Domodossola–Locarno railway

The Domodossola–Locarno railway, also known in Switzerland as the Centovalli railway (Italian: Centovallina) and in Italy as Valle Vigezzo railway (Italian: Vigezzina), is a metre-gauge railway negotiating the dramatic mountainous terrain between Domodossola, Italy, and Locarno, Switzerland. It passes through the Vigezzo Valley (Italian side) and Centovalli (Swiss side).

Domodossola — Locarno railway
ABe 4/8 48 on the Isorno bridge near Intragna
Overview
Status	Operational
Locale	Centovalli and Valle Vigezzo
Termini	Domodossola Locarno
Stations	22
Service
Operator(s)	FART & SSIF
History
Opened	1923
Technical
Line length	52.1 kilometres (32.37 mi)
Number of tracks	1 main track with dual track at certain stations.
Track gauge	1,000 mm (3 ft 3 ^3⁄8 in) metre gauge
Electrification	1350 V DC[1]

Centovalli
Locarno San Martino Ponte Brolla Tegna Verscio Cavigliano Intragna Corcapolo Verdasio Palagnedra Borgnone-Cadanza Camedo Switzerland Italy border Ribellasca Folsogno-Dissimo Re Villette, Piedmont Malesco Zornasco Prestinone Santa Maria Maggiore Buttogno Druogno Gagnone-Orcesco Coimo Marone Verigo Trontano Creggio Masera Domodossola

It touches the villages of Druogno, Santa Maria Maggiore, Malesco and Intragna and carried over 1 million passengers in 2010. It is operated by the Ferrovie Autolinee Regionali Ticinesi (FART) in Switzerland and the Società Subalpina di Imprese Ferroviarie S.p.A. (SSIF) in Italy.[2][3]

Opened on 25 November 1923, the 52-kilometre (32 mi) long railway has 30 stations and takes approximately 2 hours to traverse the whole length. The Italian-Swiss border is crossed between the towns of Ribellasca and Camedo.

History

ABe 8/8 23 passing Ruinacci bridge over Palagnedra lake

Following a convention signed in Rome on 12 November 1918 between the plenipotentiaries Sidney Sonnino and De Segesser, respectively, of the King of Italy and the Federal Council of the Swiss Confederation, the construction of the railway began. The railway started with an initiative mainly due to the then Mayor of Locarno Francis Dance. The builders used part of the existing metre gauge Locarno-Bignasco railway (it) at the start of the eastern end of the new line. This set the metre gauge of the whole line. The Ponte Brolla-Bignasco section closed in 1965.

Since then the railway has regularly performed its task of connecting the communities between Locarno and Domodossola. The line continued after the period of mass motorization, when some considered the train to be obsolete.

The railway currently plays an important economic and tourist function in the area. It is the shortest and most scenic link between the major trans-Alpine railways that pass through the Simplon and Gotthard tunnels. Combined with the Simplon railway, it provides a fast connection between the Swiss Cantons of Valais and Ticino.

1978 flood

On 7 August 1978, a flood struck the railway causing damage affecting almost 700 metres of track, mainly on the Italian side. Thankfully there were no injuries but reconstruction of the line lasted until the end of the year.[4]

Specifications

Engine Tm 2/2 9 of the maintenance team in Intragna station

• Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 ³⁄₈ in) metre gauge
• Length: about 52.2 km (of which 32.300 is in Italian territory, 19.833 in Switzerland)
• Voltage: 1,350 V DC[1]
• Electrical substations: 5 (including 3 in Switzerland)
• Stations and stops with passing loops: 21 (13 in Italian territory, 8 in Switzerland)
• Passengers transported annually between 1982 and 1985:
  • 1982 - 896,411
  • 1983 - 917,737
  • 1984 - 852,381
  • 1985 - 869,215

Route

The route, like other mountain railways, has some dramatic inclines between the Masera and Santa Maria Maggiore (Italy), and between Verdasio and Intragna (Switzerland); in some places the gradient is 60 per thousand.

A trip between Domodossola and Locarno, takes slightly less than 2 hours. The railroad connects with the Swiss national railway terminals at both ends. At Locarno, trains run frequently to scenic Lugano.

The name "Centovalli" (100 valleys) derives from the existence of the many valleys along the line upon which are perched small towns. The mountainous geography means that there are many bridges and viaducts to admire on a journey. The trip is exceptionally scenic and negotiates many gorges.

Fares and equipment

Panoramic train at Ponte Brolla

Since at least October 2012,[5] there is new rolling stock called the "panoramic train". When taking this train, regardless of the type of ticket held, a supplement of €1,50 or CHF2,00 per passenger is collected, in cash, on board by the conductor. The departure board mentions "supplemento" for runs on the panoramic train. The supplement is not collected on other trains on the route.

Although it is an Italian train, the Centovalli fare (but not the supplement) is included in the scope of the various Swiss Rail flat rate and discount passes, as are journeys from Domodossola. The Swiss portion of the line is managed by Ferrovie Autolinee Regionali Ticinesi. On the Swiss side, directional signs and employees prominently display the company's acronym, FART.

References

1. Eisenbahnatlas Schweiz. Verlag Schweers + Wall GmbH. 2012. p. 58. ISBN 978-3-89494-130-7.
2. "Centivalli Railway". Swiss Travel System. Archived from the original on September 12, 2011. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
3. "Rotabile". Society for the Ticino Regional Railways Bus (FART) Ltd. Archived from the original on November 21, 2015. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
4. "Storia". Society for the Ticino Regional Railways Bus (FART) Ltd. Archived from the original on October 1, 2011. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
5. "Domodossola - Locarno". Youtube. Retrieved 13 October 2015.

External links

Media related to Domodossola–Locarno railway at Wikimedia Commons