Catanzaro Lido railway station
Encyclopedia
Catanzaro Lido railway station is one of the railway stations serving the city and comune
of Catanzaro, capital of the Calabria
region
, southern Italy
. Opened in 1875, it forms part of the Jonica railway (Taranto–Reggio Calabria), and is also a terminus of a secondary line, the Lamezia Terme–Catanzaro Lido railway.
The station is currently managed by Rete Ferroviaria Italiana
(RFI). However, the commercial area of the passenger building
is managed by Centostazioni
. The station's main line train services are operated by or on behalf of Trenitalia
. Each of these companies is a subsidiary of Ferrovie dello Stato
(FS), Italy's state-owned rail company.
The nearby Catanzaro Lido railway station (FC), operated by the Ferrovie della Calabria (FC), is a terminus of a metre gauge
line from Cosenza, and there is convenient interchange between the two stations.
At that time, the station was known as Marina di Catanzaro. On 15 November 1875, it became a through station, upon the inauguration of the final section of the Jonica railway, between Crotone (then known as Cotrone) and Catanzaro Lido.
The station's first operator was the Società per le Strade Ferrate Meridionali
(Company for the Southern Railways, SFM).
Initially, the Jonica railway was very important. Until the completion of the Southern Tyrrhenian railway in the late nineteenth century, it was the only link from the far south of mainland Italy (and Sicily) to the centre and north of the peninsula. Prior to 1890, when the Metaponto–Potenza–Battipaglia railway came into operation, it was the essential connection to Naples and Rome.
The line's importance waned as the Southern Tyrrhenian railway diverted most of its traffic via Salerno and Naples. However, as a strategic link between the Tyrrhenian
and Ionian
seas, it was a target of Allied bombing during World War II
. Track 1 at the station now has a plaque in memory of the railwaymen who fell in World War II, and also in memory of the bombing of the station itself.
After the war, the station appeared to have a brighter future, so it was rebuilt in its present form, and the entire goods yard and locomotive shed were rearranged. In 2007, substantial restyling renewed the station's appearance, and made it more secure and comfortable.
From the street side of the passenger building, a generous shelter in blue plexiglass, supported by an iron structure, protects its main entrances. Inside is a large hall, which is well lit, thanks to the numerous windows and the positioning of the benches. There are also a small kiosk, the three branches of the ticket office and the entrance to the bar.
Two exits lead from the passenger building to the tracks. Between those exits are the steps down to the spacious pedestrian underpass, which is equipped with monitors giving train information, and a sound system. The underpass is useful, not only to rail passengers, but also to those walking between the city centre and Marina district side to the Fortuna area. Anyone wishing to make such a connection was previously bound to use an old and historic iron bridge.
All platforms at the station are equipped with shelters, and information boards giving details of arrivals and departures. There is also a vending machine on the platform between tracks 2 and 3.
The opening in 2008 of a diversion of the Lamezia Terme line between Settingiano
and Catanzaro Lido (via the new Catanzaro station
) eliminated a significant constraint in the station's track layout. Previously, trains arriving from or departing to Lamezia could do so only from track 1 or track 2. The diversion has radically changed the entire track layout, which is still being finalised at the Crotone end of the station yard. The main path into the station from that end now corresponds to track 1, but the completion of that end will in all likelihood divert the main path to track 3, as it is perfectly aligned with the two outgoing lines at that end.
Also at the Crotone end of the station yard, there is a junction for ONMO (Officina Nazionale Mezzi d'Opera) next to the old line to Lamezia, near which can also be found RFI line maintenance equipment, operated by the Ventura di Paola enterprise.
allocated to Catanzaro Lido, as well as ensuring that they are sheltered when they are not in service.
The depot is divided into two immediately adjacent sheds. The north side shed is usually reserved solely for multiple unit
trains and/or shunting locomotives (currently in service in Catanzaro Lido is one D.214). The shed closer to the active line often houses locomotives. Several different units of D.345 class
diesel locomotives and Aln 668 1000 Series
diesel railcar
s are assigned to Catanzaro Lido. They are used continuously for regional services
on the Jonica railway.
