1.
European Union
–
The European Union is a political and economic union of 28 member states that are located primarily in Europe. It has an area of 4,475,757 km2, the EU has developed an internal single market through a standardised system of laws that apply in all member states. Within the Schengen Area, passport controls have been abolished, a monetary union was established in 1999 and came into full force in 2002, and is composed of 19 EU member states which use the euro currency. The EU operates through a system of supranational and intergovernmental decision-making. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community, the community and its successors have grown in size by the accession of new member states and in power by the addition of policy areas to its remit. While no member state has left the EU or its antecedent organisations, the Maastricht Treaty established the European Union in 1993 and introduced European citizenship. The latest major amendment to the basis of the EU. The EU as a whole is the largest economy in the world, additionally,27 out of 28 EU countries have a very high Human Development Index, according to the United Nations Development Programme. In 2012, the EU was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, through the Common Foreign and Security Policy, the EU has developed a role in external relations and defence. The union maintains permanent diplomatic missions throughout the world and represents itself at the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, the G7, because of its global influence, the European Union has been described as an emerging superpower. After World War II, European integration was seen as an antidote to the nationalism which had devastated the continent. 1952 saw the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community, the supporters of the Community included Alcide De Gasperi, Jean Monnet, Robert Schuman, and Paul-Henri Spaak. These men and others are credited as the Founding fathers of the European Union. In 1957, Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and West Germany signed the Treaty of Rome and they also signed another pact creating the European Atomic Energy Community for co-operation in developing nuclear energy. Both treaties came into force in 1958, the EEC and Euratom were created separately from the ECSC, although they shared the same courts and the Common Assembly. The EEC was headed by Walter Hallstein and Euratom was headed by Louis Armand, Euratom was to integrate sectors in nuclear energy while the EEC would develop a customs union among members. During the 1960s, tensions began to show, with France seeking to limit supranational power, Jean Rey presided over the first merged Commission. In 1973, the Communities enlarged to include Denmark, Ireland, Norway had negotiated to join at the same time, but Norwegian voters rejected membership in a referendum
European Union
–
In 1989, the
Iron Curtain fell, enabling the union to
expand further (
Berlin Wall pictured).
European Union
–
Flag
European Union
–
2009, the
Lisbon Treaty entered into force.
European Union
–
The 65,993 km (41,006 mi) coastline dominates the European climate (
Cyprus).
2.
Italy
–
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a unitary parliamentary republic in Europe. Located in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea, Italy shares open land borders with France, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, San Marino, Italy covers an area of 301,338 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal and Mediterranean climate. Due to its shape, it is referred to in Italy as lo Stivale. With 61 million inhabitants, it is the fourth most populous EU member state, the Italic tribe known as the Latins formed the Roman Kingdom, which eventually became a republic that conquered and assimilated other nearby civilisations. The legacy of the Roman Empire is widespread and can be observed in the distribution of civilian law, republican governments, Christianity. The Renaissance began in Italy and spread to the rest of Europe, bringing a renewed interest in humanism, science, exploration, Italian culture flourished at this time, producing famous scholars, artists and polymaths such as Leonardo da Vinci, Galileo, Michelangelo and Machiavelli. The weakened sovereigns soon fell victim to conquest by European powers such as France, Spain and Austria. Despite being one of the victors in World War I, Italy entered a period of economic crisis and social turmoil. The subsequent participation in World War II on the Axis side ended in defeat, economic destruction. Today, Italy has the third largest economy in the Eurozone and it has a very high level of human development and is ranked sixth in the world for life expectancy. The country plays a prominent role in regional and global economic, military, cultural and diplomatic affairs, as a reflection of its cultural wealth, Italy is home to 51 World Heritage Sites, the most in the world, and is the fifth most visited country. The assumptions on the etymology of the name Italia are very numerous, according to one of the more common explanations, the term Italia, from Latin, Italia, was borrowed through Greek from the Oscan Víteliú, meaning land of young cattle. The bull was a symbol of the southern Italic tribes and was often depicted goring the Roman wolf as a defiant symbol of free Italy during the Social War. Greek historian Dionysius of Halicarnassus states this account together with the legend that Italy was named after Italus, mentioned also by Aristotle and Thucydides. The name Italia originally applied only to a part of what is now Southern Italy – according to Antiochus of Syracuse, but by his time Oenotria and Italy had become synonymous, and the name also applied to most of Lucania as well. The Greeks gradually came to apply the name Italia to a larger region, excavations throughout Italy revealed a Neanderthal presence dating back to the Palaeolithic period, some 200,000 years ago, modern Humans arrived about 40,000 years ago. Other ancient Italian peoples of undetermined language families but of possible origins include the Rhaetian people and Cammuni. Also the Phoenicians established colonies on the coasts of Sardinia and Sicily, the Roman legacy has deeply influenced the Western civilisation, shaping most of the modern world
Italy
–
The
Colosseum in Rome, built c. 70 – 80 AD, is considered one of the greatest works of
architecture and
engineering of ancient history.
