The season has resumed historic trains in Lombardywhich allows you to delve into the past and discover the beauty of the territory in a new way, gently accompanied by vintage trains, steam and electric locomotives, with “centoporte” cars from the 1930s and 1950s. 2024 calendar predicted 20 routes, everyone with departure from Milan. Let’s discover the most beautiful routes and what’s new this year.
Lombardy aboard historic trains: the routes
The initiative, now in its eighth edition, is promoted by the Department of Transport and Sustainable Mobility of the Lombardy Region in collaboration with the Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane Foundation and FS Treni Turistici Italiani. Among the main novelty this year, two vintage trains on the route Milan – Brescia – Desenzano, It’s a yes Milan to Genoa with the ETR 252 “Arlecchino”, the electric train symbol of Made in Italy and the economic boom of the 1960s.
The most popular routes from past years are offered again, with the possibility of carrying your bike on board for free using specially equipped luggage compartments. We therefore find the Lario Expressthe steam train that leaves Milan Centrale heading north towards As and from there it crosses all the greener and more agricultural Brianza, on a secondary line full of charm, touching many places where it makes short stops, to finally reach the destination of Lecco. From Como it is also possible to organize your day independently and use Navigazione Laghi boats.
He Laveno Express instead he stops in the town of Laveno-Mombello, in the province of Varese. which offers a splendid panorama of the Borromean basin Lake Maggiore. Here you can spend a day surrounded by greenery and enjoy splendid walks by the lake. From Laveno it is also possible to use the frequent “ferry boat” services to reach Intraon the Piedmont side of the lake.
The route of Sébino Expresswhich heads towards the Bergamo region, inside the Oglio River Regional Park, at the foot of the Camonica Valley. Between the hills of Franciacorta and the first pre-Alpine foothills, we see Lake Iseo emerge, surrounded by mountains and dotted with splendid villages rich in art and traditions. The train arrives at Palazzolo sull’Oglio to reach, in approximately 10 km, Paratico-Sarnicor where the transport service for railway wagons on barges to the Lovere steelworks once took place on the still existing quay.
The historic train Lomelline Express leads passengers to Mortar, through the landscapes of the Lombard countryside and the Ticino valley park. Once arrived at their destination, travelers will have different circuits that will allow them to discover the region, between natural spaces, castles, abbeys, typical gastronomy and farms surrounded by rice fields.
He is heading towards the Brianza he Besanino Express, up to Monza, where it continues along the historic and panoramic line to Molteno, stopping in numerous places and then continuing to Lecco, the terminus of the route, where it will be possible to visit the city and walk by the lake. Finally, two historic trains are planned on the route Milan – Chiavenna – with the possibility of reaching the provincial town of Sondrio, or stopping in one of the villages overlooking the lake, Varenna, Bellano and Colico – and between Milan and Cremona.
Historic trains in Lombardy: all dates
- Lario Express, from Milan and Monza to Como and Lecco, Sunday May 12 and October 13.
- Laveno Express: from Milan to discover Lake Maggiore, Sunday June 2 and September 8.
- Sebino Express, from Milan to Lake Iseo, Sunday May 19, June 16, September 15, October 20.
- Lomellina Express, from Milan to Mortara, on Sundays May 26 and September 29 on the occasion of the Goose Salami Festival, one of the main events in the region’s event calendar.
- Besanino Express, from Milan to Besana, Molteno and Lecco, Sunday September 22 and October 27.
- Historic train Milan – Chiavenna, Sunday June 23.
- Historic train Milan – Cremona, Sunday November 17.
- Milan – Brescia – Desenzano, June 9 and September 1,
- ETR 252 ‘Arlecchino’ Milan – Genoa, July 14 and November 3