Italian Narrow Gauge

[dario]

Having started with Swiss Narrow Gauge, I must write something about Italian Narrow Gauge. If the Jungfrau Railways is a once in a lifetime trip (it's very hard on the pocket - about 100 euros return), the regional railway Roma-Grotte Celoni (13 km) sees me as a commuter every day. It's really unique, being a cross between tramway and train, on Italian narrow gauge, i.e. 950 mm (too many decimals to quote in inches) electrified at 1500 Vdc overhead, with vintage equipment from the 1930s, when it was an interurban network SE of Rome, and new EMUs clone to Manchester Metrolink trams. It is officially known as Roma-Pantano, but from Pantano to Grotte Celoni it is being rebuilt to standard gauge, the spearhead of Metropolitan Line C. Unfortunately yesterday a great hole appeared in the road near the Roma Laziali Terminus, cutting back the service to Porta Maggiore. Possibly the track could be lifted once for all, as local resident complain about the rails in front of city buildings (in Rome too, people hate railways). Good bye - Dario.