Italy
–
Flag
Italy
–
The
Iron Crown of Lombardy, for centuries symbol of the
Kings of Italy.
Italy
–
Castel del Monte, built by German Emperor
Frederick II,
UNESCO World Heritage site
3.
Rail transport in Italy
–
The Italian railway system is one of the most important parts of the infrastructure of Italy, with a total length of 24,227 km of which active lines are 16,723 km. The network has grown with the construction of the new high-speed rail network. Italy is a member of the International Union of Railways, the UIC Country Code for Italy is 83. RFI, a state owned company, administers most of the Italian rail infrastructure, the total length of RFI active lines is 16,723 km, of which 7,505 km are double tracks. Lines are divided into 3 categories, fundamental lines, which have high traffic and good infrastructure quality, fundamental lines are 6,131 km long, complementary lines, which have less traffic and are responsible for connecting medium or small regional centers. Most of these lines are track and some are not electrified, node lines. Most of the Italian network is electrified, electric system is 3kV DC on conventional lines and 25 kV AC on high-speed lines. The Italian rail network comprises also other regional lines controlled by other companies for a total of about 3,000 km. The first railway in Italy was the Napoli-Portici line, built in 1839 to connect the palace of Naples to the seaside. After the creation of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861, a project was started to build a network from the Alps to Sicily, in order to connect the country. The first high-speed train was the Italian ETR200, which in July 1939 went from Milan to Florence at 165 km/h, with this service, the railway was able to compete with the upcoming airplanes. The Second World War stopped these services, after the Second World War, Italy started to repair the damaged railways, and built nearly 20,000 km of new tracks. Nowadays the rail tracks and infrastructure are managed by Rete Ferroviaria Italiana, while the train, both are Ferrovie dello Stato subsidiaries, once the only train operator in Italy. High-speed trains were developed during the 1960s, e444 locomotives were the first standard locomotives capable of top speed of 200 km/h, while an ALe 601 electrical multiple unit reached a speed of 240 km/h during a test. Other EMUs, such as the ETR220, ETR250, the braking systems of cars were updated to match the increased travelling speeds. On 25 June 1970, work was started on the Rome–Florence Direttissima and it included the 5.375 km long bridge on the Paglia river, then the longest in Europe. Works were completed in the early 1990s, in 1975, a program for a widespread updating of the rolling stock was launched. Therefore,160 E.656 electric and 35 D.345 locomotives for short-medium range traffic were acquired, some 1,000 much-needed passenger and 7,000 freight cars were also ordered
Rail transport in Italy
–
A frecciarossa high-speed train at
Centrale station in Milan
Rail transport in Italy
–
An Italian local train Minuetto
Rail transport in Italy
–
FS ETR 500 in the Firenze station
Rail transport in Italy
–
Italo operates on main High-Speed lines by
NTV. Makes a few stops in the most important cities.
4.
High-speed rail
–
High-speed rail is a type of rail transport that operates significantly faster than traditional rail traffic, using an integrated system of specialized rolling stock and dedicated tracks. The first such system began operations in Japan in 1964 and was known as the bullet train. High-speed trains normally operate on standard gauge tracks of continuously welded rail on grade-separated right-of-way that incorporates a large turning radius in its design, only in Europe does HSR cross international borders. China has 22,000 kilometres of HSR as of end December 2016, while high-speed rail is most often designed for passenger travel, some high-speed systems also offer freight service. Multiple definitions for high-speed rail are in use worldwide, the European Union Directive 96/48/EC, Annex 1 defines high-speed rail in terms of, Infrastructure, track built specially for high-speed travel or specially upgraded for high-speed travel. Minimum Speed Limit, Minimum speed of 250 km/h on lines built for high speed. This must apply to at least one section of the line, Rolling stock must be able to reach a speed of at least 200 km/h to be considered high speed. Operating conditions, Rolling stock must be designed alongside its infrastructure for complete compatibility, safety and quality of service, category II – Existing tracks specially upgraded for high speeds, allowing a maximum running speed of at least 200 km/h. Category III – Existing tracks specially upgraded for high speeds, allowing a maximum running speed of at least 200 km/h, the UIC prefers to use definitions because they consider that there is no single standard definition of high-speed rail, nor even standard usage of the terms. They make use of the European EC Directive 96/48, stating that high speed is a combination of all the elements which constitute the system, infrastructure, rolling stock and operating conditions. The International Union of Railways states that high-speed rail is a set of unique features, many conventionally hauled trains are able to reach 200 km/h in commercial service but are not considered to be high-speed trains. These include the French SNCF Intercités and German DB IC, National domestic standards may vary from the international ones. Railways were the first form of land transportation and had an effective monopoly on passenger traffic until the development of the motor car. Speed had always been an important factor for railroads and they tried to achieve higher speeds. The line used three-phase current at 10 kilovolts and 45 Hz, on 23 October 1903, the S&H-equipped railcar achieved a speed of 206.7 km/h and on 27 October the AEG-equipped railcar achieved 210.2 km/h. These trains demonstrated the feasibility of electric high-speed rail, however, after the breakthrough of electric railroads, it was clearly the infrastructure – especially the cost of it – which hampered the introduction of high-speed rail. Several disasters happened – derailments, head-on collisions on single-track lines, collisions with traffic at grade crossings. The physical laws were well-known, i. e. if the speed was doubled, the radius should be quadrupled
High-speed rail
–
The
Tōkaidō Shinkansen high-speed line in Japan, with
Mount Fuji in the background
High-speed rail
–
The German 1903 record holder
High-speed rail
–
The German Fliegender Hamburger
High-speed rail
–
Burlington
Zephyr passenger train
5.
