Roma-Giardinetti Railway from Termini Laziali to Centocelle

The short Roma-Giardinetti Railway is part of what was once the 137-kilometer-long Roma-Fiuggi-Alatri-Frosinone Railway. The railway line was drastically shortened in many phases since World War II, and with the latest shortening in 3 August 2015 from Giardinetti due to the Rome Metro Line C taking over the alignment and some stations, the Roma-Giardinetti Railway now terminates at Centocelle with a railway length of only 7.62 kilometers long. Despite being a full-fledged railway, there is street running in the city, which is quite interesting to see.

*As photography of trains in Rome using a camera are not really welcomed by the operators and staff, picture quality and quantity are degraded in this article.

Termini Laziali Railway Station

Termini Laziali Railway Station is located just outside Roma Termini Railway Station, on the southernmost corner of the main station building and platforms.

While it is the main Rome terminus of the Roma-Giardinetti Railway, there is no station building, with the main gate line sharing the car porch of the Roma Termini Railway Station drop-off lane.

The Roma-Giardinetti Railway operates like a tram, so the turnstiles are free-turning, and there are validators on top of the turnstiles to validate your ticket.

The slim platforms of Termini Laziali Railway Station.

Roma-Giardinetti Railway

A variety of trains operate on the Roma-Giardinetti Railway, remnants of the Roma-Fiuggi-Alatri-Frosinone Railway. An AnsaldoBreda 1989 EMU awaits the following departure.

The next departing train for me was a Firema 1999 EMU.

The interior of the Roma-Giardinetti Railway Firema 1999 EMU.

The route map of the Roma-Giardinetti Railway is displayed in the train cars, also indicating the closed sector between Togliatti and Giardinetti.

Ticket validators are also available on board the train.

The view of the train interior from my seat.

Graffiti is surprisingly not rampant on the Roma-Giardinetti Railway, and I had a good view out of the windows.

Departing from Roma-Giardinetti Railway.

The line heads for street running almost immediately after departing from Termini Laziali Railway Station.

Porta Maggiore Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Porta Maggiore Railway Station. Porta Maggiore is one of the eastern gates in the 3rd-century Aurelian Walls of Rome.

Crossing the train-tram intersection at Porta Maggiore.

Crossing the road at Porta Maggiore.

Heading out to the grade-separated sector after Porta Maggiore.

Running parallel to the main Trenitalia railway line.

Ponte Casilino Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Ponte Casilino. The platforms are on the other side of the train.

Sant’Elena Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Sant’Elena. The platforms are on the other side of the train.

Heading back out to the street but with a dedicated railway area in the middle of the road.

Alessi Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Alessi.

The grade-separated tracks allow the train to bypass the traffic jam just beside.

Tor Pignattara Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Tor Pignattara.

Continuing to overtake traffic with ease.

Berardi Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Berardi.

Balzani Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Balzani.

Crossing over to the other track on approach to Centocelle.

Centocelle is surprisingly a big station, after going through tight curves and slim platforms.

Centocelle Railway Station

Arriving at Centocelle Railway Station.

The end of the line is now at Centocelle Railway Station.

My Firema 1999 EMU at Centocelle Railway Station.

The line ahead has a scotch buffer looking thing on, but strangely has a green circle instead of red.

Centocelle Railway Station has 4 platforms. I wonder what services were like in its heyday.

The points around Centocelle Railway Station also look like it gate the lines a lot of flexibility for various train services.

My Firema 1999 EMU train prepares to depart for Termini Laziali again, indicated by the destination sign as Roma Laziali.

Heading down the steps to exit.

The turnstile arms are folded down, allowing for free passage.

Transfer to Rome Metro Line C (765 meters)

Heading out of the exit to continue on to Rome Metro Line C for my return trip to Rome.

There is some official vandalism on the sign pointing to Rome Metro Line C , with the distance corrected to 765 meters by foot for the transfer.

Centocelle Railway Station as seen from the street.

The depot for the is adjacent to Centocelle Railway Station.

Crossing the road along the tracks to the depot.

Taking a peek at the Roma-Giardinetti Railway depot.

Continuing down the straight, downhill path.

Parco di Centocelle Metro Station

Finally, after about 10 minutes of walking, Parco di Centocelle Metro Station is seen. Togliatti Railway Station on the Roma-Giardinetti Railway is located just across the road here, but is no longer in service.

From here, I took the Rome Metro Line C to head back to central Rome.