The depot is also equipped with a turntable, wash stalls for both the interiors and exteriors of multiple unit trains, and, in the immediate vicinity of the station, wash stalls for passenger cars, with the addition of a new automated cleaning mechanism.
Not far from the depot is the Dopolavoro Ferroviario, with a building used as a meeting place beside a football field. Also notable is the preserved steam engine of gruppo 625 monumentata.
Most regional trains
calling at the station from Sibari/Croton terminate there. Trains operating between Reggio Calabria Centrale
and Lamezia Terme Centrale
are now required to reverse at Catanzaro Lido. Regional trains to and from Lamezia operate approximately hourly. The station also has direct express train connections with Roma Termini
and Torino Porta Nuova
.
A short walk from the station is the Catanzaro Lido (FC) station, from where the Catanzaro Città railway station can be reached, on the metre gauge Cosenza–Catanzaro Lido railway. From the latter station, there are connections to Gimigliano
, Decollatura
and Soveria Mannelli
.
Comuni of Monasterace
, Locri
, Guardavalle
, Santa Caterina dello Ionio
, Soverato
, Bova Marina
, Isca
, Squillace
, Roccelletta di Borgia.
Comuni of Soverato
, Chiaravalle Centrale
, Curinga
, Girifalco
, San Pietro a Maida
, Borgia, Squillace
, Cortale
, Maida
, Copanello, Stalettì
, Montauro
, Montepaone
, Petrizzi
, Gagliato
, Petronà
, Sersale
.
Comuni of Crotone
, Isola di Capo Rizzuto
, Botricello
, Sellia Marina
.
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
of Catanzaro, capital of the Calabria
Calabria
Calabria , in antiquity known as Bruttium, is a region in southern Italy, south of Naples, located at the "toe" of the Italian Peninsula. The capital city of Calabria is Catanzaro....
region
Regions of Italy
The regions of Italy are the first-level administrative divisions of the state, constituting its first NUTS administrative level. There are twenty regions, of which five are constitutionally given a broader amount of autonomy granted by special statutes....
, southern Italy
South Italy
South Italy is one of the five official statistical regions of Italy used by the National Institute of Statistics , a first level NUTS region and a European Parliament constituency. South Italy encompasses six of the country's 20 regions:*Abruzzo...
. Opened in 1875, it forms part of the Jonica railway (Taranto–Reggio Calabria), and is also a terminus of a secondary line, the Lamezia Terme–Catanzaro Lido railway.
The station is currently managed by Rete Ferroviaria Italiana
Rete Ferroviaria Italiana
Rete Ferroviaria Italiana is an Italian company fully owned by Ferrovie dello Stato . RFI is the owner of Italy's railway network, it sets train paths, provides signalling, provides maintenance and other services for the railway network...
(RFI). However, the commercial area of the passenger building
Station building
A station building, also known as a head house, is the main building of a passenger train station. It is typically used principally to provide services to passengers.A station building is not to be confused with the station itself...
is managed by Centostazioni
Centostazioni
' is a member company of Italy's Ferrovie dello Stato group. It was created to rehabilitate, develop and manage 103 medium sized Italian railway stations.-History:...
. The station's main line train services are operated by or on behalf of Trenitalia
Trenitalia
Trenitalia is the primary train operator in Italy. Trenitalia is owned by Ferrovie dello Stato, itself owned by the Italian Government. It was created in 2000 following the EU directive on the deregulation of rail transport.-Passenger transport:...
. Each of these companies is a subsidiary of Ferrovie dello Stato
Ferrovie dello Stato
Ferrovie dello Stato is a government-owned holding which manage infrastructure and service on the Italian rail network. The subsidiary Trenitalia is the main rail operator in Italy.-Organization:Ferrovie dello Stato subsidiaries are:...
(FS), Italy's state-owned rail company.
The nearby Catanzaro Lido railway station (FC), operated by the Ferrovie della Calabria (FC), is a terminus of a metre gauge
Metre gauge
Metre gauge refers to narrow gauge railways and tramways with a track gauge of . In some African, American and Asian countries it is the main gauge. In Europe it has been used for local railways in France, Germany, and Belgium, most of which were closed down in mid 20th century. Only in Switzerland...
line from Cosenza, and there is convenient interchange between the two stations.
