Castel Bolognese
The Castelbolognese-Ravenna railway: a story of connection between cities
The Castelbolognese-Ravenna railway is a state line that connects Castel Bolognese to Ravenna. The railway line is managed by Rete Ferroviaria Italiana, a company of the Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane group, which qualifies it as a complementary line. The regional train is operated by Trenitalia along the route from Bologna Centrale station to Castelbolognese-Riolo Terme station and Ravenna station.
The construction of the railway was born from the need to connect Bologna to Ravenna using the open line in 1861 that linked the city of Bologna with Rimini. The identification of the point where the new railway joined the Bologna-Ancona line was controversial. Several proposals were advanced: Imola, Castel Bolognese, Faenza. The optimal solution appeared to be Castel Bolognese, as the current Bologna-Ancona railway has a station that connects with the Ravenna area.
A railway service built and renovated
The railway line was inaugurated on August 23, 1863 and was opened for business the next day. Only with the completion of the Faentina railway in 1893 did the connection by railway between Ravenna and Tuscany materialize. The line suffered heavy destruction during World War II and was renovated after the war renewing the railway track and rebuilding or restoring the passenger buildings damaged by the fighting.
In 1948, the Barbiano station was opened, while in 1960 the electrification of the line took place. On December 30, 2001, the second doubling track between Russi and Ravenna was inaugurated, which allowed the line to be freed from Faenza-Ravenna traffic gravitating on the common section.
Castelbolognese-Ravenna today
Today, the railway line welcomes many travelers who use the Trenitalia service, especially students who attend the university of Ravenna. The line is also important for freight transport, especially for the transport of trailers and semi-trailers between Romagna and the rest of Italy. The railway is also used as a support for road transport, in case of calamitous events that close state roads and highways.
The future of the railway
The future of the Castelbolognese-Ravenna railway is positive. Modernization works are planned, thanks to which the railway line will become an important hub for transportation, both for passengers and goods, with a view to sustainable tourism.
Furthermore, an extension of the railway line to the city of Forlì is being planned, creating a connection between these two important cities in Romagna.
In conclusion, the Castelbolognese-Ravenna railway is a railway line that has a long history of connection between the cities it connects. Thanks to the modernization interventions that are being carried out, the railway will become increasingly important for passenger and freight transport, representing a valid alternative to road transport and the ideal option for sustainable tourism.
