Rome–Formia–Naples railway

Legend
 0 Roma Termini
To Pescara, Naples (high-speed),
Florence and Florence (high-speed)
To Viterbo, Pisa, Fiumicino
3 Roma Casilina
To Naples via Cassino, Frascati, Albano and Velletri
13 Torricola
Grande Raccordo Anulare—European route E80
17 Divino Amore
24 Pomezia–Santa Palomba
34 Campoleone
To Nettuno / Albano
Albano–Nettuno line
42 Carano
50 Cisterna di Latina
62 Latina
To Velletri
71 Sezze Romano
To Priverno
From Priverno
86 Priverno–Fossanova
To Terracina
Mont'Orso Tunnel
103 Monte San Biagio
110 Fondi–Sperlonga
123 Itri
From Gaeta
129 Formia
139 Minturno–Scauri
To Sparanise
Garigliano River
154 Sessa Aurunca–Roccamonfina
165 Falciano-Mondragone-Carinola
Volturno River
174 Cancello Arnone
181 Villa Literno
Naples Passante line
187 Albanova
190 San Marcellino–Frignano
From Caserta
195 Aversa
199 Sant'Antimo–Sant'Arpino
201 Frattamaggiore–Grumo Nevano
205 Casoria–Afragola
From Caserta
From Salerno
214 Napoli Centrale

The Rome–Formia–Naples railway—also called the Rome–Naples Direttissima in Italian ("most direct")–is part of the traditional main north-south trunk line of the Italian railway network. It was opened in 1927 as a fast link as an alternative to the existing Rome–Naples via Cassino line, significantly reducing journey times. High-speed trains on the route use the parallel Florence–Rome high-speed line, which was partially opened in December 2005, and fully in December 2009.

Contents

History

Problems with the Rome–Naples line via Cassino led to proposals for the construction of a new line nearer the coast as early as 1871. When the Papal States planned the Cassino line, it was not designed just as a direct connection with Naples, but also was intended to connect with smaller localities on the way. Partly as a result, it had a tortuous route which, especially in the valley of the Sacco River, was subject to frequent disruption by floods and landslides. The old line was built to the avoid the coastal route through the Pontine Marshes, which was still swampy and malarial. As a result its route is hilly and in parts mountainous, creating problems for the under-powered steam locomotives of the period.[1]

The construction of a coastal line was authorised by legislation on 29 July 1879 on condition that it was coordinated with the Terracina–Priverno and the Gaeta–Formia–Sparanise lines. The commitment was confirmed by legislation on 5 July 1882 and during the reorganisation of the Italian railways in 1885. The project was always controversial: it is supported by railway engineers such as Alfredo Cottrau[2] but opposed by politicians such as Francesco Saverio Nitti.[3]

The final design of the line was drafted in 1902 and approved in 1905 when responsibility for the project was assumed by Ferrovie dello Stato (the State Railways). Construction began in 1907 but was not finished until 1927 because it was necessary to dig several long tunnels, including the Monte Orso and the Vivola tunnels, both of which are about 7.5 km long.

Branches

Notes

  1. ^ Taverna, A. (in Italian). Storia delle ferrovie italiane (History of the Italian railways). 
  2. ^ Cottrau, Alfredo (1883) (in Italian). La direttissima Napoli-Roma; studiata in modo da usufruire di alcuni tratti dell'attuale linea ferroviaria Cottrau. Napoli. 
  3. ^ Nitti, Francesco Saverio (1903) (in Italian). Napoli e la questione meridionale. Pierro. 

External links

Media related to [//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Rome-Formia-Naples_railway Rome-Formia-Naples railway] at Wikimedia Commons