Buongiorno,
I went to Rome for a few days in January. Among a lot of sight seeing of old stones (Forum Romanum, Palatine Hill, Colloseum, Caracalla Bath), churches (St. Peter's Basilica, Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls) and art (Musei Vativani) I managed to grab some rail impressions
Metro
Metro line B was extended with a new branch last year. A train of the newer rolling stock at the current terminus Conca d'Oro (at the moment an extension that will add one more station is under construction).
Interior view: As it's a B line train, the seats are blue. On the A line the seats are orange.
Innenansicht: Linie B, daher Sitze in blau. Auf der Linie A sind sie orange.
The current network consist of two lines (A and B). The lines intersect at the station "Termini" below the central station. Markers on the floor help navigating from one line to the other
Most stations seemed pretty dark to me. A notable exception: The platform of line B at Termini station
A train of the old rolling stock. Surprisingly enough without graffiti.
Usually, the trains looked somewhat like this one at "Piramide" station
Line A is completely underground, whereas the B line has sections above ground. B line train at "Basilica Sao Paulo" station.
Currently, construction is under was to add a new line (C) to the network. The construction site at the future terminus "Fori Imperiali" (located a few yards away from the Colloseum) offers some information about the new line.
The train line from station "Porta San Paolo" ti Ostia uses a rolling stock similar to the rolling stock of the metro
"My" metro station "S. Agnese / Annibaliano" (located on the new branch of line B)
I liked the stations (a bit weird seeming) architecture.
Tram&Co
Apart from the metro, Rome has a network of six tram lines and the narrow gauge rail line Laziali Giardinetti
This line runs with headways comparable to the tram and offers a nice motif at station "Porta Maggiore": Little train and big wall
Several tram line intersect at "Porta Maggiore" too
Tram 3 to "Piazza Ostiense"
Tram 5 passing through the remains of the wall at "Porta Maggiore"
View from the narrow gauge platform to the tram stop
Vintage stock of tram line 19 at "Risorgimento". The Vatican is just a short walk away
View from a Tiber bridge to another bridge that carries the tram
A tram on the bridge
Tram 19 at station "Policlinco". This stop provides a transfer to te metro.
Modern rolling stock tram 3
Tram turned violet by advertising (tram 2, Station Ministero Marina)
Rail Museum
The metro company ATAC runs a little museum at "Porta San Paulo" station. It displays rolling stock from the beginning of the 20th century
The admission is free (but as the access is via the platform you would need a metro ticket to get in).
Misc Rail
Not that spectacular, but a must see nevertheless. The rail track to the Vatican.
A few impression from central station "Termini". This Leonardo Express train will depart for the airport soon (is was running 20min late)
Misc rolling stock
Trivia
The wrap this up, some non-rail stuff. I had a ticket to attend the general audience with the Holy Father. Atmosphere resembled to the visit of a pop star. Pope Francis seemed to enjoy the welcome. Every few yards the car had to stop and the Pope blessed children or shook hands. For the papal bodyguards live with Francis must be much more challenging than with Benedict.
The most famous body guards in the world. Unfortunately, due to rain, only a small glimpse of the colourful uniform
Rome at night. The first stop: The Caracalla Bath,
I had visited it in the afternoon and was awed by the dimension of the remains. Must have been a pretty big complex.
Second stop: The Colloseum
View from the Palatine Hill
Early evening impression of the Tiber (taken from the bridge in front of Castel Sant'Angelo)
The same spot, but a few days apart. The constant rain lead to rising water level of the Tiber
The downpour affected the metro too. Several stations were closed and the trains passed without stopping because of a inch of water on the platforms. B line service were suspended for half a day in the downtown section.
Even in January: Tourists everywhere. In the early afternoon the queue to get into St. Peter was pretty long. I can only guess what it looks like in the summer
As I did not want to get in line, I came back in the evening: It was much less crowded than and as an added bonus, I could enjoy the lighting
In ancient times, it was a Roman temple - nowadays it is a Catholic church: The Pantheon.
The remains of Circus Maximus (apart from a big green, the is not much left. In the back, the Palatine Hill.
Relatively far away from downton (and a bit challenging to get to) but worth a visit: The ancient Roman road Via Appia.
Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum
That's all folks. I hope you like it. Looking forward to your feedback.
