Malnate
"La Traversata": the Como-Varese railway
Hi everyone! Today I want to talk to you about a very important railway line for my region, Lombardy. I'm talking about the "Traversata" railway, also known as the Como-Varese railway, in service from 1885 to 1966.
History
The line was created by the administration of the province of Como, which aimed to connect the capital with Varese and Lake Maggiore via a railway. In 1882, the Italian Government granted permission for the construction and operation of the Como-Varese-Laveno-Mombello line. The Società Anonima Ferrovie Provinciali Comasche (FPC) began work, but later the concession passed to the Società per le Ferrovie del Ticino (SFT), a Belgian railway company.
The SFT continued the construction of the "Traversata" and in 1885, the stretch between Varese Nord station and Malnate was opened. On September 24 of the same year, the Malnate-Como section was opened, while the Varese-Laveno stretch was inaugurated along with the entire line on July 5, 1886.
In 1935, the three FNM Md. 510 thermal railcars were put into service for passenger service, relegating steam traction to freight traffic only. The electrification of the line was completed on December 14, 1948.
The closure of the line
The line was closed to passenger traffic on July 31, 1966, officially due to poor traffic and the distance between stations and towns. In November, the transport of goods along the Malnate-Grandate section was discontinued.
The "Traversata" today
Although the "Traversata" railway is no longer in operation, part of it survives integrated into the Saronno-Laveno railway track, between the Varese Nord station and Malnate station, and the Saronno-Como railway, between the Grandate-Breccia station and Como Lago station.
It is possible to admire the remains of this railway line by visiting the stations and structures that are still standing. There are also associations and groups of enthusiasts who organize guided tours and activities related to the history of the "Traversata".
Conclusion
The "Traversata" was an important railway line for my region, and its history deserves to be known and told. Despite the line being closed, it is possible to visit its remains and appreciate the work carried out by the builders and workers who worked hard to complete this project. I hope this summary has aroused your curiosity about the history of the "Traversata" and that it has encouraged you to discover more about this railway. Thank you for reading my article and see you next time!
