Ionian Railway

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Ionian Railway
Train along the line in 2018.
Overview
Statusin use
OwnerRFI
Line number135
LocaleItaly
Termini
Service
TypeHeavy rail
Operator(s)Trenitalia
History
OpenedIn stages between 1866 (1866) and 1875 (1875)
Technical
Line length472 km (293 mi)
Number of tracksSingle track
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
ElectrificationElectrified at 3000 V DC (Taranto to Sibari
Melito di Porto Salvo to Reggio Calabria)
Route map

km
from Brindisi
from Martina Franca
Taranto
to Bari
Palagiona-Chiatona
Castellaneta Marina
Ginosa
Metaponto
to Battipaglia via Potenza
Scanzano Jonico-Montalbano Jonico
Policoro-Tursi
Nova Siri-Rotondella
Rocca Imperiale
Monte Giordano
Roseto-Capo Spulico
Amendolara-Oriolo
Trebisacce
Villapiana Lido
Villapiana-Torre Cerchiara
Sibari
to Cosenza
Corigliano Calabro
Rossano
Toscano
Mirto-Crosia
Calopezzati
Pietrapaola
Mandatoriccio-Campana
Cariati
Crucoli
Cirò
Torre Melissa
Strongoli
Crotone
Cutro
Roccabernarda
Botricello
Cropani
Sellia Marina
Simeri Crichi
Catanzaro Lido
to Lamezia Terme
Squillace
Montepaone-Montauro
Soverato
San Sostene
Sant'Andrea dell'Jonio
Badolato
Santa Caterina dell'Jonio
Guardavalle
Monasterace-Stilo
Riace
Caulonia
Roccella Jonica
Gioiosa Jonica
Siderno
Locri
Sant'Ilario del Jonio
Ardore
Bovalino
Bianco
Africo Nuovo
Ferruzzano
Brancaleone
Capo Spartivento
Palizzi
Bova Marina
Condofuri
Marina di San Lorenzo
Melito di Porto Salvo
Annà
Saline di Reggio
O.G.R di Saline Joniche
Motta San Giovanni-Lazzaro
Reggio di Calabria Bocale
Reggio di Calabria Pellaro
Reggio di Calabria San Gregorio
Reggio di Calabria Aeroporto
Reggio di Calabria O.ME.CA.
Reggio di Calabria Centrale
to Battipaglia via Lamezia Terme
km
Source: Italian railway atlas[1]

The Ionian Railway (Ferrovia Jonica) is an Italian 472-kilometre (293-mile) long railway line that connects Taranto, with Sibari, Crotone and Reggio Calabria. The route operates through the regions of Apulia, Basilicata and Calabria. The route largely follows the coast of the Ionian Sea.

History[edit]

The line was opened in stages between 1866 and 1875.[2]

Date Section
3 June 1866 Reggio Calabria - Lazzaro
1 October 1868 Lazzaro - Bianco
28 February 1869 Taranto – Marconia
18 August 1869 Marconia – Trebisacce
6 March 1870 Trebisacce – Rossano
16 June 1870 Rossano – Cariati
1 February 1871 Bianco – Roccella Jonica
1 June 1874 Cariati – Crotone
20 May 1875 Catanzaro Lido – Monasterace
15 November 1875 Crotone – Catanzaro Lido

Developments[edit]

On 13 November 1989 the line between Taranto and Sibari was electrified. The line has also been electrified between Melito di Porto Salvo and Reggio Calabria to allow for the operation of a suburban service.

On 12 December 2010 Gabella Grande, Isola Capo Rizzuto, Marconia, San Leonardo di Cutro and Thurio stations were downgraded to halts. On the same date O.G.R di Saline Joniche, Pietrapaola and San Sosthenes stations closed.[3]

On 21 February 2013 the station serving Reggio Calabria Airport opened, linking it to the city. On 9 June 2013 the station Melito di Porto Salvo opened in Annà.

Usage[edit]

The line is used by the following service(s):

  • Intercity services Rome - Naples - Salerno - Taranto
  • Intercity services Reggio di Calabria - Siderno - Crotone - Sibari - Taranto
  • Regional services (Treno regionale) Naples - Salerno - Potenza - Metaponto - Taranto
  • Regional services (Treno regionale) Sibari - Monte Giordano - Metaponto
  • Regional services (Treno regionale) Sibari - Crotone - Catanzaro Lido
  • Regional services (Treno regionale) Catanzaro Lido - Roccela Jonica - Reggio di Calabria
  • Regional services (Treno regionale) Melito di Porto Salvo - Reggio di Calabria - Villa San Giovanni

Stations currently without services[edit]

The following stations on the Ionian Railway are currently not served by any railway service:

  • Scanzano Jonico-Montalbano Jonico (freight trains only)
  • Sinni (dismissed)
  • Nova Siri-Rotondella (without any train service)
  • Rocca Imperiale (without any train service)
  • Montegiordano (without any train service)
  • Roseto-Capo Spulico (without any train service)
  • Amendolara-Oriolo (without any train service)
  • Toscano (dismissed - regional trains to/from Sibari, Crotone, and Catanzaro Lido call only on the opening days of the Odissea 2000 water park)
  • Pietrapaola (dismissed)
  • Roccabernarda (dismissed)
  • San Sostiene (dismissed)
  • Capo Spartivento (dismissed)

The following former railway stations on the line have been converted to signalling controls:

  • Bosco Pineto
  • Thurio
  • Gabella Grande
  • Isola di Capo Rizzuto
  • San Leonardo di Cutro

References[edit]

Footnotes[edit]

  1. ^ Railway Atlas 2017, pp. 86, 90, 94, 97, 99, 105.
  2. ^ Prospetto cronologico 1927.
  3. ^ Impianti FS, in "I Treni" n. 333 (January 2011), pp. 6-7

Sources[edit]

  • RFI, ed. (December 2003). Fascicolo Linea 135 (in Italian). Rete Ferroviaria Italiana.
  • Tuzza, Alessandro, ed. (1927). "Prospetto cronologico dei tratti di ferrovia aperti all'esercizio dal 1839 al 31 dicembre 1926" (in Italian). Ufficio Centrale di Statistica delle Ferrovie dello Stato/Trenidicarta.it. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  • Atlante ferroviario d'Italia e Slovenia [Railway atlas of Italy and Slovenia]. Schweers + Wall. 2010. ISBN 978-3-89494-129-1.

See also[edit]