Historic trains make their debut in the Langhe and Monferrato

It is still summer, yet Fondazione FS (part of the Ferrovie dello Stato group) is already looking ahead and announcing a series of new autumn events for the many enthusiasts of historic trains. Special services will run between Piedmont and Lombardy in October and November, with two further dates in September for trains featuring panoramic carriages on the tourist railway linking the Brescia plain to the shores of Lake Iseo, running alongside the River Oglio through woods and vineyards. And from September, historic trains will also be back on the tracks in Campania. Every weekend, from 6 September to 27 December, a route from Naples or Avellino to explore the archaeological parks or the Irpinia region: a journey on vintage carriages to the Royal Palace of Caserta, Pompeii, Paestum and the National Railway Museum in Pietrarsa (Naples). But let’s take it one step at a time.

The Fondazione FS programme features two new themed itineraries dedicated to Piedmont, Lombardy and the finest food and wine of autumn: the Milan–Alba route, exploring truffles and wine in the heart of the Langhe; the Turin–Canelli route, on the Langhe, Roero and Monferrato Railway. The first event is the Milan–Alba journey, scheduled for Sundays 11, 18 and 25 October. The train departs from Milano Centrale at 9.05 am in 1970s-era Gran Confort carriages and arrives in Alba at 12.35 pm, via Pavia, Alessandria and Asti; the return journey from Alba departs at 6.20 pm and arrives at Milano Centrale at 10.00 pm. A day trip to the Langhe, at a time of year when the region is at its best in terms of landscape, culture and flavour. Among the highlights will be Nebbiolo, one of the Langhe’s iconic grape varieties. Prices: €69 for adults; €34.50 for children aged 4 to under 12; free for children aged 0 to under 4.

In November, it will be the turn of the historic Turin–Canelli train, scheduled for Sundays 1, 8, 15 and 22 November. The train will run from Turin Porta Nuova to Canelli, stopping at Turin Lingotto, Bra and Alba, travelling through the hills, vineyards and villages of the Monferrato region aboard the historic ‘Centoporte’ carriages from the 1920s and 1930s, one of the most iconic features of Italian railway history. The inaugural journey on 1 November will be hauled by a steam locomotive, at a time of year when the autumn colours are at their best: departure from Turin Porta Nuova at 8.55 am, arrival in Canelli at 11.29 am; departure at 6.12 pm and return to Turin Porta Nuova at 9.15 pm. On other Sundays, the timetable includes a departure from Turin Porta Nuova at 8.55 am, arrival in Canelli at 10.43 am, with a return journey starting at 6.15 pm and arrival back in Turin at 8.20 pm. Prices: €49 for adults; €24.50 for children aged 4 to under 12; free for children aged 0 to under 4. The journey on the steam locomotive will cost €69.

In response to the huge interest generated by the panoramic carriages on the Lake Iseo tourist line, Fondazione FS has scheduled two additional days of service: Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 September. This 10-kilometre route saw almost all scheduled journeys – priced at €15 return – sell out during the July and August periods. Franco Lucente, the Lombardy Region’s Councillor for Transport, said: “These historic trains enhance the appeal of the local areas.”

As far as Campania is concerned, three trains stand out above all others: the Archeotreno, which connects Naples with the nearby archaeological sites of Pompeii and Paestum, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites (first journey on Sunday 18 October); the Reggia Express, which runs from Napoli Centrale to Caserta, where the station is just a few metres from the Royal Palace (first journey on Sunday 13 September); and the Pietrarsa Express, a historic train linking the centre of Naples with the National Railway Museum in Pietrarsa (first journey on Sunday 6 September). In addition to these routes, from Sunday 13 September, numerous services are scheduled to run from Naples Central Station to Avellino along the Irpinia Railway. Finally, for fans of the Arlecchino express – an iconic train of the 1960s, on a par with the Settebello – 15 November is the date to note: from Milan Central to Cremona for the Nougat Festival.