Naples
–
Naples is the capital of the Italian region Campania and the third-largest municipality in Italy, after Rome and Milan. In 2015, around 975,260 people lived within the administrative limits. The Metropolitan City of Naples had a population of 3,115,320, Naples is the 9th-most populous urban area in the European Union with a population of between 3 million and 3.7 million. About 4.4 million people live in the Naples metropolitan area, Naples is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Bronze Age Greek settlements were established in the Naples area in the second millennium BC, a larger colony – initially known as Parthenope, Παρθενόπη – developed on the Island of Megaride around the ninth century BC, at the end of the Greek Dark Ages. Naples remained influential after the fall of the Western Roman Empire, thereafter, in union with Sicily, it became the capital of the Two Sicilies until the unification of Italy in 1861. Naples was the most-bombed Italian city during World War II, much of the citys 20th-century periphery was constructed under Benito Mussolinis fascist government, and during reconstruction efforts after World War II. The city has experienced significant economic growth in recent decades, and unemployment levels in the city, however, Naples still suffers from political and economic corruption, and unemployment levels remain high. Naples has the fourth-largest urban economy in Italy, after Milan, Rome and it is the worlds 103rd-richest city by purchasing power, with an estimated 2011 GDP of US$83.6 billion. The port of Naples is one of the most important in Europe, numerous major Italian companies, such as MSC Cruises Italy S. p. A, are headquartered in Naples. The city also hosts NATOs Allied Joint Force Command Naples, the SRM Institution for Economic Research, Naples is a full member of the Eurocities network of European cities. The city was selected to become the headquarters of the European institution ACP/UE and was named a City of Literature by UNESCOs Creative Cities Network, the Villa Rosebery, one of the three official residences of the President of Italy, is located in the citys Posillipo district. Naples historic city centre is the largest in Europe, covering 1,700 hectares and enclosing 27 centuries of history, Naples has long been a major cultural centre with a global sphere of influence, particularly during the Renaissance and Enlightenment eras. In the immediate vicinity of Naples are numerous culturally and historically significant sites, including the Palace of Caserta, culinarily, Naples is synonymous with pizza, which originated in the city. Neapolitan music has furthermore been highly influential, credited with the invention of the romantic guitar, according to CNN, the metro stop Toledo is the most beautiful in Europe and it won also the LEAF Award 2013 as Public building of the year. Naples is the Italian city with the highest number of accredited stars from the Michelin Guide, Naples sports scene is dominated by football and Serie A club S. S. C. Napoli, two-time Italian champions and winner of European trophies, who play at the San Paolo Stadium in the south-west of the city, the Phlegraean Fields around Naples has been inhabited since the Neolithic period. The earliest Greek settlements were established in the Naples area in the second millennium BC, sailors from the Greek island of Rhodes established a small commercial port called Parthenope on the island of Megaride in the ninth century BC
Naples
–
Naples Napoli
Naples
–
Ancient map of the Bay of Naples area from Vatican Museum
Naples
–
A scene featuring the
siren Parthenope, the mythological founder of Naples.
Naples
–
The
Gothic Battle of Mons Lactarius on
Vesuvius, painted by
Alexander Zick.
6.
