An ancient train gliding slowly along the tracks, through winter landscapes, snow-capped peaks and small mountain villages where time seems to stand still: this is the Trans-Siberian Railway of Italy, the Sulmona – Isernia railway line, which can still be traveled on historic trains, to the delight of those who want to take this journey through time.
This is a historic train, on which the passenger travels in carriages built in the 1920s and 1930s, now restored, pulled by a locomotive that is also vintage. A magical journey that takes us back to a time in the past, when just after Unification, the then Kingdom of Italy was beginning to modernize and unite territories thanks to railroad tracks. Indeed thanks to the Strade Ferrate as they were called then. Emblematic is the billboard of the time sponsoring the first trip on the Sulmona – Isernia line that read as follows: Inauguration of the Sulmona Isernia Road September 18, 1897.
In 1897, the inauguration of the rail link between Abruzzo and Molise was supposed to be an extraordinarily modern event; today, a century and a quarter later, it is a historical re-enactment that warms the hearts of many passengers and tourists who want to retrace those roads as they once did: slowly by train through those mountains of the Abruzzi and Molise Apennines.
The itinerary of the Trans-Siberian Railway of Italy
The historic train departs from the heart of Abruzzo from the city of Sulmona in the province of L’Aquila on the slopes of Mount Morrone and from there begins to climb the Abruzzo Apennines to Rivisondoli – Pescocostanzo 1268 meters above sea level. From there you go to Castel di Sangro located at 795 meters above sea level, you can reach San Pietro Avellana, a village of 416 inhabitants at 1,000 meters above sea level, and finally you arrive at your destination in Isernia in Molise at 443 meters above sea level.
Full pathway:
SULMONA – SULMONA-INTRODACQUA – VALLELARGA – PETTORANO SUL GIZIO – CANSANO – CAMPO DI GIOVE – CAMPO DI GIOVE MAJELLA – PALENA – RIVISONDOLI-PESCOCOSTANZO – ROCCARASO – ALFEDENA-SCONTRONE – CASTEL DI SANGRO – SAN PIETRO AVELLANA-CAPRACOTTA – VILLA SAN MICHELE – VASTOGIRARDI – CAROVILLI-ROCCASICURA – PESCOLANCIANO-CHIAUCI – SESSANO DEL MOLISE – CARPINONE – ISERNIA
How long is the journey through the Apennines aboard the historic train?
This is a winter journey, aboard a historic train in the Apennines, of what were once called Snow Trains, which traveled at low speed through whitewashed landscapes. The Sulmona – Isernia route is 128 km long, includes several stops and lasts a full day (times vary depending on the stages). Time on board the historic train passes as slowly as the journey, looking at the snowy landscapes out the windows from the warmth of the carriages is a very pleasant feeling, especially holding a cup of excellent montepulciano in your hand to accompany the typical dishes of Abruzzo and Molise cuisine (already since on board you participate in various tastings).
For more information about the Trans-Siberian Railway of Italy, contact the
Parks Railway HERE
