Southern Italian Electrification Progess (Calabria)

[Iskra]

Just a quick note to inform forum members that on a recent (October) traversing of the Ionian Coast Line; there is evidence of electrification work progressing along the line from Sibari (the current end of the electrified line from Taranto and also across to Cosenza) to Crotone and onwards towards Catanzaro Lido station. Currently, the work seems to mainly involve piling-for and erecting-of masts at key areas, with some stations evidently being re-modelled too at the same time.

The line from Lamezia Terme to Catanzaro Lido is also to be electrified imminently.

This will leave the only unelectrified FS line in the Calabria region (to my knowledge at least), to be the remaining section of the Ionian Coast line between Catanzaro Lido and Melito Di Porto Salvo (near Reggio Calabria), which is a more challenging part of the line to electrify due to tunnels and the line running close to the sea in places. However, I do know that some substantial work is being planned for this section of line, as a level crossing I use on this section is planned to be removed in the future and replaced with an underpass which will involve significant work, so perhaps this is part of initial preparations for electrification on this stretch too?

What all this work will mean in terms of future service pattern and rolling stock is not known at this point, but clearly the ageing ALn 668/663 diesel railcar fleets that work regional services on these lines are going to become increasingly redundant with electrification and modern bi-mode units are already in service on some diagrams on these lines. It may also be worth travelling Italy's last remaining diesel-hauled (D445 class) Intercity services (currently 2 trains per day each way Reggio Calabira-Taranto) as soon as you can, as again continuing electrification work could end or disrupt this service in the not too distant future now.

 

[contrex]

Would it be at 3,000 V DC?

 

[Iskra]

Would it be at 3,000 V DC?

I would assume so as it’s not a high speed line.

 

[contrex]

The knitting in photos of Sibari look distinctly 3,000.

 

[Iskra]

The knitting in photos of Sibari look distinctly 3,000.

Sibari has a daily Frecciarossa service though, so could it be different there? Frecciarossa don’t operate on the rest of the Ionian Coast to my knowledge

 

[contrex]

"Avanzano i lavori di elettrificazione in corrente continua a 3000 Volt della ferrovia Jonica tra Sibari e Catanzaro Lido."

Ferrovie.it - Elettrificazione Jonica, avanti i lavori

CATANZARO - Avanzano i lavori di elettrificazione in corrente continua a 3000 Volt della ferrovia...

www.ferrovie.it

My Italian is a bit rusty, but that seems to answer my question.

 

[Iskra]

"Avanzano i lavori di elettrificazione in corrente continua a 3000 Volt della ferrovia Jonica tra Sibari e Catanzaro Lido."

Ferrovie.it - Elettrificazione Jonica, avanti i lavori

CATANZARO - Avanzano i lavori di elettrificazione in corrente continua a 3000 Volt della ferrovia...

www.ferrovie.it

My Italian is a bit rusty, but that seems to answer my question.

Translated into English:

CATANZARO - The 3000 Volt direct current electrification work of the Jonica railway between Sibari and Catanzaro Lido is progressing. In the second half of August the piling installation was completed from Sibari (km 124) to just beyond the Cirò station (approximately 208 km), with the exception of some station squares including that of Cariati. The LS type poles, anchored on the plinths as in use for some years now, are currently without brackets and polygon arms of the catenary.
Still without piling, however, is the section from the south of Cirò to Crotone of around 30 kilometres, which also includes the stations of Torre Melissa and Strongoli as well as PM Gabella, which at the time of writing were also "spared" by poles and pylons for electric traction.

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1. Km 207.332 shortly after the Cirò station, with the last LS poles before the still unequipped section that extends to Crotone. ( Photo David Campione, 18 August 2020 )
2. First piles between Cariati and Cirò, here near Punta Alice. ( Photo David Campione, 18 August 2020 )
South of Crotone the LS poles already reappear in position up to Catanzaro Lido, also in this case with the exception of some stations. Among these is the Cutro plant with the adjacent tunnel of the same name, the portal of which is located at the exchange point on the Crotone side. The Cutro tunnel, which with its 2722 meters is the longest of the entire Jonica railway, in fact presents static problems due to the morphology of the territory crossed. Despite the recent consolidation works of the work, which led to the closure of the line to traffic in the summer of 2017, the further interventions that would be necessary to widen the shape of the tunnel to accommodate the fixed systems for electric traction (especially brackets, arms and contact line), could create further critical issues for the structure.
RFI is therefore evaluating the construction of a new tunnel alongside the existing tunnel or for the construction of a route variant, which could follow the coastal trend, also favoring a possible rail connection to the airport of Crotone Sant'Anna.

The electrification works on the Sibari - Catanzaro Lido section, 172.48 km long, began on 30 August 2018 with the installation of the first LS pole in the Corigliano station (see Railway briefs of 08/30/2018) and should be completed by 2023. RFI has invested 150 million euros for the work, to which must be added approximately 350 million for the renewal of the infrastructure, suppression of numerous level crossings present on the route and renovation of the stations.

3

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3. Squeezed between the sea and State Road 106 Jonica, near the railway of the same name an Intercity passes from Taranto to Reggio Calabria. We are between Torre Melissa and Strongoli, where electrification has not yet arrived. ( Photo David Campione, 18 August 2020 )
4. An ALn 663 emerges at speed from the portal of the Cutro tunnel equipped with a ventilation system. On the top of the hill you can recognize the town of Cutro, a few kilometers away from the small station. ( Photo David Campione, 18 August 2020 )

David Campione - August 28, 2020​

 

[Cowley]

Thread reopened for @Iskra to provide an update.

 

[Iskra]

Thanks @Cowley

In BranchLine News International Issue 1454I, pages 10-11. https://www.branchline.uk/bln-m.php

There is some English language clarification about ongoing Southern Italian electrification and infrastructure projects.

In Calabria, it is confirmed that:

- Lamezia Terme-Catanzaro Lido is to be electrified before 2026.
- Catanzaro-Sibari is to be electrified (work already evident on the ground)
- A new 1km chord will be built in the Sibari area to allow trains from the North to access Crotone without reversing in Sibari station.

In Sicily:

- a new, more direct line is to be built in the Augusta area to cut 4.2km off the route between Catania and Syracuse, with Augusta station being relocated onto the new line and the old line abandoned.

 

[D6130]

Thanks @Cowley

In BranchLine News International Issue 1454I, pages 10-11. https://www.branchline.uk/bln-m.php

There is some English language clarification about ongoing Southern Italian electrification and infrastructure projects.

In Calabria, it is confirmed that:

- Lamezia Terme-Catanzaro Lido is to be electrified before 2026.
- Catanzaro-Sibari is to be electrified (work already evident on the ground)
- A new 1km chord will be built in the Sibari area to allow trains from the North to access Crotone without reversing in Sibari station.

In Sicily:

- a new, more direct line is to be built in the Augusta area to cut 4.2km off the route between Catania and Syracuse, with Augusta station being relocated onto the new line and the old line abandoned.

Good to see plenty of rail investment in the 'Mezzogiorno'!