Holiday trainspotting: Florence-Arezzo line?

[Jim Martin]

I'll be spending a week in Figline Valdarno, which is on the line from Florence to Arezzo, next month. Can anyone tell me if there's any interesting rail activity to be seen in the area? My impression, based on a study of Google Maps, is that the answer to this question is "no", but I'd be happy to be proved wrong. Thanks

 

Jim

[5944]

Arezzo is home of Trasporto Ferroviario Toscano. Basically two branches from Arezzo, one north, one south. Pretty scenery and some interesting traction. Some of the locos occasionally used on passenger services, though now reduced with new EMUs arriving, are from the 1920s. The line is also home to an ex LMS jackshaft shunter, which as far as I know is still operational. Though they have reduced the amount of freight on the line, and there are rumours that the two E626 electric locos and their D341 diesel may be sold soon. They also have a few steam locos, one of which is operational.

 

http://www.ferrovie.info/index.php/it/tft-trasporto-ferroviario-toscano-eng

[Fat Controller]

We stayed there a few years ago; the old main line had regular stopping trains, as well as regular freight services. The faster trains between the North and Rome used the Direttisima (sp?), built about 30 years ago, which is to the east of the main line, parallel to the Autostrada. When we were there, some freights also used this line.

The line from Arezzo to Stia still sees freight at the end closest to Arezzo; there are two wagon works (of disproportionate size), along with a pre-stressed concrete specialist, who in recent times has sent beams and floors as far as Paris. The Stia end seems to have lost most of its facilities, which included a goods shed, along with a (quite large) engine shed, which gave it the air of a model railway.

When we were there,the company who had the concession to operate the line had some elderly electrics (built in the 1920s!), alongside the LMS-designed shunter, and an ex-Wehrmacht shunter. The passenger services were, however, the domain of some very modern EMUs. 

[Jim Martin]

Thanks very much for the info. Perhaps there's more reason for optimism than I'd thought!

 

Jim

[47164]

Hope you found what what you were after. Just travelled from Venice to Rome, and , prior to that said to that said to my daughter what great scenery there will be between bolongia and Florence..little did I know that it is all tunnels..and impressive all the same, and enforces my view on how crap uk railways are now, especially around cost and comfort.

[Fat Controller]

Hope you found what what you were after. Just travelled from Venice to Rome, and , prior to that said to that said to my daughter what great scenery there will be between bolongia and Florence..little did I know that it is all tunnels..and impressive all the same, and enforces my view on how crap uk railways are now, especially around cost and comfort.

Somewhere over 50% of Italian railways are either in tunnel or on viaduct; it's a very mountainous country. 

[47164]

Yep, a great Drive is from nice round to portofino nearly 200 bridges and tunnels.