Puster Valley Railway

Last updated
Puster Valley Railway
Stadler Flirt in Innichen.jpg
Puster Valley Railway
Overview
Other name(s)
  • Franzensfeste–Innichen railway
  • Fortezza–San Candido railway
Native nameRosentalbahn
Line number44
Locale South Tyrol, Italy
Termini
Service
Route number210
History
Opened20 November 1871 (1871-11-20)
Technical
Line length65 km (40 mi)
Number of tracks1
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Electrification 3 kV DC
Route map

Contents

km
BSicon STR+l.svg
BSicon CONTfq.svg
BSicon BHF.svg
0.000
Franzensfeste/Fortezza
747 m
BSicon CONTgq.svg
BSicon ABZgr.svg
BSicon eHST.svg
1.819
Unterau/Pradisotto, closed 1944)
BSicon STRo.svg
1.893
Franzensfeste Fortress bridge (78 m)
744 m
BSicon hKRZWae.svg
2.340
Eisack/Isarco
BSicon eBHF.svg
3.293
Aicha/Aica
749 m
BSicon TUNNEL1.svg
3.843
Ochsenbich/Colle del Bue tunnel
(257 m)
BSicon eHST.svg
4.780
Schabs/Sciaves
(closed 1962 [1] )
757 m
BSicon exLCONTgq.svg
BSicon eABZg+Lr.svg
Rigger Valley Link (under construction)
BSicon WBRUCKE1.svg
7.668
Valles
BSicon BHF.svg
8.100
Mühlbach/Rio di Pusteria
749 m
BSicon BHF.svg
13.475
Vintl/Vandoies
744 m
BSicon hKRZWae.svg
Rienz/Rienza
BSicon eHST.svg
St. Sigmund/San Sigismondo
761 m
BSicon BHF.svg
23.699
Ehrenburg/Casteldarne
749 m
BSicon HST.svg
29.368
St. Lorenzen/San Lorenzo
(since 2008 [2] )
815 m
BSicon eHST.svg
29.615
St. Lorenzen/San Lorenzo
816 m
BSicon BHF.svg
32.442
Bruneck/Brunico
828 m
BSicon eABZgl.svg
BSicon exCONTfq.svg
to Taufers/Tures (closed 1957)
BSicon hKRZWae.svg
Rienz/Rienza
BSicon HST.svg
33.344
Bruneck Nord/Brunico Nord
(opened 2013 [3] )
BSicon TUNNEL1.svg
36.807
Lamprechtsburg/Monte Lamberto tunnel (338 m)
BSicon HST.svg
38.455
Percha-Kronplatz/
Perca-Plan de Corones
(opened Dec 2010)
BSicon hKRZWae.svg
Rienz/Rienza
BSicon TUNNEL2.svg
39.819
Wielenberg/Vila tunnel (61 m)
BSicon TUNNEL2.svg
40.029
Rasen/Rasùn tunnel (192 m)
BSicon BHF.svg
43.944
Olang-Antholz/Valdaora-Anterselva
1002 m
BSicon TUNNEL1.svg
49.728
Welsberg/Monguelfo tunnel (140 m)
BSicon BHF.svg
50.896
Welsberg-Gsies/
Monguelfo-Valle di Casies
1094 m
BSicon BHF.svg
55.943
Niederdorf-Prags/
Villabassa-Braies-Val di Braies
1148 m
BSicon hKRZWae.svg
Rienz/Rienza
BSicon exdCONTgq.svg
BSicon exSTR+r.svg
BSicon STR.svg
from Calalzo (closed 1964)
BSicon exKBHFe.svg
BSicon BHF.svg
60.717
Toblach/Dobbiaco
1210 m
BSicon BHF.svg
64.509
Innichen/San Candido
(voltage change)
1176 m
BSicon eHST.svg
68.819
Vierschach/Versciaco
(1961–1989)
1138 m
BSicon HST.svg
69.115
Vierschach-Helm/
Versciaco-Elmo
(opened 2014)
1137 m
BSicon eBHF.svg
??.???
Vierschach-Winnebach/
Versciaco-Prato
(closed 1961)
1138 m
BSicon WBRUCKE1.svg
BSicon eHST.svg
71.668
Winnebach/
Prato alla Drava
(1961–1989)
1125 m
BSicon GRENZE.svg
72.568
0 Italy
Austria
national border
1113 m
BSicon CONTf.svg
km
Source: Italian railway atlas [4]

The Puster Valley Railway (German: Pustertalbahn; Italian: Ferrovia della Val Pusteria) is a standard gauge, single-track railway line in the Puster Valley between Franzensfeste (Italian: Fortezza) and Innichen (San Candido), South Tyrol, Italy. The line branches off the Brenner Railway in Franzensfeste and runs via Bruneck and Toblach to Innichen, where it continues as the Drava Valley Railway (Drautalbahn).