Milan
–
Milan is a city in Italy, capital of the Lombardy region, and the most populous metropolitan area and the second most populous comune in Italy. The population of the city proper is 1,351,000, Milan has a population of about 8,500,000 people. It is the industrial and financial centre of Italy and one of global significance. In terms of GDP, it has the largest economy among European non-capital cities, Milan is considered part of the Blue Banana and lies at the heart of one of the Four Motors for Europe. Milan is an Alpha leading global city, with strengths in the arts, commerce, design, education, entertainment, fashion, finance, healthcare, media, services, research, and tourism. Its business district hosts Italys Stock Exchange and the headquarters of the largest national and international banks, the city is a major world fashion and design capital, well known for several international events and fairs, including Milan Fashion Week and the Milan Furniture Fair. The city hosts numerous cultural institutions, academies and universities, with 11% of the national total enrolled students, Milans museums, theatres and landmarks attract over 9 million visitors annually. Milan – after Naples – is the second Italian city with the highest number of accredited stars from the Michelin Guide, the city hosted the Universal Exposition in 1906 and 2015. Milan is home to two of Europes major football teams, A. C. Milan and F. C. Internazionale, the etymology of Milan is uncertain. One theory holds that the Latin name Mediolanum comes from the Latin words medio, however, some scholars believe lanum comes from the Celtic root lan, meaning an enclosure or demarcated territory in which Celtic communities used to build shrines. Hence, Mediolanum could signify the central town or sanctuary of a Celtic tribe, indeed, the name Mediolanum is borne by about sixty Gallo-Roman sites in France, e. g. Saintes and Évreux. Alciato credits Ambrose for his account, around 400 BC, the Celtic Insubres settled Milan and the surrounding region. In 222 BC, the Romans conquered the settlement, renaming it Mediolanum, Milan was eventually declared the capital of the Western Roman Empire by Emperor Diocletian in 286 AD. Diocletian chose to stay in the Eastern Roman Empire and his colleague Maximianus ruled the Western one, immediately Maximian built several monuments, such as a large circus 470 m ×85 m, the Thermae Herculeae, a large complex of imperial palaces and several other buildings. With the Edict of Milan of 313, Emperor Constantine I guaranteed freedom of religion for Christians, after the city was besieged by the Visigoths in 402, the imperial residence was moved to Ravenna. In 452, the Huns overran the city, in 539, the Ostrogoths conquered and destroyed Milan during the Gothic War against Byzantine Emperor Justinian I. In the summer of 569, a Teutonic tribe, the Lombards, conquered Milan, some Roman structures remained in use in Milan under Lombard rule. Milan surrendered to the Franks in 774 when Charlemagne took the title of King of the Lombards, the Iron Crown of Lombardy dates from this period
Milan
–
Milan Cathedral,
La Scala opera house and
Porta Nuova business district
Milan
Milan
Milan
7.
Turin
–
Turin is a city and an important business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region and was the first capital city of Italy. The city is located mainly on the bank of the Po River, in front of Susa Valley and surrounded by the western Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 892,649 while the population of the area is estimated by Eurostat to be 1.7 million inhabitants. The Turin metropolitan area is estimated by the OECD to have a population of 2.2 million, in 1997 a part of the historical center of Torino was inscribed in the World Heritage List under the name Residences of the Royal House of Savoy. Turin is well known for its Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, Neo-classical, many of Turins public squares, castles, gardens and elegant palazzi such as Palazzo Madama, were built between the 16th and 18th centuries. This was after the capital of the Duchy of Savoy was moved to Turin from Chambery as part of the urban expansion, the city used to be a major European political center. Turin was Italys first capital city in 1861 and home to the House of Savoy, from 1563, it was the capital of the Duchy of Savoy, then of the Kingdom of Sardinia ruled by the Royal House of Savoy and finally the first capital of the unified Italy. Turin is sometimes called the cradle of Italian liberty for having been the birthplace and home of notable politicians and people who contributed to the Risorgimento, such as Cavour. The city currently hosts some of Italys best universities, colleges, academies, lycea and gymnasia, such as the University of Turin, founded in the 15th century, in addition, the city is home to museums such as the Museo Egizio and the Mole Antonelliana. Turins attractions make it one of the worlds top 250 tourist destinations, Turin is ranked third in Italy, after Milan and Rome, for economic strength. With a GDP of $58 billion, Turin is the worlds 78th richest city by purchasing power, as of 2010, the city has been ranked by GaWC as a Gamma World city. Turin is also home to much of the Italian automotive industry, the Taurini were an ancient Celto-Ligurian Alpine people, who occupied the upper valley of the Po River, in the center of modern Piedmont. In 218 BC, they were attacked by Hannibal as he was allied with their long-standing enemies, the Taurini chief town was captured by Hannibals forces after a three-day siege. As a people they are mentioned in history. It is believed that a Roman colony was established in 27 BC under the name of Castra Taurinorum, both Livy and Strabo mention the Taurinis country as including one of the passes of the Alps, which points to a wider use of the name in earlier times. In the 1st century BC, the Romans created a military camp, the typical Roman street grid can still be seen in the modern city, especially in the neighborhood known as the Quadrilatero Romano. Via Garibaldi traces the path of the Roman citys decumanus which began at the Porta Decumani. The Porta Palatina, on the side of the current city centre, is still preserved in a park near the Cathedral
Turin
–
From top to bottom, left to right: panorama of the
Mole Antonelliana,
Valentino Park with the medieval village, Piazza Castello with Palazzo Reale and Palazzo Madama, San Carlo Plaza with the Caval ëd Bronz, the Arco Olimpico and the Lingotto, the sarcophagus of Oki at the
Egyptian Museum, a view of the hills, the
Po, the Gran Madre, the Monte of Cappuccini and
Palatine Towers.
