Roma-Lido Railway from Porta San Paolo to Cristoforo Colombo
The Roma-Lido Railway is an urban railway line connecting Ostia with Rome, opened on 10 August 1924. It operated like a regular railway with locomotive-hauled train services at its inception, but today operates a metro-style service with the same model of trains used on the Rome Metro. From Rome, the Roma-Lido Railway starts from Porta San Paolo Railway Station, beside Porta San Paolo (Saint Paul Gate) along the 3rd-century Aurelian Walls of Rome.
*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.
Piramide Metro Station
I arrived at Piramide Metro Station by Rome Metro Line B, which is the adjacent station to Porta San Paolo Railway Station.
Heading up the staircase to the linkbridge to Porta San Paolo Railway Station just beside.
Following the signs to Porta San Paolo Railway Station. There is a paid link between Piramide Metro Station and Porta San Paolo Railway Station.
I arrived at the southern end of Porta San Paolo Railway Station which was not ideal for transferring as I now needed to walk to the other end of this platform to get to the departing train platform.
Walking down the 150-meter-long platform.
Crossing to the departing platform after the buffer stops.
A train had just arrived, which is great as that means I won’t have to wait long. Trains on the Roma-Lido Railway aren’t as frequent as the Rome Metro, with only 2 or 3 trains per hour to Ostia.
Heading to the front of the train in the hopes of finding a seat.
The CAF S/300 operating on the Roma-Lido Railway, albeit covered in graffiti. This is the same train model used on the Rome Metro Lines A and B as well, classified as CAF MA300 and MB400.
Looking out to the line to Ostia.
The interior of the Roma-Lido Railway CAF S/300, which is very similar to the Rome Metro MB400 since both have blue seats. The MA300 has orange seats.
The route map of the Roma-Lido Railway is located above the train doors.
Waiting to depart from Roma Porta San Paolo Railway Station.
Photography out of the windows are not ideal once the doors are closed, since the sides of the train cars are covered in graffiti.
Basilica San Paolo Railway Station
Making a brief stop at Basilica San Paolo Railway Station. This is also an interchange station with Rome Metro Line B, and the nearest station to the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, 1 of Rome’s 4 major papal basilicas.
EUR Magliana Railway Station
Making a brief stop at EUR Magliana Railway Station. This is also an interchange station with Rome Metro Line B, and the Roma-Lido Railway sometimes terminates and originates from here as the northernmost station during train maintenance days.
The Roma-Lido Railway makes stops at Tor di Valle, Vitinia, Casal Bernocchi-Centro Giano, Acilia, Ostia Antica, and Lido Nord along the way to Lido Centro for Ostia.
Passing by the yard at Lido Centro, now holding maintenance of way vehicles.
Turning left to Lido Centro.
Lido Centro Railway Station
Making a brief stop at Lido Centro Railway Station. Most passengers alighted here for Ostia, as the next 3 stations act more of a local feeder train along Lido with lesser demand.
This gives me more opportunity to take pictures of the interior of the CAF S/300 EMU.
Seats are fully longitudinal which feels very metro-like for a suburban railway, but the journey time won’t exceed an hour, so I guess it’s fine.
There are wheelchair spaces at the ends of the trains with a clip to hold wheelchairs in place by the train doors.
The Roma-Lido Railway makes stops at Stella Polare and Castel Fusano in Ostia along the way to Cristoforo Colombo, the terminal station.
Cristoforo Colombo Railway Station
The Roma-Lido Railway journey from Porta San Paolo to Cristoforo Colombo takes 37 minutes.
The line continues to a headshunt before the final buffer stop, just like a regular railway.
Heading out of the platforms at Cristoforo Colombo.
Onward bus services are available from Cristoforo Colombo.
The façade of Cristoforo Colombo Railway Station.
Spiaggia Libera S.P.Q.R.
The nearest attraction from about 2 minutes away by foot is Spiaggia Libera S.P.Q.R., which is a public beach section free of charge. Most of the shoreline along Lido is taken up by private companies and access to the beach may be restricted to patrons.
Heading out to the beach.
As this is a public beach, bring your own beach equipment if you’d like to relax on it.
Looking out to the Tyrrhenian Sea.
It was a quick stop for me at Cristoforo Colombo as I would want to head back to Lido Centro where more attractions and food options are available for lunch.