Historically, there was no separation between the Puster Valley Railway and the Drava Valley Railway, as the granting of the concession, the construction and the commissioning of the line from Villach to Franzensfeste covered the whole line. However, since the transition between the Italian and Austrian electrification systems is now located in Innichen station, this is usually considered the terminus of the two lines. Alternatively, the national border east of Innichen or the Toblach saddle west of Innichen may be seen as the border between the two lines.

History

As early as 1858, the Southern Railway Company (Südbahngesellschaft) developed its first plans and shortly afterwards received the building permit to connect, Vienna with the Tyrol via the Southern Railway (Südbahn).

The Hügel & Sager company was awarded the contract to construct the Puster Valley Railway and work began in the late autumn of 1869. As this proceeded much faster than expected, operations on the 20 km long Puster Valley Railway and Drava Valley Railway started on 20 November 1871. [5] [6] While the Drava Valley Railway from Villach to Lienz was built as a flat railway, it becomes a mountain railway on its continuation to Franzensfeste and reaches its highest point at the Toblach Saddle at about 1215 m above sea level.

An original task of the Puster Valley Railway was to connect East Tyrol to the capital of the Tyrol, Innsbruck. However, with the collapse of the Habsburg monarchy and the loss of South Tyrol to Italy after the end of the First World War, the importance of the railway declined sharply.

Steam operation in Toblach station (1954) Italy Rail 006 Dobbiaco 1.jpg
Steam operation in Toblach station (1954)

From 1985 to 1989, the Puster Valley Railway and the Drava Valley Railway were electrified on the basis of a treaty between Italy and Austria signed in 1984. At the same time, almost all viaducts were renewed and all tunnels were enlarged to allow electrical operation during two closures of the line in 1986 and 1988. Special efforts were required for the tunnel near Welsberg (Monguelfo), where, due to constant collapses, the entire ground cover of the 140 m long tunnel was removed and replaced after the construction of a new tunnel structure. [7] While the Puster Valley Railway is equipped with the Italian electrical system (3 kV DC), the Drava Valley Railway is equipped with the Austrian electrical system (15 kV / 16.7 Hz AC). The voltage change point is located in Innichen station. While operations continued, electrical operations commenced at the timetable change on 28 May 1989. During the electrification in the Puster Valley, many crossings were replaced by underpasses. This involved tracks and embankment being removed during the night and prefabricated underpasses being inserted hydraulically. [8] In addition, the trackwork and track base were reinforced and the station facilities were rebuilt. The purpose of the electrification was the relief of the Brenner Railway, with the intention of the Italian side to deliver up to ten pairs of freight trains a day including a rolling highway service [7] to run on the Puster Valley Railway. This has never happened. In fact, the opposite happened, because while the Val Pusteria/Pustertal had previously been a well-used international express service on the Vienna South–Villach–Lienz–Franzensfeste–Innsbruck route, it was discontinued at the May 1996 timetable change, meaning there is no longer any cross-border long-distance traffic in the Puster Valley Railway.

Between 2008 and 2010, Südtiroler Transportstrukturen (South Tyrol transport infrastructure; STA), which coordinates transport in the province of South Tyrol, financed the total renovation of the Puster Valley Railway. The route was initially prepared by adapting the stations and the interlockings to support a half-hour cycle, which was introduced gradually up to December 2009. All stations were equipped with 55 cm high platforms and underpasses, enabling the time-saving, simultaneous entry of crossing trains. The remote-control signalling and passenger information systems were also brought up to date with the latest technology. Waiting rooms were also renewed, lifts built, station areas rearranged, eight new trains purchased, car and bicycle parking spaces were installed and two new stations were built: St. Lorenzen station was opened in December 2008 and Percha-Kronplatz station, which is directly connected to the Kronplatz ski resort by cable car, on 12 December 2010. As a result of these measures, the number of passengers tripled within five years (January–November 2006: 312,000 passengers; January–November 2011: 980,000 passengers). [9]

The new Bruneck Nord station was opened near the hospital in October 2013. [10] The new Vierschach station, which was connected by cable car to Helm and the associated ski resort, was opened in December 2014. [11]

Operations

Prior to electrification, steam-hauled trains were mainly operated, initially with locomotives from the Austrian Southern Railway Company, and from 1918 from Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (FS). Class 740, 741 and 940 locomotives were common until the early 1980s. [12] The use of diesel locomotives and diesel multiple units lasted only for a short time. After mixed electrical operations with a locomotive change in Innichen, only two-system Stadler Flirt articulated multiple units have been operated by SAD Nahverkehr (Südtiroler Automobildienst, "South Tyrol automotive service local transport") and FS. Between Franzensfeste and Innichen there is a 30 minute cycle during the day, and also on weekends during the winter season. Every second train continues to Lienz. In winter, the trains terminating in Innichen run to Sillian, but do not stop in Weitlanbrunn. Some trains are also connected to the Brenner Railway and continue to Merano.

