Turin–Modane railway

An Italian train running the Fréjus railway.
Legend
0.00 Torino Porta Nuova 240 m MSL.
Zappata Junction to Torino Lingotto, Genoa, Savona and Torre Pellice
Zappata Junction to Torino Porta Susa, Milan and Canavese
Pronda junction to Orbassano goods yard
Corso Francia
7.42 Collegno 302 m MSL
Autostrada A55
11.64 Alpignano 331 m MSL
SS 25 from Mont Cenis
16.86 Rosta 390 m MSL
21.73 Avigliana 391 m MSL
SS 25 from Mont Cenis
25.35 Sant'Ambrogio 356 m MSL
28.94 Condove-Chiusa San michele 378 m MSL
32.19 Sant'Antonino-Vaie 380 m MSL.
Autostrada A32
Dora Riparia river
SS 24 from Montgenèvre
35.72 Borgone 394 m MSL
38.57 Bruzolo di Susa 455 m MSL
43.16 Bussoleno 440 m MSL
SS 25 from Mont Cenis
SS 25 from Mont Cenis
Autostrada A32
50.69 Susa 8 km branch 503 m MSL
Dora Riparia river
SS 24 from Montgenèvre
50.52 Meana 661 m MSL
SS 24 from Montgenèvre
Tagliata Tunnel
SS 24 from Montgenèvre
57.09 Chiomonte 748 m MSL
63.06 Exilles 873 m MSL
Serre de la Voute Tunnel
Dora Riparia River
Autostrada A32
66.80 Salbertrand 1032 m MSL
Geronda tunnel under the SS 24
Ventoux bridge over the Dora Riparia river
72.74 Oulx-Claviere-Sestriere 1121 m MSL
Dora di Bardonecchia river
78.56 Beaulard 1150 m MSL
SS 335 from Bardonecchia
SS 335 from Bardonecchia
SS 335 from Bardonecchia
Dora di Bardonecchia river
83.83 Bardonecchia 1312 m MSL
91.22 Fréjus Rail Tunnel, national border 1338 m MSL
102.54 Modane 1054 m MSL
To Chambery, Lyon and Paris

The Turin–Modane railway is the international rail connection from Turin, Italy to Modane, France. It passes through the Susa Valley and the Fréjus Rail Tunnel. Together with the French Culoz–Modane railway it is often called "Fréjus Railway" or "Mont Cenis Railway".

Despite running under the Fréjus Pass, it is sometimes called the Mont Cenis Railway because, from antiquity until the Fréjus Rail Tunnel was opened in 1871, most people used the Mont Cenis Pass to get between France and Italy. From 1868 to 1871 the temporary Mont Cenis Pass Railway ran over the Mont Cenis pass to link the French and Italian railways.

History

The Victor Emmanuel Railway, which included both the Culoz–Modane railway across Savoy and the Turin–Modane railway across Piedmont, was largely built in the 1850s by the Kingdom of Sardinia and named after its king, Victor Emmanuel II. Until 1860 Sardinia included both Savoy and Piedmont.[1] The line from Turin to Susa was inaugurated on 22 May 1854.[2] Work on the tunnel began on 31 August 1857 and was completed in September 1871. Work had begun on the line between Bussoleno and Bardonecchia in 1867 and was completed at the same time as the tunnel. The tunnel and line were opened on 16 October 1871.[3] The decision of the engineers to begin the line at Bussoleno in order to reduce the gradient on the climb near Meana was much criticized for bypassing the city of Susa, which was left isolated on a short branch line. The opening of the tunnel also led to the closure of the Mont Cenis Pass Railway. In 1865 the line became part of the network of the Società per le strade ferrate dell'Alta Italia (Upper Italian Railways, SFAI) on its foundation in 1865 and was taken over by the Rete Mediterranea (Mediterranean Network) in 1885. Finally in 1905 it became part of the Ferrovie dello Stato network.

The line, originally a single track, was doubled in 1908 between Zappa Junction and Collegno in 1909, between Beaulard and Salbertrand in 1911, between Collegno and Alpignano in 1912, between Alpignano and Avigliana, between Avigliana and Bussoleno in 1915, and between Bussoleno and Salbertrand in 1984. Electrification at three phase was completed between 1912 and 1920,[4] but this system was converted to 3,000 volts direct current in 1961.

1917 derailment

On 12 December 1917, a troop train containing 800-1000 French soldiers returning home on leave from fighting in North East Italy, having passed along this line and through the Fréjus Rail Tunnel into France, derailed at speed near Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne, killing several hundred soldiers.

Features

The Turin–Modane railway line is 103 km long, fully electrified and double track. It has the standard Italian automatic block signalling system. The mountain section starts at Bussoleno and the two tracks take different routes. Much of the uphill line to Bardonecchia runs through tunnel between Bussoleno and Salbertrand, while the line running downhill from Bardonecchia, has a lower proportion in tunnel and takes a slightly lower route. West of Salbertrand the two tracks follow the same route. The uphill line was designed with "S"-shaped tunnels in order to reduce the gradient, increasing its length. Between Bussoleno and Salbertrand the two tracks are at the same level at the intermediate stations, except at Exilles, where the platforms are on different levels. This station is no longer in regular use, being separated by the valley from the village of Exilles and its fort. But it can still be used if required for historical trains, or to pick up or drop off groups. On the western edge of Bardonecchia is the mouth of the tunnel, with a monumental gateway, enclosed by two round towers, all topped by battlements. In the nearby village of Rochemolles there are signs of the first entrance to the tunnel; it is now bricked up but it has some holes where the tracks inside can be seen.

Since 2002, regional train services have ended at Bardonecchia; previously they continued on to Modane. This is to allow the enlargement of the tunnel to allow the passage of container trains. Now only TGV trains reach Modane from Italy. Instead of regional trains, there is a replacement bus service to carry passengers to Modane, although this is a limited service. Freight traffic is still well supported. In particular, special freight trains constitute the Alpine rolling road. Low flat wagons carry trucks through the Alps. These trains are fitted with a passenger carriage for the transport of truck drivers. Four pairs of daily trips each day connect Turin Orbassano goods yard and the French terminal at Aiton at the bottom of the Maurienne Valley.

The highest point of the line is 1,338 m, inside the Frejus tunnel. The maximum slope is 30 ‰, and the tunnels have a width of 2.72 m and a height of 3.96 or 4.11 m.

Future

The line is intended to be superseded for long-distance travel by the Lyon Turin Ferroviaire through the Mont d'Ambin base tunnel, currently under construction.

References

  1. P. J. G. Ransom (1999), The Mont Cenis Fell Railway, Truro: Twelveheads Press, pp 13, 14
  2. Kalla-Bishop, P. M. (1971). Italian Railways. Newton Abbott, Devon, England: David & Charles. p. 26. ISBN 0-7153-5168-0.
  3. Kalla-Bishop, P. M. (1971). Italian Railways. Newton Abbott, Devon, England: David & Charles. pp. 41–42. ISBN 0-7153-5168-0.
  4. Kalla-Bishop, P. M. (1971). Italian Railways. Newton Abbott, Devon, England: David & Charles. pp. 101–102. ISBN 0-7153-5168-0.

See also

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