Turin
–
The Roman
Palatine Towers.
Turin
–
Siege of Turin
Turin
–
Turin in the 17th century.
8.
Controlled-access highway
–
A controlled-access highway is a type of highway which has been designed for high-speed vehicular traffic, with all traffic flow and ingress/egress regulated. Common English terms are freeway, motorway and expressway, other similar terms include Interstate and parkway. Some of which may be limited-access highways, although this term can refer to a class of highway with somewhat less isolation from other traffic. In countries following Vienna convention, the motorway qualification implies they are forbidden for walking or parking, a controlled-access highway provides an unhindered flow of traffic, with no traffic signals, intersections or property access. They are free of any at-grade crossings with roads, railways, or pedestrian paths. Entrances and exits to the highway are provided at interchanges by slip roads, on the controlled-access highway, opposing directions of travel are generally separated by a median strip or central reservation containing a traffic barrier or grass. Elimination of conflicts with other directions of traffic dramatically improves safety and capacity, controlled-access highways evolved during the first half of the 20th century. Italy opened its first autostrada in 1924 connecting Milan to Varese, Germany began to build its first 30-kilometre autobahn controlled-access highway without speed limits in 1932 between Cologne and Bonn. It then rapidly constructed a system of such roads in anticipation of their use in the Second World War. The first North American freeways opened in the New York City area in the 1920s, Britain, heavily influenced by the railways, did not build its first motorway, the Preston By-pass, until 1958. Most technologically advanced nations feature a network of freeways or motorways to provide high-capacity urban travel, or high-speed rural travel. Many have a national-level or even international-level system of route numbering, exit is marked with another symbol. The definitions of motorway from the OECD and PIARC are almost identical, british Standards Motorway, Limited-access dual carriageway road, not crossed on the same level by other traffic lanes, for the exclusive use of certain classes of motor vehicle. ITE Freeway, A divided major roadway with full control of access and this definition applies to toll as well as toll-free roads. Freeway A, This designates roadways with greater complexity and high traffic volumes. Usually this type of freeway will be found in areas in or near the central core. Freeway B, This designates all other divided roadways with full control of access where lighting is needed, principal arterials may cross through urban areas, serving suburban movements. The traffic is characterized by high speeds and full or partial access control, other roads leading to a principal arterial are connected to it through side collector roads
Controlled-access highway
–
The interchange between US-131, M-6 and 68th Street in
Wyoming, Michigan, shows many of the features of controlled-access highways—opposing traffic on separate carriageways, no
at-grade intersections and no direct access to properties.
Controlled-access highway
–
French A10 near Orléans showing hard shoulder and emergency telephone. The broken demarcation line for the hard shoulder is specific to France, and serves as a safety reference mark for drivers: the advisory distance from the vehicle ahead is two dashes minimum.
Controlled-access highway
–
De Lucht Rest Area on the Dutch A2 - A typical rest area with services (fuel, refreshments and toilets). The only access is via the highway that it serves.
Controlled-access highway
–
Traffic congestion, such as this on the
Downtown Connector in
Atlanta, is tied to
photochemical smog.
9.
Autostrade of Italy
–
The Autostrade are roads forming the Italian national system of motorways. The total length of the system is about 6,758 kilometres, in North and Central Italy this is mainly as tollways, with the biggest portion in concession to the Atlantia group which operates some 3,408 km. Italy was the first country in the world to build motorways, i. e. fast roads, the Milano-Laghi motorway was devised by Piero Puricelli, a civil engineer and entrepreneur. He received the first authorization to build a public-utility fast road in 1921, by the end of the 1930s, over 400 kilometers of multi- and dual-single-lane motorways were constructed throughout Italy, linking cities and rural towns. Italys autostrade have a speed limit of 130 km/h for cars. Limits for other vehicles are lower, in 2016, no road was taking advantage of this possibility. The first speed limit, to 120 km/h, was enacted in November 1973 as a result of the 1973 oil crisis, the designation A2 is to be used instead of A3 for the A3 Naples - Campo Calabro in future and the A3 will be retired. After a link was built bypassing Rome, the designation A2 was withdrawn, the residual connections to the Grande Raccordo Anulare were designated as raccordi. Until 1973, the designation A17 referred to the current A16, and this is a list of tangenziali classified as autostrada. Bretelle, diramazioni or raccordi are generally connections between two motorways, or connections between motorways and important cities without a motorway. They have the number as one of the two autostrade linked, a combination of the numbers of the two autostrade linked, or the number of the main autostrada. Important alpine tunnels are identified by the capital letter T followed by a single digit number, currently there are only three T-classified tunnels, Mont Blanc Tunnel, Great St Bernard Tunnel and Frejus Road Tunnel. Tunnels that cross the border between Italy and France or Switzerland, are treated as motorways, although they are not proper motorways, the code T3 was once assigned to the Bargagli-Ferriere Tunnel in Ligurian Appennines before it was reclassified as SP226. RA stands for Raccordo autostradale, a short spur route that connects an autostrada to a nearby city or tourist resort not directly served by the motorway. These spurs are owned and managed by ANAS, some spurs are toll-free motorways, but most are type-B or type-C roads. All RA have separate carriageways with two lanes in each direction, generally, they do not have an emergency lane. Access restrictions on highways are exactly the same as autostrade. Signage at the beginning and the end of the highways is the same, the general speed limit on strade extraurbane principali is 110 km/h
Autostrade of Italy
–
Map of the autostrade of Italy
10.
