Domodossola–Locarno railway

The Cento Valli Railway runs from Locarno in the Swiss canton of Ticino through the Cento Valli to the Italian border. It goes on through Vigezzo as Vigezzina to Domodossola in the Italian province of Verbano -Cusio -Ossola. It combines the route of the Gotthard railway with the railway line through the Simplon.

History

As the former Maggia Valley Railway and the funicular Locarno Madonna del Sasso is the Cento Valli track on the initiative of the mayor of Locarno, Francesco Balli, due towards the end of the 19th century. After the First World War had delayed the construction work recorded in 1912, the track was officially opened on 25 November 1923.

The international web is on the Swiss side of the railway company Ferrovie autolinee regionali ticinesi ( FART ), on the Italian side, where the web Vigezzina is called by the Società di Subalpina imprese ferroviarie ( SSIF ) operated. The operation is based on a treaty between the Swiss Federal Council and the King of Italy, Vittorio Emanuele III. , On 12 November 1918.

On 7 and 8 August 1978, the railway suffered severe damage from flooding, especially in the Italian section, where two bridges destroyed and several hundred meters of track were washed away. It was not until the summer of 1980, the international operations could be resumed.

In 1990, the overground sections and the terminus replaced in the center of Locarno by investing in the tunnel.

Lines

Starting from Locarno train station leads the railway line underground to the breakpoint S. Martino, where the tunnel route ends. In Ponte Brolla leaves the track, the Maggia Valley and crosses in a westerly direction to the Pedemonte Intragna. Here the actual Cento Valli, called to the border with Italy at Camedo so begins simultaneously starts here the stronger increase in the distance. After crossing the border, the train passes through the Valle Vigezzo with the larger towns Re Malesco and Santa Maria Maggiore, where it reaches 836 m the highest point.

It follows a gentler, then getting steeper descent along the southern side of the valley to the station Trontano. Between Trontano and Masera in the valley of the Toce the route reaches the maximum rate of 60 per thousand and the smallest radii of curvature of 50 m. After a short crossing of the Tocetals the underground terminus is achieved under the Domodossola station.

In the Swiss section of the line has 14 stations and bus stops, on the Italian side a total of 19, wherein the holding between Re and the border, however, be operated only sporadically. There is no continuous throughout the day clock schedule. The trip on the whole route takes about an hour and 45 minutes.

The first four years were shared between the Locarno Train Station and St. Anthony the existing tracks of the trams on the Locarno Piazza Grande. 1927 own line was opened for Cento Valli and Maggia Valley Railway, which circumnavigated the city center. In 1990, the tunnel between Locarno and S. Martino station was opened. From two previous alignments still sunken rails are to be seen in the road surface.

Technology

The narrow gauge has a track width of 1000 mm and operated since its opening at 1200 volts DC. The catenary voltage limit is now 840-1620 volts, which would correspond to a nominal voltage of 1350 volts, the voltage was never officially increased. The rectifier stations are located in Ponte Brolla, Intragna, Verdasio, Re and Trontano. While the Swiss leg was in 1963 equipped with light signals and route block, the notoriously cash-strapped SSIF was able to adapt only in the late 1990s this technical state their section.

Rolling stock

Traffic on the Cento Valli web is exclusively performed in railcars and multiple units.

See also: List of vehicles on the Cento Valli web.

The brunt took until 2007 ( commissioning of the three four-part SSIF panoramic trainsets 81-89/810-812 ) the 12 double railcars ABe 4/6 Vevey Technologies of 1992 by the FART (8 of these vehicles are ABe 4/6 51. - 58, 57-58 originally Ae 4 /6, 51 burnt out on 15 January 2009, 54-58 conversion to ABe 4/8 2011) and 4 in the SSIF set ( ABe 4/6 61-64 ). In addition, the ABDe 6/6 31-32 of FART and Abe are 8/8 21-24 the SSIF partially used in the cross-border traffic. The local traffic of the SSIF is managed by Abe 6/6 33-35 (ex railway Lugano - Ponte Tresa ). The car park is 4 cars the FART (B 120-123 ) and some of the SSIF (AB 105, B 106-107, A 130 & A 201 ) and supplemented by historic vehicles (AB 110-111 ). When FART Tm 2/2 9 used for rail service; in the SSIF ABFE 4/4 16 and Be 4/4 18 ( Squadra Manutenzione ). The ABFE 4/4 17 is the historic trains.

Agreed features

Because the railway Locarno - Domodossola ( since the opening of the Lötschberg base tunnel ) represents the Bernese Oberland with the Simplon line the fastest connection between the Ticino and the Valais region and between the region of Locarno and the French-speaking Switzerland and, most Swiss tariffs of direct traffic are continuous on the SSIF of the Swiss- Italian border to Domodossola and the FS- Domodossola- Demoiselle valid, especially half-fare card and general subscription.

For tourists, there are special days for cards that allow a break in the journey ( Biglietto TURISTICO ). On the Swiss side, there are those for the total distance to CHF 35, - and Locarno - Santa Maria Maggiore to CHF 27, -. On the Italian, the total distance is obtained including the funicular in Locarno Madonna del Sasso for € 26.50 without funicular for € 23, -. From the villages of the Valle Vigezzo costs this card € 21.50 or € 18, - ( as of 2011).

For the trip with the SSIF newly acquired panoramic trains is on the Italian section a surcharge of currently (2013 ) CHF 2, - or collected € 1.50.

The bicycle transport is normally permitted. There is also the possibility to rent bicycles in Camedo and leave again in Ponte Brolla. For this combination tickets train ticket / bicycle rental are offered.

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