Porto Ceresio
The Varese-Porto Ceresio Railway
The Varese-Porto Ceresio Railway is a railway line that connects the city of Varese to the municipality of Porto Ceresio, located on the shores of Lake Lugano, crossing the territory of Valceresio. Managed by Rete Ferroviaria Italiana, the line has been classified as complementary.
The railway was inaugurated in 1894 to directly connect Milan to Lake Lugano through the exchange of passengers and goods with public navigation boats. After the nationalization of Italian railways, management passed to Rete Mediterranea (later Ferrovie dello Stato) until 1918, when it definitively passed to the management of FS.
Over the years, the third-rail traction of Ferrovie dello Stato was replaced with a 3-volt direct current overhead line contact system. The railway was closed to traffic between 2009 and 2018 for the construction of the Arcisate-Stabio link in the context of the Mendrisio-Varese railway. The intervention, which also involved the rearming of the Arcisate-Porto Ceresio section and the redevelopment of infrastructure, was completed in early December 2017 and reopened for commercial service on January 7, 2018.
History
Origins and Development
The Varese-Porto Ceresio Railway was built by the Società per le Strade Ferrate del Mediterraneo, which already managed the Varese-Gallarate railway line. Work began in the early 1890s, and the line was inaugurated with steam traction on July 18, 1894.
Over the years, the railway was involved in the process of electrification with the third rail of Ferrovie dello Stato, which was also tested on the Bisuschio-Viggiù tramway. In 1905, following the nationalization of Italian railways, management temporarily passed to FS, ceasing on April 1, 1908, with the line returning to Rete Mediterranea. Management definitively passed to FS on January 1, 1918.
The Varese-Porto Ceresio Railway constituted a relationship of primary importance both for passenger and freight traffic, allowing a direct connection between Milan and Lake Lugano, with trains that made timely exchanges with public navigation boats, allowing people and objects to cross the Swiss border.
Extension Hypotheses and Progressive Decline
Since the 1910s, there was a hypothesis of an extension of the railway from Porto Ceresio to Lavena Ponte Tresa, in order to directly connect it to the Lugano-Ponte Tresa railway (activated in 1912) and therefore to the rest of the Swiss railway network.
In recent years, the Varese-Porto Ceresio Railway has been at risk of closure due to poor passenger traffic and a decline in freight traffic.
Reopening
The Varese-Porto Ceresio Railway was closed to traffic between 2009 and 2018 for the construction of the Arcisate-Stabio link in the context of the Mendrisio-Varese railway. The intervention, which also involved the rearming of the Arcisate-Porto Ceresio section and the redevelopment of infrastructure, was completed in early December 2017 and reopened for commercial service on January 7, 2018.
The recovery of the Varese-Porto Ceresio Railway was welcomed with enthusiasm, especially by the inhabitants of Valceresio, who will finally be able to enjoy a comfortable and fast option for public transport.
The reopening of the line has been welcomed as a sign of hope for the redevelopment of the entire area, which could enjoy a new economic boost thanks to the reactivation of the railway.
Conclusions
The Varese-Porto Ceresio Railway represents an important infrastructure heritage of the Valceresio territory. Its closure to traffic for almost a decade has raised concerns and fears, but the reopening for commercial service represents a sign of hope not only for the inhabitants of the area but also for the redevelopment of the entire area.
With its redevelopment, the Varese-Porto Ceresio Railway could represent a new opportunity for the economic and tourist development of the Valceresio territory, which could enjoy a comfortable and fast alternative for public transport.