Freight traffic

The pairs of freight trains foreseen in the planning of the electrification did not materialise, but before the new Tarvisio–Udine railway (Pontebbana) was completed in the early 1990s, several empty freight trains ran daily. In addition, imports of the Fiat models, Panda, Cinquecento and Seicento, made in Poland were handled over the Puster Valley Railway. The line was only of particular importance for a short time when the Brenner Railway was closed, when almost a hundred freight and long-distance trains used the line.

Until 2009, there was only regular freight traffic between Bruneck and Franzensfeste. The trains, coming and going from Hall in Tirol, mostly ran in the mornings on certain days of the week. There has been no freight traffic on the Puster Valley Railway since 2012.

Plans

Schematic graphic of the Rigger Valley Link Riggertalschleife.jpg
Schematic graphic of the Rigger Valley Link

The Rigger Valley Link project has been long discussed: after leaving the Puster Valley, the Puster Valley Railway currently swings north into the Wipp Valley and ends at Franzensfeste station, meaning that passengers travelling towards Brixen and Bolzano have to change to a southbound train. In order to save the majority of passengers having to detour and change trains, there is a proposal for an additional line is in the area, where the Rigger Valley (a short section of the valley of the Eisack) would be crossed by a bridge and the trains from the Puster Valley would no longer exclusively head for Franzensfeste, but some would head south of Brixen. This measure would significantly shorten the travel time from Bruneck to Brixen and Bolzano. [13] €49 million was earmarked for the Rigger Valley Link in the operational plan of the European Cohesion Fund on 1 December 2016. [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Tyrol</span> Autonomous province of Italy

South Tyrol is an autonomous province in northern Italy. An English translation of the official German and Italian names could be the autonomous province Bolzano – South Tyrol, reflecting the multilingualism and different naming conventions in the area. Together with the autonomous province of Trento, South Tyrol forms the autonomous region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. The province is the northernmost of Italy, the second largest with an area of 7,400 square kilometres (2,857 sq mi), and has a total population of about 534,000 inhabitants as of 2021. Its capital and largest city is Bolzano.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brixen</span> Comune in Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, Italy

Brixen is a town and commune in South Tyrol, northern Italy, located about 40 kilometres (25 mi) north of Bolzano.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lienz</span> Place in Tyrol, Austria

Lienz is a medieval town in the Austrian state of Tyrol. It is the administrative centre of the Lienz district, which covers all of East Tyrol. The municipality also includes the cadastral subdivision of Patriasdorf.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bruneck</span> Comune in Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, Italy

Bruneck is the largest town in the Puster Valley in the Italian province of South Tyrol.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rienz</span> River in Italy

The Rienz is a river in South Tyrol, Italy. Its source is located at 2,180 m of altitude, in the Dolomites mountains, south of Toblach: near Toblach it enters in the Puster Valley, and, after 90 km (56 mi), it meets the Eisack river in the city of Brixen, at 550 m of altitude.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Franzensfeste</span> Comune in Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, Italy

Franzensfeste is a comune and a village in South Tyrol in northern Italy. It is named after the large Franzensfeste Fortress erected from 1833 to 1838 and Franzensfeste station is also known as an important railway hub.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Puster Valley</span> District in Italy

The Puster Valley is one of the largest longitudinal valleys in the Alps that runs in an east-west direction between Lienz in East Tyrol, Austria, and Mühlbach near Brixen in South Tyrol, Italy. The South Tyrolean municipalities of the Puster Valley constitute the Puster Valley district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alpine Brigade "Tridentina"</span> Former light infantry brigade of Italian Army

The Alpine Brigade "Tridentina" was a light Infantry brigade of the Italian Army, specializing in mountain warfare. Its core units were Alpini, the mountain infantry corps of the Italian Army, that distinguished itself in combat during World War I and World War II. The Alpine Brigade "Tridentina" carried on the colours and traditions of the WWII 2nd Alpine Division "Tridentina".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof</span> Railway station in Tyrol, Austria

Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof is the main railway station in Innsbruck, the capital city of the Austrian federal state of Tyrol. Opened in 1853, the station is a major hub for western and central Austria. In 2019, it was the 8th-busiest station in the country, and the 2nd-busiest outside of Vienna after only Linz Hauptbahnhof, with 315 train movements and 38,500 passengers daily.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hochpustertal</span>