Toll road
–
A toll road, also known as a turnpike or tollway, is a public or private roadway for which a fee is assessed for passage. It is a form of road pricing typically implemented to help recoup the cost of road construction, the amount of the toll usually varies by vehicle type, weight, or number of axles, with freight trucks often charged higher rates than cars. Tolls are collected at points known as toll booths, toll houses, plazas, stations, bars, some toll collection points are unmanned and the user deposits money in a machine which opens the gate once the correct toll has been paid. To cut costs and minimize time delay many tolls today are collected by some form of automatic or electronic toll collection equipment which communicates electronically with a toll payers transponder, Toll booths are usually still required for the occasional users who do not have a transponder. The tolls are often prepaid or collected automatically from a credit card service. Some toll roads have automated toll enforcement systems that take photos of drivers who do not pay the tolls and they typically get the toll bill delivered to them in the mail. Criticisms of toll roads include the time taken to stop and pay the toll, automated toll paying systems help minimize both of these. Others object to paying twice for the road, in fuel taxes. In addition to roads, toll bridges and toll tunnels are also used by public authorities to generate funds to repay the cost of building the structures. Some tolls are set aside to pay for maintenance or enhancement of infrastructure, or are applied as a general fund by local governments. This is sometimes limited or prohibited by government legislation. Also road congestion pricing schemes have been implemented in a number of urban areas as a transportation demand management tool to try to reduce traffic congestion. Toll roads have existed for at least the last 2,700 years, as tolls had to be paid by travellers using the Susa–Babylon highway under the regime of Ashurbanipal, aristotle and Pliny refer to tolls in Arabia and other parts of Asia. In India, before the 4th century BC, the Arthasastra notes the use of tolls, germanic tribes charged tolls to travellers across mountain passes. A 14th-century example is Castle Loevestein in the Netherlands, which was built at a point where two rivers meet. River tolls were charged on boats sailing along the river, in 14th-century England, some of the most heavily used roads were repaired with money raised from tolls by pavage grants. Widespread toll roads sometimes restricted traffic so much, by their high tolls, tolls were used in the Holy Roman Empire in the 14th and 15th centuries. In the 20th century, road tolls were introduced in Europe to finance the construction of motorway networks and specific transport infrastructure such as bridges, Italy was the first European country to charge motorway tolls, on a 50 km motorway section near Milan in 1924
Toll road
–
A high-speed toll booth on
SR 417 near
Orlando, Florida, United States.
Toll road
–
A toll collection area in Great Britain.
Toll road
–
Hong Kong toll booth.
Toll road
–
A table of tolls in pre-decimal currency for the College Road, Dulwich, London SE21 tollgate.
11.
Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori
–
Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori is an Italian company which is Europes first private open access operator of 300 km/h high-speed trains. NTV was created by four Italian businessmen to compete with Trenitalia, the company intended to start services in late 2011, following certification of its trains in mid-2011. In March 2011, NTV complained that the Italian infrastructure manager, RFI is controlled by the same government group that controls Trenitalia, the incumbent provider of passenger train services in Italy. After delays due to the complexity of the project, NTV started service on 28 April 2012 under the. italo brand, NTV ridership for whole year 2012 was 2,051,702. Ridership increased to 9.1 million in 2015, with a factor of 71. 5% and 56 trains daily. An order for 25 Alstom Automotrice à grande vitesse trainsets each with 11 cars was announced on 17 January 2008, Alstom assembled 17 at its La Rochelle plant, while eight were produced at Savigliano in Italy. NTV has an option for a further ten trains, the contract includes maintenance for 30 years. NTV unveiled the first of its trains in a ceremony on 13 December 2011, in 2015, NTV announced the procurement of eight new trains to expand its fleet. The new units would be from Alstoms Pendolino family, with a maximum speed approximately 60 km/h slower than the existing AGVs, the procurement is intended to allow NTV to expand its existing Italo services, as well as offer services to new destinations. Italo offers four classes of service, which it refers to as journey ambiances, free Wi-Fi is available throughout the train. Smart, the lowest class of service, with 2x2 leather seats with table and airline style, extra large, this class has 2x1 seating primarily in airline style, with footrests. Prima, also offers 2x1 seating with armrests, power sockets, reading lights, glove compartments, complimentary drinks and sweets. Club Executive, the most expensive class, with only 19 seats per train and these are available in either 2x1 open seating or two compartments which can be reserved en bloc for up to 4 passengers. Complimentary coffee, beverages, and pastries are served, routes served by NTV are those of the Italian high-speed rail network, comprising 13 cities and 16 stations. Italo’s High Speed train service contains four lines, Turin-Salerno, stops in Milan, Reggio Emilia, Bologna, Florence, Rome, venice-Salerno, stops in Padua, Bologna, Florence, Rome and Naples. Brescia-Napoli, stops in Verona, Bologna, Florence and Rome, MDP Holdings,33, 5% IMI Investimenti S. p. A
Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori
–
Routes of NTV.italo
Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori
–
Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori
Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori
–
NTV lounge at
Firenze Santa Maria Novella railway station
Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori
–
Italo train at Bologna railway station.