Location
Catanzaro Lido railway station is situated at Piazzale Stazione, in the Lido district of Catanzaro.History
The station was opened on 20 May 1875, together with the rest of the Catanzano Lido–Monasterace section of the Jonica railway.At that time, the station was known as Marina di Catanzaro. On 15 November 1875, it became a through station, upon the inauguration of the final section of the Jonica railway, between Crotone (then known as Cotrone) and Catanzaro Lido.
The station's first operator was the Società per le Strade Ferrate Meridionali
Società per le Strade Ferrate Meridionali
The Società per le Strade Ferrate Meridionali was an Italian railway company established in 1862. In 1885 it took the control of the so-called "Rete Adriatica"...
(Company for the Southern Railways, SFM).
Initially, the Jonica railway was very important. Until the completion of the Southern Tyrrhenian railway in the late nineteenth century, it was the only link from the far south of mainland Italy (and Sicily) to the centre and north of the peninsula. Prior to 1890, when the Metaponto–Potenza–Battipaglia railway came into operation, it was the essential connection to Naples and Rome.
The line's importance waned as the Southern Tyrrhenian railway diverted most of its traffic via Salerno and Naples. However, as a strategic link between the Tyrrhenian
Tyrrhenian Sea
The Tyrrhenian Sea is part of the Mediterranean Sea off the western coast of Italy.-Geography:The sea is bounded by Corsica and Sardinia , Tuscany, Lazio, Campania, Basilicata and Calabria and Sicily ....
and Ionian
Ionian Sea
The Ionian Sea , is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, south of the Adriatic Sea. It is bounded by southern Italy including Calabria, Sicily and the Salento peninsula to the west, southern Albania to the north, and a large number of Greek islands, including Corfu, Zante, Kephalonia, Ithaka, and...
seas, it was a target of Allied bombing during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Track 1 at the station now has a plaque in memory of the railwaymen who fell in World War II, and also in memory of the bombing of the station itself.
After the war, the station appeared to have a brighter future, so it was rebuilt in its present form, and the entire goods yard and locomotive shed were rearranged. In 2007, substantial restyling renewed the station's appearance, and made it more secure and comfortable.
Passenger building
Prior to its major facelift in 2007, the passenger building at the station was virtually derelict. Today, it presents as a mix between its old design (facing the station yard) and a breath of modernity (facing the street). On the station yard side, the original structure has even been preserved and restored in its original colors, and the canopy facing track 1 has been repainted.From the street side of the passenger building, a generous shelter in blue plexiglass, supported by an iron structure, protects its main entrances. Inside is a large hall, which is well lit, thanks to the numerous windows and the positioning of the benches. There are also a small kiosk, the three branches of the ticket office and the entrance to the bar.
Two exits lead from the passenger building to the tracks. Between those exits are the steps down to the spacious pedestrian underpass, which is equipped with monitors giving train information, and a sound system. The underpass is useful, not only to rail passengers, but also to those walking between the city centre and Marina district side to the Fortuna area. Anyone wishing to make such a connection was previously bound to use an old and historic iron bridge.
All platforms at the station are equipped with shelters, and information boards giving details of arrivals and departures. There is also a vending machine on the platform between tracks 2 and 3.
Track plan
Catanzaro Lido has five tracks used for passenger services, plus a sixth, on which service vehicles or passenger cars needing maintenance are often stored.The opening in 2008 of a diversion of the Lamezia Terme line between Settingiano
Settingiano
Settingiano is a town and comune in the province of Catanzaro in the Calabria region of southern Italy.-Geography:The town is bordered by Caraffa di Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Marcellinara and Tiriolo....
and Catanzaro Lido (via the new Catanzaro station
Catanzaro railway station
Catanzaro, commonly known as Catanzaro Sala for the position in Sala quarter and due to the name of the adjacent FC station, is a railway station of the Italian city of Catanzaro, in Calabria region....
) eliminated a significant constraint in the station's track layout. Previously, trains arriving from or departing to Lamezia could do so only from track 1 or track 2. The diversion has radically changed the entire track layout, which is still being finalised at the Crotone end of the station yard. The main path into the station from that end now corresponds to track 1, but the completion of that end will in all likelihood divert the main path to track 3, as it is perfectly aligned with the two outgoing lines at that end.
