about reopening it, this section for example looks to have been recently relaid:

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

By contrast the line from Pedace up to Camigliatello Silano can be seen to be in a poor state and totally overgrown in places on Google Streetview, despite being closed for a similar length of time:

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

 

[Iskra]

The Sila steam train is a nice run but it is mostly across a high plateau - I didn't think it was a spectacular as the scenery on the Cosenza to Catanzaro line. It is not the easiest to get to, but it is possible by bus from Cosenza to Camigliatello Silano. When I did it the steam train was fully booked, and seats were allocated, however there are open balcony ends so I mostly stood there. The steam runs from Camigliatello Silano (maybe sometimes from Moccone?) to San Nicola, about 11 or 12km. I think the rest of the line (Pedace to Moccone and San Nicola to San Giovanni in Fiore) is closed but with the track still in place.

On the replacement bus journey from Soveria Mannelli to Rogliano, I could see the railway at various points, and it looked to be in pretty good condition, the track was rusty but it was free of weeds. The lack of weed growth after 13 years disused made me think they must be putting down weedkiller.

From what can be seen on Google Streetview, it does look like they are serious about reopening it, this section for example looks to have been recently relaid:

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

By contrast the line from Pedace up to Camigliatello Silano can be seen to be in a poor state and totally overgrown in places on Google Streetview, despite being closed for a similar length of time:

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

I concur with this. On the RRB this June, the track on the disused section looked in very good condition. I also saw an engineering depot with on track machines that looked to be in use, plus a large stockpile of new sleepers. I suspect the track on the disused section sees some use by the on track machines, hence it being in decent condition.

 

[nwales58]

Thanks all for the on-the-ground information.

 

[yeti]

I travelled from Cosenza to Catanzaro in autumn 2022 and saw from the bus the work in progress to to reinstate the missing section.
The section from Catanzaro down to the Lido looked like a work in progress with little sign of progress.
I took the coach from Cosenza to San Giovanni and saw work on a very thorough rebuild of the preserved line up on the plateau but not as far as San Giovanni. The station there is worth a visit, track and buildings are still in place, it is very much a disused station.
The coach journey from Cosenza up to Moccone where the steam trains operate from is a great ride You sweep up a well engineered road climbing over 1000 metres to the top with spectacular views on the way. You can occasionally see the old railway winding its way up below, rusty rails but weed free. I cannot see any point in reviving this section. It would be a very slow ascent through dense woods with only occasional views. However it would make a great railway equivalent of a bobsleigh run!