Parks' Railway: Sustainable Travel on Italy's Trans-Siberian Railway

A romantic slow tourism journey through the beauties of Abruzzo and Molise: the Ferrovia del Parchi winds for 128 kilometers, between Abruzzo and Molise, through the woods and nature reserves of the highest mountains in Central Italy.

Index of topics

The Trans-Siberian of Italy

The line, also known as the Trans-Siberian Railway of Italy , follows a sustainable route that, connecting two regions, allows you to discover an entire region, through 20 stations, rich in biodiversity. It starts in Sulmona, Abruzzo, and reaches an altitude of 1.280 meters at the Rivisondoli-Pescocostanzo station. It then gently descends towards the hills of Isernia, Molise, and arrives at the San Pietro Avellana station. From there, the second leg of the journey begins, with trekking or mountain biking excursions within the Collemuccio-Montedimezzo MAB Biosphere Reserve.

History

The Parks Railway is also known as the Trans-Siberian Railway of Italy, following a 1980 account by journalist and author Luciano Zeppegno. Returning from a train journey in Asia, Zeppegno wanted to experience the route between Abruzzo and Molise in the vintage carriages of the Parks Railway. In his account, he compared the snow-covered landscape of the Abruzzo High Plateaus to images of the Siberian steppe in winter. And since then, the Parks Railway has also been known as the Trans-Siberian Railway of Italy.

Get inspired

The journey on the Ferrovia dei Parchi line is a pleasant journey, with vintage carriages traveling at slow speed, through mountains, forests, national parks, narrow gorges, streams, 58 tunnels, and a series of medieval villages. It is the most scenic railway line in Italy, with some sections reaching a 28 percent gradient, and each traveler can tailor their itinerary according to the slow tourism method . That is, they can stop at their favorite stations, take a walk or bike ride, visit a village along the line, and then get back on the train.

The Biosphere Reserve

The final stop, with all its natural beauty, is the Collemuccio-Montedimezzo MAB Biosphere Reserve. This place boasts an unparalleled concentration of biodiversity, best admired through trekking excursions and walks along well-maintained trails. To get an idea of the richness of this environmental paradise, consider that 48 mammal species, 112 bird species , 10 amphibian species, 8 reptile species, 5 fish species, and 9 invertebrate species have been recorded within its territory. In addition to foxes, squirrels, hares, and roe deer, the Reserve also harbors well-protected nests of the honey buzzard, the stock dove, and the great and lesser woodpecker. As for plants and trees, the entire area of the Biosphere Reserve, 276 hectares, is covered in forest, and the Collemuccio-Montedimezzo MAB preserves approximately 30 percent of all Molise flora, with 900 species and subspecies. The landscape is dominated by Turkey oak and white hornbeam.

How to Get There

The historic train departs from Sulmona train station, the terminus of the route. To get to Sulmona, whenever possible, take the train: it's more convenient, safer, and you won't have to worry about parking!

from Pescara Centrale (with a stop in Chieti) –> Trenitalia regional trains (tickets on www.trenitalia.com) departing in the morning to coincide with the departure of the historic train in Sulmona, and departing in the evening on the return journey after the historic train returns to Sulmona.
From Rome –> Trenitalia regional trains (tickets at www.trenitalia.com) arriving the day before and staying overnight in Sulmona. From Rome, there are no convenient times or connections for a same-day return trip.

If you arrive by car

Do not park in front of the station: the existing parking lot is very small.
Use the nearby car park, about 50 metres along Viale della Stazione Centrale, which is large and free all day.

Here is the location: https://goo.gl/maps/maZXyW5p5BZ5aDRx5

Contacts and information

All information, starting from the timetables and travel days, can be found on the Ferrovia dei Parchi website ( www.ferroviadeiparchi.it ), or by writing to: [email protected]

For visits to the Biosphere Reserve, please write to: [email protected].

To organize trekking, e-bike, and mountain bike excursions, write to: [email protected]

Opening photo taken from the Ferrovia dei Parchi Facebook page