Italy's Historic Trains Draw Visitors to Less Popular Areas
2024-08-01
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1As it moves across central Italy, an old train pulling carriages from the 1930s and 1950s crosses the forests of the Majella National Park and the Abruzzo highlands.
2Across 100 kilometers, the Park Railway, also known as the Italian Transiberian, travels through valleys and tunnels and over old bridges called viaducts.
3It offers visitors a view of small, rural and hidden villages in the country.
4It was the first of some 1,000 kilometers of rail line to have re-opened under a project by Fondazione FS, part of the state-controlled national rail company.
5The project called "Timeless tracks" aims to take visitors to forgotten parts of Italy instead of the popular cities.
6"These are tracks that have lived through different eras, they have carried soldiers to the front, cows to pasture... they were mistakenly considered unproductive during the 1960s and 70s but are now once again of value," Luigi Cantamessa, who heads Fondazione FS, told Reuters.
7Inspired by train travel in Switzerland, the project now carries 45,000 visitors a year across its 13 lines.
8Fondazione FS expects to open two new ones by 2026, both in the southern area of Sicily.
9"What were considered to be the dry branches of Italy's train network, have now proved to be the green shoots," Cantamessa added.
10Norma Pagiotti is a 28-year-old from Florence, Italy traveling on the train with two friends.
11Pagiotti said, "People are used to cities and places, like Florence, that everyone knows.. but then there are other areas that need to be discovered.
12(This) is the right kind of tourism that does not spoil the authenticity of places,"
13Caterina Quaranta, from southern Italy, used the term "nostalgic," meaning a longing for a past time, to describe riding the train.
14"The train reminds me of my youth, I feel a bit nostalgic for the things of the past, which were simpler, now everything is fast, short-lived," Quaranta said.
15Laura Colaprete, a local guide, said the trains draw Italians and foreigners, families and children, younger people who get off to hike and ride bicycles, and older people "who have time to spare."
16After climbing up almost 1,000 meters in altitude, the Transiberian's first stop is in Palena, a hill-top town known for its beautiful views over the national park.
17Traditional folk music accompanies people getting off the train, with local foods such as lamb skewers and soft pancakes and products by local artisans awaiting them at the station.
18"The train helps several small towns around here.
19This line was a dead line before," said Gino Toppi, 60, as he helped his wife with the food stand in the small station.
20Milan's Bocconi University recently estimated that for every dollar spent by passengers on tickets, as much as three more are spent on food, tours and other purchases.
21The rail ticket costs between $32 and $76.
22That helps to support the economy of villages that have long lost population due to the declining birth rate and younger people leaving for the bigger cities.
23"There certainly are benefits, this is a way to show my products," said Annalisa Cantelmi, an herbalist, or herb grower.
24"These tourists are slowly discovering these new territories, their traditions and people," she added.
25I'm John Russell.
1As it moves across central Italy, an old train pulling carriages from the 1930s and 1950s crosses the forests of the Majella National Park and the Abruzzo highlands. 2Across 100 kilometers, the Park Railway, also known as the Italian Transiberian, travels through valleys and tunnels and over old bridges called viaducts. It offers visitors a view of small, rural and hidden villages in the country. 3It was the first of some 1,000 kilometers of rail line to have re-opened under a project by Fondazione FS, part of the state-controlled national rail company. 4"Timeless tracks" 5The project called "Timeless tracks" aims to take visitors to forgotten parts of Italy instead of the popular cities. 6"These are tracks that have lived through different eras, they have carried soldiers to the front, cows to pasture... they were mistakenly considered unproductive during the 1960s and 70s but are now once again of value," Luigi Cantamessa, who heads Fondazione FS, told Reuters. 7Inspired by train travel in Switzerland, the project now carries 45,000 visitors a year across its 13 lines. Fondazione FS expects to open two new ones by 2026, both in the southern area of Sicily. 8"What were considered to be the dry branches of Italy's train network, have now proved to be the green shoots," Cantamessa added. 9Norma Pagiotti is a 28-year-old from Florence, Italy traveling on the train with two friends. 10Pagiotti said, "People are used to cities and places, like Florence, that everyone knows.. but then there are other areas that need to be discovered. (This) is the right kind of tourism that does not spoil the authenticity of places," 11Caterina Quaranta, from southern Italy, used the term "nostalgic," meaning a longing for a past time, to describe riding the train. 12"The train reminds me of my youth, I feel a bit nostalgic for the things of the past, which were simpler, now everything is fast, short-lived," Quaranta said. 13Laura Colaprete, a local guide, said the trains draw Italians and foreigners, families and children, younger people who get off to hike and ride bicycles, and older people "who have time to spare." 14The trip 15After climbing up almost 1,000 meters in altitude, the Transiberian's first stop is in Palena, a hill-top town known for its beautiful views over the national park. 16Traditional folk music accompanies people getting off the train, with local foods such as lamb skewers and soft pancakes and products by local artisans awaiting them at the station. 17"The train helps several small towns around here. This line was a dead line before," said Gino Toppi, 60, as he helped his wife with the food stand in the small station. 18Milan's Bocconi University recently estimated that for every dollar spent by passengers on tickets, as much as three more are spent on food, tours and other purchases. The rail ticket costs between $32 and $76. 19That helps to support the economy of villages that have long lost population due to the declining birth rate and younger people leaving for the bigger cities. 20"There certainly are benefits, this is a way to show my products," said Annalisa Cantelmi, an herbalist, or herb grower. "These tourists are slowly discovering these new territories, their traditions and people," she added. 21I'm John Russell. 22Giulia Segreti reported on this story for Reuters. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English. 23_______________________________________________ 24Words in This Story 25carriage - n. a wheeled vehicle 26track - n. the parallel rails of a railroad 27pasture - n. land used for grazing 28inspire - v. to influence, move, or guide 29tourism - n. the practice of traveling for fun 30authenticity - n. not false or imitation; true to one's own personality, spirit, or character 31altitude - n. the vertical elevation of an object above a surface (such as sea level or land) 32benefit - n. something that produces good or helpful results or effects