12.
Milan Metro Line 5
–
Line 5 is a 12. 8-kilometre underground light metro line in Milan, Italy. The line is part of the Milan Metro and serves the north-eastern part of the city, line 5 opened in stages between 2013 and 2015 The line operates using AnsaldoBreda Driverless Metro vehicles, the same of the Copenhagen Metro. The line,12. 8-kilometre long with 19 stations, runs from San Siro Stadio to Bignami in less than 26 minutes, the company responsible for construction works and operation is Metro 5 S. p. A. The system features four-car articulated driverless trains from AnsaldoBreda, trains, designed by Giugiaro, are about 50 meters long,2.65 meters wide, with seating for 96 and a maximum capacity 536 passengers. The systems are controlled by an automated computer system, located at the control. A northern extension from Bignami to Monza is currently under consideration, medium-capacity rail transport system Metro5 – official website Azienda Trasporti Milanesi News about Milan Metro 5
Milan Metro Line 5
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Line 5 Garibaldi station under construction
Milan Metro Line 5
–
M5
Milan Metro Line 5
–
Istria station on line 5
Milan Metro Line 5
–
Ansaldobreda driverless train in service in
Milan
13.
List of railway companies
–
This is a list of the worlds railway operating companies listed alphabetically by continent and country. This list includes companies operating both now and in the past, note also that in some countries, the railway operating bodies are not companies, but are government departments or authorities. N. I. M. Office National des Chemins de Fer, national railway office, Iran and Turkmenistan plan to help Afghanistan build a rail network that would enable Iran and Turkey to link up with Central Asia. SNCB Logistics Dillen & Le Jeune Cargo NV ŽFBH ŽRS BDZh HŽ SŽDC ČD ČDC JHMD AWT UNIDO MTR RJ LEO GWTR CXM ODOS SDKD CZL DSB Arriva Danmark GDS/HFHJ HHJ HL HTJ/OHJ LJ LN LNJ NJ ØSJS VLTJ. A popular song about the railway by Danish band Tørfisk is simply called VLTJ. V, KG de, Rurtalbahn RüKB - Rügensche Kleinbahn GmbH & Co. - Zahnradbahn, Stuttgart Deutsche Bundesbahn Deutsche Reichsbahn Deutsche Reichsbahn-Gesellschaft TrainOSE - the national railways company OSE Hellenic State Railways, piraeus, Athens and Peloponnese Railways, absorbed by Hellenic State Railways in 1962. Ro. Koleje Małopolskie - Regional rail operator in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship, koleje Mazowieckie - Regional rail operator in the Masovian Voivodeship. Koleje Śląskie - Regional rail operator in the Silesian Voivodeship, koleje Wielkopolskie - Regional rail operator in the Greater Poland Voivodeship. Łódzka Kolej Aglomeracyjna - Commuter Rail operator based in Lodz, owned by the Voivodeship Government. fahrplancenter. com/FCNacionalHondurasEntry, ferrocarril del Pacifico de Nicaragua see some pictures on http, //www. fahrplancenter. com/NicaraguaTitel. Instituto Autónomo de Ferrocarriles del Estado Ferrominera Orinoco C. A
List of railway companies
–
Locomotive Ferronor 320. Locomotive General Electric U9C
14.
List of trolleybus systems in Italy
–
This is a list of trolleybus systems in Italy by Regione. It includes all systems, past and present. Gregoris, Paolo, Rizzoli, Francesco, & Serra, Claudio, world Gazetteer of Tram, Trolleybus and Rapid Transit Systems, Part Three, Europe. Media related to Trolleybuses in Italy at Wikimedia Commons
List of trolleybus systems in Italy
–
Fiat 2472 Viberti CGE
articulated trolleybus no 577 (now withdrawn), operated on the
Milan trolleybus system.
