Ceres
The Torino-Ceres railway: a journey through the history of Piedmont
The Torino-Ceres railway is a railway line that connects the metropolitan city of Turin to Ceres, passing through important places of interest such as Caselle airport, the Venaria Reale palace and the Lanzo valleys. Its history is long and fascinating, and will take you through the details of one of Piedmont's symbols.
History
The construction of the Torino-Ceres railway line began in 1868, with the inauguration of the first section between Turin and Venaria Reale. Subsequently, in 1869, the track was extended to San Maurizio Canavese, Cirié and finally Lanzo Torinese in 1876. The line was completed in 1916, after the construction of the final section that brought the railway to Ceres.
During the years of the First World War, thanks also to the use of Austrian prisoners of war, the Torino-Ceres railway reached Germagnano, while in 1916 the entire mountain line was completed with stretches with a maximum slope of 35‰ and curves of 200 m radius.
In 1918, the electrification project of the line began, which led to the adoption of high voltage direct current (4 kV DC) and the inauguration of the new traction system in 1920. The Torino-Ceres thus became the first railway in the world to adopt this technology.
From the past to the present: railway management
The management of the Torino-Ceres railway has gone through several phases, starting from the Canavese Anonymous Company for the Turin-Ciriè Railway (SACFTC), which was responsible for the management of the railway line until the opening of the final stretch in 1916.
From the Ferrovie Torino Nord, the railway management passed to the Government Commissioner of the Turin-Ceres Railway (FTC), followed by SATTI, until reaching GTT (Turin), the current manager of the railway.
The Torino-Ceres line: a journey through culture and landscapes
The Torino-Ceres railway offers its passengers the opportunity to cross places of great cultural and landscape interest. Among the points of interest, the Caselle airport, the Venaria Reale palace and the Lanzo valleys are noteworthy.
Caselle airport is one of the most important in Piedmont and has recently been expanded and improved. The Caselle railway station is well connected to the airport, allowing passengers to easily reach it with the Torino-Ceres railway.
The Venaria Reale palace is an impressive architectural complex of great beauty, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Among its frescoed halls and centuries-old gardens, this place is one of the most beloved by Italian and foreign tourists.
Finally, the Lanzo valleys are a natural wonder to discover. From their mountains, you can admire a breathtaking panorama over the Turin plain and the surrounding mountains. Thanks to the Torino-Ceres railway, these natural treasures can be discovered without sacrificing the comfort of the train.
Conclusion
The Torino-Ceres railway is the most important regional railway line in the metropolitan city of Turin, crossed by thousands of passengers every day. Its history, dating back over a century, has been marked by important technological innovations and enterprises that have made it possible to link cities and valleys. Today, the Torino-Ceres is an important resource for commuters, but also a convenient and fast way to discover the cultural and landscape treasures of Piedmont.
