Ferrovia Trento-Malè

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

EMUs of Trento-Malè railway.

The Ferrovia Trento-Malè (FTM; English: Trento-Malè Railway) is a narrow gauge railway connecting Trento and Malè in Trentino, northern Italy. In 2003 it was extended to Marilleva: the line has now a total length of 66 kilometres (41 mi).

[edit] History

In 1891 a proposal for a new railway in Trentino (then part of the Austrian Empire was issued by Paolo Oss Mazzurana, mayor of Trento. Construction began in 1907 and the railway was inaugurated in 1909 as a 1,000 mm (3 ft 3⅜ in) narrow gauge tramway, electrified at 800 V DC (converted to 3,000 V DC in 1964).

After the end of World War I, by which Trentino was returned to Italy, the railway was acquired by the Ferrovie dello Stato in 1936. The line was almost totally rebuilt, shortened by 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) but assuming the character of a true railway without road-embedded sections. In 1945 it passed under a new public company, Società Locale Trento Malè', who controlled it until 2002, when it became part of Trentino trasporti.