Also at the Crotone end of the station yard, there is a junction for ONMO (Officina Nazionale Mezzi d'Opera) next to the old line to Lamezia, near which can also be found RFI line maintenance equipment, operated by the Ventura di Paola enterprise.
Locomotive depot and workshops
Yet another facility at the Crotone end of the yard is the locomotive depot, which also functions as the Locomotive Maintenance Workshop of the local Regional Transport Division . This facility carries out regular checks on the whole fleet of rolling stockRolling stock
Rolling stock comprises all the vehicles that move on a railway. It usually includes both powered and unpowered vehicles, for example locomotives, railroad cars, coaches and wagons...
allocated to Catanzaro Lido, as well as ensuring that they are sheltered when they are not in service.
The depot is divided into two immediately adjacent sheds. The north side shed is usually reserved solely for multiple unit
Multiple unit
The term multiple unit or MU is used to describe a self-propelled carriages capable of coupling with other units of the same or similar type and still being controlled from one driving cab. The term is commonly used to denote passenger trainsets consisting of more than one carriage...
trains and/or shunting locomotives (currently in service in Catanzaro Lido is one D.214). The shed closer to the active line often houses locomotives. Several different units of D.345 class
FS Class D345
The FS Class D345 is a class of diesel-electric locomotive used in Italy, introduced in the 1970s and still in service.- History :After the positive experience with class D343, in 1970 Italian state railways, Ferrovie dello Stato, ordered further 70 diesel locomotives with some minor improvements...
diesel locomotives and Aln 668 1000 Series
ALn 668
The ALn 668 is a family of diesel railcars built by Fiat Ferroviaria for usage by the FS, State railway company ....
diesel railcar
Railcar
A railcar, in British English and Australian English, is a self-propelled railway vehicle designed to transport passengers. The term "railcar" is usually used in reference to a train consisting of a single coach , with a driver's cab at one or both ends. Some railways, e.g., the Great Western...
s are assigned to Catanzaro Lido. They are used continuously for regional services
Regional rail
Commuter rail, also called suburban rail, is a passenger rail transport service that primarily operates between a city center, and the middle to outer suburbs beyond 15km and commuter towns or other locations that draw large numbers of commuters—people who travel on a daily basis...
on the Jonica railway.
The depot is also equipped with a turntable, wash stalls for both the interiors and exteriors of multiple unit trains, and, in the immediate vicinity of the station, wash stalls for passenger cars, with the addition of a new automated cleaning mechanism.
Not far from the depot is the Dopolavoro Ferroviario, with a building used as a meeting place beside a football field. Also notable is the preserved steam engine of gruppo 625 monumentata.
Passenger and train movements
The station has about 180,000 passenger movements each year.Most regional trains
Regional rail
Commuter rail, also called suburban rail, is a passenger rail transport service that primarily operates between a city center, and the middle to outer suburbs beyond 15km and commuter towns or other locations that draw large numbers of commuters—people who travel on a daily basis...
calling at the station from Sibari/Croton terminate there. Trains operating between Reggio Calabria Centrale
Reggio Calabria Centrale railway station
Reggio Calabria Centrale is the main railway station of the Italian city of Reggio, in Calabria. It is the most important station of its region and is owned by the Ferrovie dello Stato, the national rail company of Italy.-History:...
and Lamezia Terme Centrale
Lamezia Terme Centrale railway station
Lamezia Terme Centrale railway station is the main station serving the city and comune of Lamezia Terme, in the Calabria region, southern Italy...
are now required to reverse at Catanzaro Lido. Regional trains to and from Lamezia operate approximately hourly. The station also has direct express train connections with Roma Termini
Roma Termini railway station
Roma Termini is the main train station of Rome. It is named after the district of the same name, which in turn took its name from ancient Baths of Diocletian , which lie across the street from the main entrance.-Overview:The station has regular train services to all major Italian cities as well...
and Torino Porta Nuova
Torino Porta Nuova railway station
Torino Porta Nuova station is currently the main railway station of Turin. It is the third busiest station in Italy for passenger flow after Rome Termini and Milan Central, with about 192,000 journeys per day and 70 million travellers a year and a total of about 350 trains per day. It is...
