Varese railway station
Encyclopedia
Varese railway station serves the town and comune
of Varese
, in the region
of Lombardy
, northern Italy
. Opened in 1865, it is a terminus and junction
of two secondary railways, linking Varese with Gallarate and Porto Ceresio, respectively.
The station is currently managed by Rete Ferroviaria Italiana
(RFI). However, the commercial area of the passenger building
is managed by Centostazioni
. Train services are operated by Trenitalia
. Each of these companies is a subsidiary of Ferrovie dello Stato
(FS), Italy's state-owned rail company.
, on the eastern edge of the city centre.
until 18 July 1894, when the Porto Ceresio–Varese railway was opened.
and Treviglio
.
Until the early 1990s, there were active goods services along the lines to Varese, and the station had a goods yard. Since then, following the termination of goods services, that yard has been transformed, with the agreement of FS, into a car parking station.
In addition to the five tracks used for passenger service, there are some tracks near the station used to store rolling stock
that is out of service. These tracks are also a base for rail vehicles used for local line maintenance.
for Milano Porta Garibaldi
and Porto Ceresio on Lake Lugano
, near the border with Switzerland
.
As from 2013, Varese railway station will become international, upon the opening of the new Varese–Arcisate (I)–Stabio (CH)–Mendrisio railway, which will branch off at Arcisate
from the Varese-Porto Ceresio line, and then enter Switzerland at Stabio
. On the new line, regional trains will link Varese with Mendrisio
, and there will also be direct trains between Malpensa Airport
and Lugano
.
Unification of the two stations would no doubt be useful to facilitate interchange of passengers between trains of the two different railway companies serving the two stations. However, it would also be difficult to achieve, because the two stations, as well as being at a slight difference in altitude, are separated by a market square and the Piazzale Kennedy bus station.
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This article is based upon a translation of the Italian language version as at January 2011.
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
of Varese
Varese
Varese is a town and comune in north-western Lombardy, northern Italy, 55 km north of Milan.It is the capital of the Province of Varese. The hinterland or urban part of the city is called Varesotto.- Geography :...
, in the region
Regions of Italy
The regions of Italy are the first-level administrative divisions of the state, constituting its first NUTS administrative level. There are twenty regions, of which five are constitutionally given a broader amount of autonomy granted by special statutes....
of Lombardy
Lombardy
Lombardy is one of the 20 regions of Italy. The capital is Milan. One-sixth of Italy's population lives in Lombardy and about one fifth of Italy's GDP is produced in this region, making it the most populous and richest region in the country and one of the richest in the whole of Europe...
, northern Italy
Northern Italy
Northern Italy is a wide cultural, historical and geographical definition, without any administrative usage, used to indicate the northern part of the Italian state, also referred as Settentrione or Alta Italia...
. Opened in 1865, it is a terminus and junction
Junction (rail)
A junction, in the context of rail transport, is a place at which two or more rail routes converge or diverge.This implies a physical connection between the tracks of the two routes , 'points' and signalling.one or two tracks each meet at a junction, a fairly simple layout of tracks suffices to...
of two secondary railways, linking Varese with Gallarate and Porto Ceresio, respectively.
The station is currently managed by Rete Ferroviaria Italiana
Rete Ferroviaria Italiana
Rete Ferroviaria Italiana is an Italian company fully owned by Ferrovie dello Stato . RFI is the owner of Italy's railway network, it sets train paths, provides signalling, provides maintenance and other services for the railway network...
(RFI). However, the commercial area of the passenger building
Station building
A station building, also known as a head house, is the main building of a passenger train station. It is typically used principally to provide services to passengers.A station building is not to be confused with the station itself...
is managed by Centostazioni
Centostazioni
' is a member company of Italy's Ferrovie dello Stato group. It was created to rehabilitate, develop and manage 103 medium sized Italian railway stations.-History:...
. Train services are operated by Trenitalia
Trenitalia
Trenitalia is the primary train operator in Italy. Trenitalia is owned by Ferrovie dello Stato, itself owned by the Italian Government. It was created in 2000 following the EU directive on the deregulation of rail transport.-Passenger transport:...
. Each of these companies is a subsidiary of Ferrovie dello Stato
Ferrovie dello Stato
Ferrovie dello Stato is a government-owned holding which manage infrastructure and service on the Italian rail network. The subsidiary Trenitalia is the main rail operator in Italy.-Organization:Ferrovie dello Stato subsidiaries are:...
(FS), Italy's state-owned rail company.
