TRIP REPORT | Espresso Cadore | ROMA - CALALZO - CORTINA | FS Treni Turistici Italiani | EXP 96100

Subtitles activated correctly Hello, welcome to this new video! Today Friday February 23rd 2024 we are trying the first service by "Treni Turistici Italiani" (TTI): the "ESPRESSO CADORE" that connects CORTINA, the CADORE and Belluno's area. Before boarding, travelers are welcomed at the check in desk visible on the left Beyond the ticked, we are asked if we have any bulky luggage (like sport equipment) to store in the trunk car They will be taken by the TTI personnel and given back to us once we

have arrived at our destination. No worries about their transfer to the bus: it will be done by the staff The trunk car is visible here: a former MDVC 2nd class seating car, rearranged to carry food, bulky packages and suitcases and every kind of sport equipment This is our sleeping car for tonight: one of the many UIC-X originally equipped with six-seater couchettes As we'll see, the interior has been completely rebuilt. Now this car provides 10 cabins with 2 beds each. Cabins with private toi

let and shower will be available in the future A "MU" type carriage follows, with 12 cabins with 3 beds each. Although, in order to have a better comfort, a maximum of 2 beds per cabin are on sale Exceptionally, we find another "MU" type car. Visibly different than the other one, this one has been restored and now shows its wonderful original shape and interior The restoration had been done by "FONDAZIONE FS", entity which goal is the restoration and preservation of the Italian historical railwa

y heritage Now the highlight of this train: the dining car. This unit is the last surviving of the "Self Service" 1971 type and shows a rearranged interior with restaurant tables and a bar corner Until 2020 it was used by "Thello" with the international Venice-Paris overnight train Lastly, two UIC-X type couchettes, each one with 11 cabins with 6 or 4 bunks each Unfortunately I only had the opportunity to take a picture of an empty cabin in its day configuration The heed and quality of the refur

bishment process is outstanding Until 2012 this connection was operated by Trenitalia, the national carrier. Today it is re-proposed, this time touristically, by Treni Turistici Italiani The train is thus composed: two E402b class electrical engines in Double Symmetrical Traction. During the night, they will leave their place to a couple of diesel powered D445 class locos Seven coaches, usually in this order: 1 trunk, 2 with beds, 1 dining car and 3 couchettes. The composition may vary (like ton

ight) Let's get onboard! Very first impression: smelling the new materials and cleanliness Cabin number 7 We are two people, so two beds are open. If you are travelling alone in a sleeping car, the compartment is sold exclusive use only Kind of an armchair, very comfortable 1 liter of water (both still and sparkling) and some brochures presenting the new service and the history of the Rome-Calalzo train The only item which remained original through the restoration: the hat rack! As the compartme

nt originally fitted six person, now in just two it's really spacious Adjustable reading light Universal European "Shuko" power outlet 220v 50 Hz, USB type A and C Custom made bottle holder Three light modes: on, off and night (blue) Audible announcements volume and room temperature regulation Closet with washbasin and mirror. The water pressure was excellent Trash bin Premium quality materials Let's take a look at the amenity kit: Brush Sewing kit, cotton pads, and earplugs Nail file Slippers E

ye mask Refreshing wipes Shaving kit Soap Body lotion The almost 700 km we'll run across tonight... Each carriage is provided with two public washbasins and two public toilets. Their cleanliness was perfectly kept during the whole journey thanks to the hard work of the travelling cleaning personnel, who worked continuously all night long In the toilets there are on display some vintage photos coming from the "Fondazione FS" archive It's time to have dinner! Just the time to walk across a couple

of coaches and we'll find ourselves in a real restaurant... While reading the menu, water and bread (choiche between white, wholegrain or gluten free) are served to us The menu of day consist in typical stagional dishes of the Italian cuisine The dinner service (first and second course, dessert and drink) is included in the sleeping car ticket. With a couchette ticket, it is a 35 euros optional Sea bass fillet with sautèed broccoli Other dishes available tonight: braised agnolotti pasta Crea

m of chickpeas and mazzancolle prawns Mediterranean chicken breast with sautèed broccoli The sea bass fillet seen before Dessert: apple and cinnamon Margherita cake And after dinner, a stopover at the bar, which is opened all night long Bar's overview of food and drink selection Even if at the wrong time of the day, the Spritz is always a good choice Cheers! It's time to go to sleep: in the aisle the lights became dimmered and blue Goodnight! In a few hours we are waking up to see the locomotive

change in Treviso, such a rare and unusual maneuver these days After having slept like an angel for four hours, we reached Treviso Centrale The two E402B class electric engines are uncoupled and replaced with two D445 class diesel engines This is necessary because the last 37 km of railway track from Ponte Nelle Alpi to Calalzo are not have electrification It could be possible to continue for the next 68 km until Ponte Nelle Alpi with the electric traction, but due to technical and logistic rea

sons it's better to maneuver here in Treviso Now the interesting part: with the diesel traction we'll encounter the most challenging hills of the whole journey The first one, the "Fadalto", between Vittorio Veneto and Santa Croce Del Lago, over 10 km at constant 25 x 1000 The second one, after reverse, the diesel track between Ponte Nelle Alpi and Calalzo has a general uphill trend, especially the last 10 km after Perarolo di Cadore on 20 x 1000 average and 35 x 1000 peaks! Bye bye E402b :) His