.
A short walk from the station is the Catanzaro Lido (FC) station, from where the Catanzaro Città railway station can be reached, on the metre gauge Cosenza–Catanzaro Lido railway. From the latter station, there are connections to Gimigliano
Gimigliano
Gimigliano is a comune and town is the province of Catanzaro in the Calabria region of Italy....
, Decollatura
Decollatura
Decollatura is a comune and town in the province of Catanzaro in the Calabria region of Italy.It is famous for being the birthplace of the Italian poet Michele Pane -Notes and references:* Imperio Assisi et al., Decollatura e Motta S...
and Soveria Mannelli
Soveria Mannelli
Soveria Mannelli is a town and comune in the province of Catanzaro, in the Calabria region of southern Italy.-Geography:The town is bordered by Bianchi , Carlopoli, Colosimi, Decollatura, Gimigliano, Pedivigliano.-History:...
.
Urban buses
- Line 30 Lido D circuit (Casciolino, Porto, Bivio Giovino, Via Crotone, Stazione FS, Aranceto, Bivio S.Maria, Via Conti Loritello, Rione Sala, Via Schipani, B.Gesù, Via Crispi, Via Indipendenza, Rione De Filippis, Lucrezia Della Valle, S.Maria Centro, Corvo, Stazione FS, Via Crotone, Bivio Giovino, Porto, Casciolino)
- Line 31 Lido S circuit (Porto, Bivio Giovino, Via Crotone, Stazione FS, Corvo, S.Maria, Lucrezia Della Valle, Rione De Filippis, Via Schipani, B.Gesù, Via Buccarelli, Via Indipendenza, Piazza Matteotti, Rione Sala, S.Maria, Aranceto, Stazione FS, Via Crotone, Bivio Giovino, Porto)
Interurban buses
- Autolinee Federico
Comuni of Monasterace
Monasterace
Monasterace is a comune in the Province of Reggio Calabria in the Italian region Calabria, located about 50 km south of Catanzaro and about 90 km northeast of Reggio Calabria.-References:...
, Locri
Locri
Locri is a town and comune in the province of Reggio Calabria, Calabria, southern Italy. The name derives from the ancient Greek town Locris.-History:...
, Guardavalle
Guardavalle
Guardavalle is a comune and town in the province of Catanzaro in the Calabria region of Italy....
, Santa Caterina dello Ionio
Santa Caterina dello Ionio
Santa Caterina dello lonio is a town and comune in the province of Catanzaro in the Calabria region of southernItaly.-Notes and references:...
, Soverato
Soverato
Soverato is a town and comune in the province of Catanzaro in the Calabria region of southern Italy.-Geography:Soverato sits on the Ionian Sea, in the Gulf of Squillace. Nearby there is a string of villages along the white beaches of the gulf like Montepaone, Davoli and Isca Marina.The Giardino...
, Bova Marina
Bova Marina
Bova Marina is a comune in the Province of Reggio Calabria in the Italian region Calabria, located about 120 km southwest of Catanzaro and about 30 km southeast of Reggio Calabria...
, Isca
Isca sullo Ionio
Isca sullo Ionio is a comune and town in the province of Catanzaro in the Calabria region of Italy.-Sources:...
, Squillace
Squillace
Squillace is an ancient seaside town and comune, in the Province of Catanzaro, part of Calabria, southern Italy, facing the Gulf of Squillace....
, Roccelletta di Borgia.
- Autolinee Ferrovie della Calabria
Comuni of Soverato
Soverato
Soverato is a town and comune in the province of Catanzaro in the Calabria region of southern Italy.-Geography:Soverato sits on the Ionian Sea, in the Gulf of Squillace. Nearby there is a string of villages along the white beaches of the gulf like Montepaone, Davoli and Isca Marina.The Giardino...
, Chiaravalle Centrale
Chiaravalle Centrale
Chiaravalle Centrale is a comune and town in the province of Catanzaro in the Calabria region of Italy....
, Curinga
Curinga
Curinga is a town and comune in the province of Catanzaro, in the Calabria region of southern Italy.-1980 train crash:On November 21, 1980, a Rome-Syracuse passenger train hit the cars of a freight train from Catania, killing 20 people and injuring 112....