Ciao
Charly
I went to Rome for a few days in January. Among a lot of sight seeing of old stones (Forum Romanum, Palatine Hill, Colloseum, Caracalla Bath), churches (St. Peter's Basilica, Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls) and art (Musei Vativani) I managed to grab some rail impressions
Metro
Metro line B was extended with a new branch last year. A train of the newer rolling stock at the current terminus Conca d'Oro (at the moment an extension that will add one more station is under construction).
Interior view: As it's a B line train, the seats are blue. On the A line the seats are orange.
Innenansicht: Linie B, daher Sitze in blau. Auf der Linie A sind sie orange.
The current network consist of two lines (A and B). The lines intersect at the station "Termini" below the central station. Markers on the floor help navigating from one line to the other
Most stations seemed pretty dark to me. A notable exception: The platform of line B at Termini station
A train of the old rolling stock. Surprisingly enough without graffiti.
Usually, the trains looked somewhat like this one at "Piramide" station
Line A is completely underground, whereas the B line has sections above ground. B line train at "Basilica Sao Paulo" station.
Currently, construction is under was to add a new line (C) to the network. The construction site at the future terminus "Fori Imperiali" (located a few yards away from the Colloseum) offers some information about the new line.
The train line from station "Porta San Paolo" ti Ostia uses a rolling stock similar to the rolling stock of the metro
"My" metro station "S. Agnese / Annibaliano" (located on the new branch of line B)
I liked the stations (a bit weird seeming) architecture.
Tram&Co
Apart from the metro, Rome has a network of six tram lines and the narrow gauge rail line Laziali Giardinetti
This line runs with headways comparable to the tram and offers a nice motif at station "Porta Maggiore": Little train and big wall
Several tram line intersect at "Porta Maggiore" too
Tram 3 to "Piazza Ostiense"
Tram 5 passing through the remains of the wall at "Porta Maggiore"
View from the narrow gauge platform to the tram stop
Vintage stock of tram line 19 at "Risorgimento". The Vatican is just a short walk away
View from a Tiber bridge to another bridge that carries the tram
A tram on the bridge
Tram 19 at station "Policlinco". This stop provides a transfer to te metro.
Modern rolling stock tram 3
Tram turned violet by advertising (tram 2, Station Ministero Marina)
Rail Museum
The metro company ATAC runs a little museum at "Porta San Paulo" station. It displays rolling stock from the beginning of the 20th century
The admission is free (but as the access is via the platform you would need a metro ticket to get in).
Misc Rail
Not that spectacular, but a must see nevertheless. The rail track to the Vatican.
A few impression from central station "Termini". This Leonardo Express train will depart for the airport soon (is was running 20min late)
Misc rolling stock
Trivia
The wrap this up, some non-rail stuff. I had a ticket to attend the general audience with the Holy Father. Atmosphere resembled to the visit of a pop star. Pope Francis seemed to enjoy the welcome. Every few yards the car had to stop and the Pope blessed children or shook hands. For the papal bodyguards live with Francis must be much more challenging than with Benedict.
The most famous body guards in the world. Unfortunately, due to rain, only a small glimpse of the colourful uniform
Rome at night. The first stop: The Caracalla Bath,
I had visited it in the afternoon and was awed by the dimension of the remains. Must have been a pretty big complex.
Second stop: The Colloseum
View from the Palatine Hill
Early evening impression of the Tiber (taken from the bridge in front of Castel Sant'Angelo)
The same spot, but a few days apart. The constant rain lead to rising water level of the Tiber
The downpour affected the metro too. Several stations were closed and the trains passed without stopping because of a inch of water on the platforms. B line service were suspended for half a day in the downtown section.
Even in January: Tourists everywhere. In the early afternoon the queue to get into St. Peter was pretty long. I can only guess what it looks like in the summer
As I did not want to get in line, I came back in the evening: It was much less crowded than and as an added bonus, I could enjoy the lighting
In ancient times, it was a Roman temple - nowadays it is a Catholic church: The Pantheon.
The remains of Circus Maximus (apart from a big green, the is not much left. In the back, the Palatine Hill.
Relatively far away from downton (and a bit challenging to get to) but worth a visit: The ancient Roman road Via Appia.
Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum
That's all folks. I hope you like it. Looking forward to your feedback.
Ciao
Charly