Majesty is coming: the D445. This is the unit number 1076, on the other side there is the 1050 What a soul-shaking sound T-T The two E402b are being parked in the depot waiting for the return trip to Rome, leaving Sunday night and arriving Monday early morning Meanwhile, the InterCity Night 774 Rome-Trieste, regular sleeping train operated by Trenitalia, after travelling on our same path, overtakes us We'll be sharing the same path for the next 27 km until Conegliano From Trieste it's possible t

o reach, still by train, Slovenia and Austria After 40 minutes, we leave First daylight. Here in the flat it's foggy, but in Calalzo there is the snow waiting for us Breakfast reservation coupon, included for everyone Before getting to the dining car, let's take a look at the trunk car interior Table set up for the breakfast The breakfast includes croissant, rusks, bread, jams, honey, yogurt, everything also gluten free available Fadalto and highway viaduct yup its' fun :) Passing underneath the

highway, we see how much more beautiful the train is PONTE NELLE ALPI - POLPET Starting from here, it's possible to visit the following locations: BELLUNO - 8 km NEVEGAL Ski resort, bike park, camping, hikes - 16 km ALPAGO, CANSIGLIO, SANTA CROCE LAKE hikes, camping and windsurf - 13 km We depart, in the opposite direction, heading towards Longarone, a bit more of 10 km away LONGARONE - ZOLDO Starting from here, it's possible to visit the following locations: VAJONT DAM, Erto, Casso - 8 km ZOLD

O, PELMO MOUNT - 18 km ALLEGHE - CIVETTA Ski Area - 52 km ALLEGHE Village and Lake - 52 km The snow starts to show up... Passing Perarolo di Cadore. In this village there is a Ham and Speck factory. Now, the steepest hill of the line begins! Famous bridge on the "Boite" creek "Monte Zucco" track variant, 2739 meters long tunnel opened in 2003 The landscape is stunning The Belluno-Calalzo railway is among the most beautiful in Italy and it's the only one that leads directly into the Dolomites Dur

ing the summer it's destination of numerous cyclists that with the Regional Trains by Trenitalia and the bus with the bike trolly reach the cycle path Calalzo-Cortina-Dobbiaco which follows the path of the former railway, closed in 1964 CALALZO - PIEVE DI CADORE - CORTINA Starting from here, it's possible to visit the following locations: CENTRO CADORE LAKE- Thermal naturalistic area LAGOLE. Pedal boat rent, fishing, picnic - 850m BY FEET CALALZO and the nearby villages, especially DOMEGGE, are

famous for their eyewear. Being produced on site, it's possible to make glasses and lenses in few hours at very competitive prices Over there the D455 unit 1050, which with the unit 1076, gave its maximum effort for the last 10 km Beyond the mountain passes and the ski slopes, from CORTINA it's possible to reach the following tourist destinations: MISURINA Lake, ice skating or pedal boat rent, ski, hikes, hotel - 14 km TRE CIME DI LAVAREDO hikes SUMMER ONLY - Shuttle from MISURINA To reach Cort

ina there is the ESPRESSO CADORE LINK, which takes about 40 minutes The luggage transfer from the trunk car to the bus is done by the train personnel, so the only thing to do is to sit on the bus just thinking about enjoying the view! For those who stop in CALALZO, there is a waiting area/lounge with a scale model of the station, TV and vintage pictures of the Rome-Calalzo train Talking about PRICES, it's necessary to distinguish whether you are travelling alone or in a group If you are alone, w

ith the TTI SPECIAL fare it is: 80 euros C6 couchette, 105 euros C4 couchette, 192,50 euros sleeping car, 305 euro for the entire couchette cabin just for yourself. WOMEN ONLY cabins are available if you are travelling in a couchette Furthermore, there are special offers for groups. 6 people group: 327 euro entire couchette cabin (54,50 euro each person) 4 people group: 334 euro entire couchette cabin (83,50 euro each person) Couple, 2 people: 280 euro double compartment sleeping car (two beds i

n a cabin, 140 euro each person). With the sleeping car ticket the dinner is included The shuttle to Cortina ESPRESSO CADORE LINK costs 10 euro What remains to me after this trip? The experience for sure. There is no train at the moment, at least in Italy, able to match it The extreme cordiality and the way the staff takes care of the passengers, the cleanliness and the comfort of the train and the tourist offer that it generates, are unique right now. However, there is something that goes beyon

d The dinner in the dining car enables you to socialize and create a relationship, however temporary, that goes beyond just chatting or laughing. It was like being friends for a night That makes the Espresso Cadore, and probably the future trains by Treni Turistici Italiani, trains with which you don't move, but travel. Trains where you don't spend your time, but live.