, Girifalco
Girifalco
Girifalco is a comune and town in the province of Catanzaro in the Calabria region of Italy....
, San Pietro a Maida
San Pietro a Maida
San Pietro a Maida is a town and comune in the province of Catanzaro in the Calabria region of southern Italy.-Notes and references:...
, Borgia, Squillace
Squillace
Squillace is an ancient seaside town and comune, in the Province of Catanzaro, part of Calabria, southern Italy, facing the Gulf of Squillace....
, Cortale
Cortale
Cortale is a comune and town in the province of Catanzaro in the Calabria region of Italy....
, Maida
Maida
-Places:*Maida, Calabria, a comune in the province of Catanzaro, Italy**Battle of Maida, a Napoleonic battle in Calabria during the War of the Third Coalition*Maida, North Dakota, an unincorporated community in the United States-People:...
, Copanello, Stalettì
Stalettì
Stalettì is a town and comune in the province of Catanzaro in the Calabria region of southern Italy.-Notes and references:...
, Montauro
Montauro
Montauro is a comune and town in the province of Catanzaro in the Calabria region of Italy.The municipalities of Gasperina, Montepaone, Palermiti, Squillace, Stalettì are nearby....
, Montepaone
Montepaone
Montepaone is a town and comune of the province of Catanzaro in the Calabria region of southern Italy.-Geography:Montepaone sits on the Italian Ionian sea in the Gulf of Squillace. Soverato, Gasperina, Montauro are nearby towns.-Economy:...
, Petrizzi
Petrizzi
Petrizzi is a comune and town in the province of Catanzaro in the Calabria region of Italy....
, Gagliato
Gagliato
Gagliato is a village and comune in the province of Catanzaro, in the Calabria region of southern Italy. In recognition of the unique role that the town has come to play as an international magnet for global leaders in nanotechnology, and as host of the NanoGagliato events, Gagliato has received...
, Petronà
Petronà
Petronà is a comune and town in the province of Catanzaro in the Calabria region of Italy. As of 2007 it had an estimated population of 2,657....
, Sersale
Sersale
Sersale is a comune in the province of Catanzaro in the Calabria region of Italy. As of 2007, Sersale had an estimated population of 4,955.Sersale was founded in 1620. It was named after a baron named Francesco Sersale who owned a large amount of land in the area surrounding the present borders of...
.
- Autolinee Romano
Comuni of Crotone
Crotone
Crotone is a city and comune in Calabria, southern Italy, on the Ionian Sea. Founded circa 710 BC as the Achaean colony of Croton , it was known as Cotrone from the Middle Ages until 1928, when its name was changed to the current one. In 1994 it became the capital of the newly established...
, Isola di Capo Rizzuto
Isola di Capo Rizzuto
Isola di Capo Rizzuto is a town and comune in the province of Crotone, Calabria, Italy. The population of the town is around 15,000. Despite having the name "Isola" , it is not actually an island, rather an isthmus extending into the sea, which is completely attached to the peninsula.The main...
, Botricello
Botricello
Botricello is a town and comune in the province of Catanzaro, in the Calabria region of southern Italy....
, Sellia Marina
Sellia Marina
Sellia Marina is a town and comune in the province of Catanzaro, in the Calabria region of southern Italy.-Geography:Sellia Marina houses the master station of the LORAN-C transmitters in the Mediterranean, for low frequency radio navigation....
.
See also
- Catanzaro railway stationCatanzaro railway stationCatanzaro, commonly known as Catanzaro Sala for the position in Sala quarter and due to the name of the adjacent FC station, is a railway station of the Italian city of Catanzaro, in Calabria region....
- History of rail transport in Italy
- List of railway stations in Calabria
- Rail transport in ItalyRail transport in ItalyThe Italian railway system is one of the most important infrastructure in the country, with a total length of . The network is recently growing with the construction of the new high speed rail network....
- Railway stations in ItalyRailway stations in ItalyRailway stations in Italy are maintained and operated by the RFI division of Ferrovie dello Stato Group. A minor part of them is operated by private and regional companies, conceded by the state.-Classification:...