As an aside, I used the Circumvesuviana in 1985 on a school trip and the current timetable has changed compared to then. Services appear to make more stops south of Torre Annunziata, but are faster north thereof. In 1985 all Sorrento services stopped at Ercolano, for example (which we used to reach Herculaneum).
Most trains are class Direttissimo, while in 1985 there were slower Diretto and Accelerato trains, too.
A different pattern nowadays, as well. In 1985 it was based on a 20-min headway with gaps. So you might have got, for example, 0811, 0831, 0911, 0951, 1031, 1111, 1131 etc. Now it's a 36-min headway, I presume this is based on 5 departures for hour on a repeating cycle of three routes?
Which parts are underground now? I remember east of Vico Equense the railway has to tunnel under the mountains at times, but most was above ground.
It’s worth experiencing - like a glorified ancient tram running at train speeds. It’s not the height of comfort, but having used it, I wouldn’t avoid it if it was the most convenient route for where I was going.
Do they still have the same stock that was used in 1985? (I have the feeling this has come up before, but can't remember if it was answered).
I recall the stock then was 3-car OHLE EMUs with a pointed front end, running usually in 6- or 9-car formations. Plastic seats, I think, but wasn't bothered. The stock seemed modern at the time, perhaps late 70s or very early 80s. Don't remember perceiving it as something to avoid, but again the stock was presumably quite new then.
Sorry to go on about reminiscences but this was my 2nd-ever experience of overseas railways (Caravelle DMUs in the Massif Central being the first, in 1983).