Location
Varese railway station is situated at Piazzale TriesteTrieste
Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city...
, on the eastern edge of the city centre.
History
The station was opened on 26 September 1865, together with the rest of the Varese–Gallarate railway. It remained a terminal stationTerminal Station
Terminal Station is a 1953 film by Italian director Vittorio De Sica. It tells the story of the love affair between an Italian man and an American woman. The film was entered into the 1953 Cannes Film Festival.-Production:...
until 18 July 1894, when the Porto Ceresio–Varese railway was opened.
Features
The station yard has five tracks equipped with platforms, two of which are reserved for terminating trains and Line S5 suburban services to and from MilanMilan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
and Treviglio
Treviglio railway station
Treviglio railway station , also known as Treviglio Centrale railway station is the main station serving the town and comune of Treviglio, in the region of Lombardy, northern Italy...
.
Until the early 1990s, there were active goods services along the lines to Varese, and the station had a goods yard. Since then, following the termination of goods services, that yard has been transformed, with the agreement of FS, into a car parking station.
In addition to the five tracks used for passenger service, there are some tracks near the station used to store rolling stock
Rolling stock
Rolling stock comprises all the vehicles that move on a railway. It usually includes both powered and unpowered vehicles, for example locomotives, railroad cars, coaches and wagons...
that is out of service. These tracks are also a base for rail vehicles used for local line maintenance.
Train movements
The station is the terminus of line S5 of the suburban rail service to Milan. It is also the terminus of Trenitalia regional trainsRegional rail
Commuter rail, also called suburban rail, is a passenger rail transport service that primarily operates between a city center, and the middle to outer suburbs beyond 15km and commuter towns or other locations that draw large numbers of commuters—people who travel on a daily basis...
for Milano Porta Garibaldi
Milano Porta Garibaldi railway station
Milano Porta Garibaldi is a major station in the Italian city of Milan, located just to the north of the neighbourhood known as Porta Garibaldi...
and Porto Ceresio on Lake Lugano
Lake Lugano
Lake Lugano is a glacial lake in the south-east of Switzerland, at the border between Switzerland and Italy. The lake, named after the city of Lugano, is situated between Lake Como and Lago Maggiore...
, near the border with Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
As from 2013, Varese railway station will become international, upon the opening of the new Varese–Arcisate (I)–Stabio (CH)–Mendrisio railway, which will branch off at Arcisate
Arcisate
Arcisate is a town and comune located in the province of Varese, in the Lombardy region of northern Italy....
from the Varese-Porto Ceresio line, and then enter Switzerland at Stabio
Stabio
Stabio is a municipality in the district of Mendrisio in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.-History:Stabio is first mentioned in 1067 as Stabio....
. On the new line, regional trains will link Varese with Mendrisio
Mendrisio
Mendrisio is a municipality in the district of Mendrisio in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.Mendrisio is the seat of the Accademia di Architettura of the university of Italian speaking Switzerland ....
, and there will also be direct trains between Malpensa Airport
Malpensa Aeroporto railway station
Malpensa Aeroporto railway station, or Malpensa Airport railway station , is sited within the Malpensa Airport in Ferno, Varese, northern Italy. Opened in 1999, the station is the western terminus of the Busto Arsizio–Malpensa Airport railway...
and Lugano
Lugano railway station
Lugano railway station is a station owned and operated by the Swiss Federal Railways. It serves the city of Lugano, near the southern end of the Gotthardbahn, in the Canton of Ticino, Switzerland....
.
Interchange
The station is located a few hundred metres (or yards) from Piazzale Fratelli Kennedy, which has a bus station for urban bus lines, and from the suburban bus stops at Varese Nord railway station, with which, according to a municipal project, it should be unified.Unification of the two stations would no doubt be useful to facilitate interchange of passengers between trains of the two different railway companies serving the two stations. However, it would also be difficult to achieve, because the two stations, as well as being at a slight difference in altitude, are separated by a market square and the Piazzale Kennedy bus station.
See also
- History of rail transport in Italy
- List of railway stations in Lombardy
- Rail transport in ItalyRail transport in ItalyThe Italian railway system is one of the most important infrastructure in the country, with a total length of . The network is recently growing with the construction of the new high speed rail network....
- Railway stations in ItalyRailway stations in ItalyRailway stations in Italy are maintained and operated by the RFI division of Ferrovie dello Stato Group. A minor part of them is operated by private and regional companies, conceded by the state.-Classification:...
External links
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This article is based upon a translation of the Italian language version as at January 2011.