Roma-Lido Railway from Lido Centro to Porta San Paolo

After a short afternoon out in Lido di Ostia, it’s time to head back to Rome to continue more train rides. Checking the timetables, it looks like the trains would be on a 20-minute-ish frequency at the time of departure, which was fine.

*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.

Lido Centro Railway Station

The supposed timetable as seen at the station with a 13:14, 13:37, and 13:59 departure between 1pm to 2pm.

But alas, the actual situation was quite different with my next train to Roma Porta San Paolo departing in more than 30 minutes time, as shown on the information LED screen.

Nevertheless, I entered the Rome-bound platform first in the hopes that the screen was wrong.

Nope, the next train would be departing in more than half an hour’s time.

To not be waiting at Lido Centro Railway Station for more than 30 minutes, I decided to take the Cristoforo Colombo-bound train to bounce back. It will be the same train anyway, and at least I would get a seat and be “waiting” in air-conditioning.

There is a separate gate line for the Cristoforo Colombo-bound platform, but as I was using the Atac CIS ticket with 7 days of unlimited travel, this wasn’t an issue for me.

The underpass leads to the island platform which also serves the Rome-bound track, but doors do not open on this side.

The Cristoforo Colombo-bound platform at Lido Centro.

There is yet another platform, but with a shorter shelter, and seems to be not in use for quite some time already.

Looks like there’s a gap in service, possibly due to insufficient train sets.

Roma-Lido Railway CAF S/300

The incoming Roma-Lido Railway CAF S/300 entering Lido Centro at the curve.

The platform at Lido Centro is longer than the train, but as many passengers were alighting, there was more than enough time for me to get to the nearest train door. I remained at the rear of the train, as this will be the front once it bounces back at Cristoforo Colombo.

Cristoforo Colombo Railway Station

Back at Cristoforo Colombo again. Not what I was expecting to do, but oh well, more train rides I guess.

The graffiti situation on the windows was unsurprisingly bad.

The route map of the Roma-Lido Railway is located above the train doors.

Waiting for departure at Cristoforo Colombo.

I found a seat with a “clearer” window, but it was far from ideal taking pictures as well.

Roma Porta San Paolo Railway Station

The Roma-Lido Railway journey from Cristoforo Colombo to Roma Porta San Paolo takes 37 minutes.

The buffer stops at Roma Porta San Paolo Railway Station, the northern end of the line.

The CAF S/300 at Roma Porta San Paolo Railway Station.

The station exit is to the side of the station building.

There is also a paid link from Roma Porta San Paolo to Piramide on the Rome Metro Line B.

The façade of Roma Porta San Paolo Railway Station.

Roma Porta San Paolo Railway Station is located just in front of Porta San Paolo, one of the southern gates in the 3rd-century Aurelian Walls of Rome.

Back in the ticket concourse of Roma Porta San Paolo Railway Station, the design is still in tact since 1924.

However, with modernisation, ticket counters are no longer in use here. Passengers who require tickets can use Piramide Metro Station just beside.

Heading back in to Roma Porta San Paolo Railway Station.

Roma Porta San Paolo Railway Park Museum

Roma Porta San Paolo Railway Park Museum is located within Roma Porta San Paolo Railway Station, but this was closed during my visit.

There are some old rolling stock kept in Roma Porta San Paolo Railway Park Museum, but unfortunately I could not get up close to see them.

Piramide Metro Station (Rome Metro Line B)

From here, I returned to Piramide Metro Station to catch the Rome Metro Line B into central Rome. This time, I got the older MB100 train.

The MB100 train is non-air-conditioned, with hopper windows that open for ventilation. This train is not fun to be in overground during the summer, but tunnel trips are fine.

The route map of Rome Metro Line B is located above the train doors.

For normal tourists using Rome Metro Line B to ply between Roma Termini and Colosseo for the Colosseum, this shouldn’t be anything confusing, but be careful if travelling northeastward of Bologna as there are 2 branches of the Rome Metro Line B to Rebibbia and Jonio.