San Bernardino
A historic railway stop in San Bernardino
Welcome to the San Bernardino railway station, a stop located in the eponymous village of the municipality of Briona, in the province of Novara. This once bustling station played an important role for those working in the surrounding rice fields, but over time the situation changed. In this text we will talk about the history of this station, its structures and its traffic, as well as how it has changed over the years.
The history of the San Bernardino station
The San Bernardino station was part of the Novara-Varallo railway line, originally managed by the Società per le Strade Ferrate del Mediterraneo. In 1905, the management of the line passed to the Italian State, which helped maintain the station for decades. In 2000, the station passed under the management of Rete Ferroviaria Italiana and, due to the decrease in passenger traffic, the station was definitively closed in 2003.
The structures and facilities of the station
The station is located in open countryside and is far from the town center. In the past, the station was very popular with farmers who worked in the rice fields, but today the station is closed and abandoned. The track is the only point of passage on the railway line and, despite being managed by Rete Ferroviaria Italiana, is not used for commercial purposes, but only for train transit.
The station building is vertically developed, occupying two floors. In the past, the first floor was used as a private residence for the station master, but today the building is completely closed to the public. In 2003, when the station was closed, doors and windows were walled up.
The traffic at San Bernardino station
The San Bernardino station was mainly frequented by farmers working in the rice fields, but today there are no more passengers using it. Until 2003, the station was served by regional trains of Trenitalia, but after being discontinued, no train stopped there anymore.
Conclusions
The San Bernardino station was a steadfast presence in the lives of the workers in the area, serving as an important point of passage for those who went to work in the rice fields. Over time, passenger traffic has drastically decreased, making the closure of the station necessary. Today, the station is closed and abandoned, but still allows trains to transit on the Novara-Varallo railway line. We hope that this interesting story contributes to the knowledge of this place and inspires greater attention to the local historical-cultural heritage.
