San Bonifacio–Lonigo–Cologna Veneta Tramway
The San Bonifacio–Lonigo–Cologna Veneta tramway was an interurban tram line in Veneto, in operation from 1882 to 1937. It was complemented by the short branch Lonigo Stazione–Lonigo San Giovanni, later converted into a railway and definitively closed in 1965.
History
As early as 1881, a steam tramway from Verona to Caldiero to San Bonifacio had been opened, built by the Società Anonima dei tramways a vapore delle provincie di Verona e Vicenza (TVV) on behalf of the concessionaires G. B. Alessi and V. Grondona of Milan. In 1882, this service was extended 9 km to Lonigo and a few months later a further 17 km to Cologna Veneta, concurrently with the opening of the dedicated branch between Lonigo and the SFAI station, which was about 6 km from the town.
By ministerial decrees no. 17112/1272 of 10 March 1881 and no. 28178.905 of 11 April 1882, this company was authorized "to operate, with steam traction, respectively, the San Bonifacio–Lonigo and Lonigo–Cologna Veneta tramways".
In the aftermath of the First World War, a period of heavy strikes hit the TVV, which was forced to cede the operation of the tramway to the provincial deputation, an operation sanctioned by prefectural decree no. 2936 of 2 April 1919, effectively marking the company's exit: the service was formally carried out on behalf of the concessionaire company until 1924, when the concession itself passed to the newly established provincial company.
The management of the complex of rail and tram lines under the Province proved rather heterogeneous, both in terms of the rolling stock used and the situation of the individual concessions. Public management was marked by a growing deficit, which in 1935 led to the decision to sub-concede the operation of the entire network to private industry, thus entrusted to the Società Anonima Esercizi Riuniti (SAER), a company already active in the sector. The latter, as a result of the deficit recorded by services beyond San Bonifacio, opted to replace them with a substitute bus line, which initially required the use of four FIAT-built buses.
Characteristics
Overall, the length of the lines amounted to 22.9 km.
One or two freight wagons could be attached to the railcar on each run. Departures from Porta Vescovo to Lonigo and Cologna Veneta, for a journey of about 40 km, were therefore structured with 6 runs per day, to which 11 runs to San Bonifacio and 13 to Caldiero were added.
Route
Departing from San Bonifacio, the track ran along the roadway of the current SP 38, mostly straight, separated from the carriageway by a tramway curb.
After serving the town centre and the city racecourse, the tram followed the provincial road, then the state road 500 of Lonigo, thus crossing Bagnolo and Zimella to end the journey at Cologna Veneta. In the latter locality, the tram station was located much further north than the railway station, which was on the now-defunct Treviso–Ostiglia Railway and opened on 19 April 1925.
Branch to Lonigo Stazione
The introduction of battery railcars made it possible to establish a true urban service in Lonigo on the Lonigo Stazione–Lonigo Tram section (formerly Lonigo San Giovanni–Piazza Cavalli–Ippodromo).
In the aftermath of its suppression, which took place on 1 November 1937, and the establishment of a bus service operated by the Guido Mizzon company, the Municipality of Lonigo redeemed the section of its competence with the precise intention of reactivating the service. Due to the outbreak of war, this was only possible in 1949, carried out by the Ferrovie dello Stato, with the establishment of the on the Lonigo Stazione–Zona industriale section (4.1 km), to which the short extension Zona industriale–Lonigo Città, of 0.8 km, was added the following year.
Rolling stock
On 23 June 1923, three vehicles obtained from the conversion of as many trailers by the Rognini & Balbo company, then specialized in this traction system, entered regular service. Each vehicle, with a capacity of 32 seats (54 total), developed a modest power of 22 kW, which was however sufficient given the essentially flat characteristics of the tramway (the maximum gradient of 35 per thousand was reached only at the slight ascents to access two bridges).
Registered as A75–A79, these railcars reached a maximum speed of 31 km/h and had a range of 150 km, aided by the presence of a fourth battery pack compared to the 3 mounted, kept on charge at one of the termini, which constituted the necessary reserve; occasionally each motor car could haul a trailer. Upon the closure of the line to Cologna, they were transferred to the Verona–Caprino–Garda railway.
See also
- History of rail transport in Italy
- Verona-Caprino-Garda railway
- Treviso–Ostiglia Railway