The Hochpustertal is the easternmost part of the Puster Valley, stretching from the watershed of the Rienz and Drava rivers at Niederdorf in South Tyrol down the Drava to Lienz in East Tyrol, Austria. The area includes the Sexten and Prags side valleys.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Verona Porta Nuova railway station</span> Railway station in Verona, Italy

Verona Porta Nuova is the main railway station of Verona, Italy. It is one of the two stations serving central Verona; the other station, Verona Porta Vescovo, is located at the east of the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brenner Railway</span> Major Austro-Italian transport link

The Brenner Railway is a major line connecting the Austrian and Italian railways from Innsbruck to Verona, climbing up the Wipptal, passing over the Brenner Pass, descending down the Eisacktal to Bolzano/Bozen, then further down the Adige Valley to Rovereto/Rofreit, and along the section of the Adige Valley, called in Italian the “Vallagarina”, to Verona. This railway line is part of the Line 1 of Trans-European Transport Networks (TEN-T). It is considered a "fundamental" line by the state railways Ferrovie dello Stato (FS).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Klagenfurt Hauptbahnhof</span> Railway station in Carinthia, Austria

Klagenfurt Hauptbahnhof is the main railway station in Klagenfurt, capital of the Austrian state of Carinthia. It is an important railway junction in southern Austria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bolzano/Bozen railway station</span>

Bolzano/Bozen railway station is the main station of Bolzano/Bozen, capital of the autonomous province of Alto Adige/Südtirol, in northeastern Italy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rovereto railway station</span>

Rovereto railway station serves the Comune of Rovereto in the autonomous province of Trentino, northeastern Italy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brenner railway station</span> Railway station in Italy

Brenner railway station is the border station of Italy and Austria. It serves the town and comune of Brenner in the autonomous province of South Tyrol, northeastern Italy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyrol</span> Region across the Alps

Tyrol is a historical region in the Alps of Northern Italy and western Austria. The area was historically the core of the County of Tyrol, part of the Holy Roman Empire, Austrian Empire and Austria-Hungary, from its formation in the 12th century until 1919. In 1919, following World War I and the dissolution of Austria-Hungary, it was divided into two modern administrative parts through the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drava Valley Railway</span>

The Drava Valley Railway is an east–west railway running along the Drava. It runs from Maribor to Innichen, where it merges into the Puster Valley Railway to Franzensfeste (Fortezza). It starts in northern Slovenia, crosses Carinthia and East Tyrol and ends in South Tyrol. The Klagenfurt–Bleiburg section has been rebuilt as part of the Koralm Railway, which follows the Jaun Valley Railway (Jauntalbahn) from Bleiburg. Like the rest of the line in Slovenia, this section of the line has one track and is unelectrified.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Franzensfeste railway station</span>

Franzensfeste station is a railway station located on the Brenner Railway and the western terminus of the Puster Valley Railway. It serves the town of Franzensfeste (Fortezza).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Innichen railway station</span>

Innichen station is a railway station located in Innichen, Italy where the Puster Valley Railway and the Drava Valley Railway meet in eastern South Tyrol. It is the border station between Italy and Austria.

References

Footnotes

  1. Ordine di Servizio (in Italian). Ferrovie dello Stato (85). 1962.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: untitled periodical (link)
  2. "Impianti FS". I Treni (in Italian) (311): 8, 10. January 2009.
  3. "Impianti FS". I Treni (in Italian). XXXIV (364): 8. November 2013.
  4. Railway Atlas 2010, p. 3.
  5. "Die Eröffnung der Eisenbahn Villach–Franzensfeste". Wiener Zeitung (in German). 21 November 1871. p. 696. Retrieved 3 November 2020 via ANNO.
  6. Prospetto cronologico 1926.
  7. 1 2 Pozzato 1989, p. 120.
  8. Pozzato 1989, p. 128.
  9. "Pustertal Bahn: Fahrgastzahlen in fünf Jahren verdreifacht" (Press release) (in German). Pressedienst der Autonomen Provinz Bozen – Südtirol. 9 December 2011.
  10. "Neue Zughaltestelle Bruneck Nord wird eröffnet". Südtirol Online (in German). 13 October 2013. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  11. "Vierschach: Neue Zughaltestelle in Betrieb - "Ein Meilenstein"" (Press release) (in German). Pressedienst der Autonomen Provinz Bozen – Südtirol. 14 December 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  12. Pozzato 1989, p. 46.
  13. "Riggertalschleife: Die Planung beginnt". Südtirol Online (in German). 9 June 2015. Archived from the original on 23 November 2015. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  14. "49 Millionen für die Riggertalschleife". Südtirol Online (in German). 2 December 2016. Archived from the original on 4 January 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2020.

Sources