List of trolleybus systems in Italy
–
Older type of trolleybus (now withdrawn) in
Naples.
List of trolleybus systems in Italy
–
Commuter rail
15.
Standard gauge
–
The standard gauge is a widely used railway track gauge. Approximately 55% of the lines in the world are this gauge, all high-speed rail lines, except those in Russia, Uzbekistan, and Finland, are standard gauge. The distance between the edges of the rails is defined to be 1435 mm except in the United States. It is also called the UIC gauge or UIC track gauge, as railways developed and expanded, one of the key issues was the track gauge to be used. The result was the adoption throughout a large part of the world of a gauge of 1435 mm. In North East England, some lines in colliery areas were 4 ft 8 in. All these lines had been widened to standard gauge by 1846, parts of the United States, mainly in the Northeast, adopted the same gauge, because some early trains were purchased from Britain. However, until well into the half of the 19th century, Britain. The American gauges converged as the advantages of equipment interchange became increasingly apparent, notably, all the 5 ft broad gauge track in the South was converted to standard gauge over the course of two days beginning on 31 May 1886. See Track gauge in the United States, snopes categorized this legend as false, but commented that. It is perhaps more fairly labelled as True, but for trivial, the historical tendency to place the wheels of horse-drawn vehicles approximately 5 feet apart probably derives from the width needed to fit a carthorse in between the shafts. Others were 4 ft 4 in or 4 ft 7 1⁄2 in, the English railway pioneer George Stephenson spent much of his early engineering career working for the coal mines of County Durham. He favoured 4 ft 8 in for wagonways in Northumberland and Durham, the Hetton and Springwell wagonways also used this gauge. Stephensons Stockton and Darlington railway was primarily to transport coal from mines near Shildon to the port at Stockton-on-Tees. The initial gauge of 4 ft 8 in was set to accommodate the existing gauge of hundreds of horse-drawn chaldron wagons that were already in use on the wagonways in the mines. The railway used this gauge for 15 years before a change was made to 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in gauge, George Stephenson used the 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in gauge for the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, authorised in 1826 and opened 30 September 1830. The success of this led to Stephenson and his son Robert being employed to engineer several other larger railway projects. Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway, authorised 1824 and opened 1825, used 4 ft 6 in, Dundee and Newtyle Railway, authorised 1829 and opened 1831, used 4 ft 6 1⁄2 in
Standard gauge
–
Track gauge
16.
High-speed rail in Italy
–
High-speed rail in Italy consists of two lines connecting most of the countrys major cities. The first line connects Turin to Salerno via Milan, Bologna, Florence, Rome and Naples, the runs from Turin to Venice via Milan. Trains are operated with a top speed of 300 km/h,25 million passengers traveled on the network in 2011. Passenger service is provided by Trenitalia and, since April 2012, by NTV-Italo, the first high-speed rail route in Italy, the Direttissima, opened in 1977, connecting Rome with Florence. The top speed on the line was 250 km/h, giving an end-to-end journey time of about 90 minutes with an speed of 200 km/h. This line used a 3 kV DC supply, high-speed service was introduced on the Rome-Milan line in 1988-89 with the ETR450 Pendolino train, with a top speed of 250 km/h and cutting travel times from about 5 hours to 4. The prototype train ETR X500 was the first Italian train to reach 300 km/h on the Direttissima on 25 May 1989, the Italian high-speed rail projects suffered relevant extra-costs and delay. Corruption and un-ethical behaviour played a key role, service on the high speed lines is provided by Trenitalia and privately owned NTV. It operates mainly on lines, AGV575, speeds up to 360 km/h, operated by NTV as Italo, ETR1000, operated by Trenitalia. Maximum speed of these trainsets is currently limited at 300 km/h while tracks are pending certification for 360 km/h operations, current limitations on the tracks set at 300 km/h the maximum operating speed of the trains. Along with the development of ETR1000 by AnsaldoBreda and Bombardier Transportation, secondary stock, ETR460, ETR485, tilting, speeds up to 250 km/h for other services, operated by Trenitalia. ETR470, tilting, speeds up to 250 km/h, operated by Trenitalia on services between Italy and Switzerland, new Pendolino ETR610 are being introduced to the Italy-Switzerland route. TGV trains also run on the Paris-Turin-Milan service, but do not use any high-speed line in Italy, the following high-speed rail lines are in use. The table shows minimum and maximum travel times, the Milan to Salerno is the major north-south corridor of the high-speed network. The Milan–Bologna segment opened on 13 December 2008 and its construction cost was about 6.9 billion euro. The 182 km line runs parallel to the Autostrada del Sole, there are eight connections with historic lines. At the Reggio Emilia interconnection a new designed by the Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava was opened in June 2013. Calatrava has also designed a bridge where the line crosses the A1 motorway
High-speed rail in Italy
–
ETR 500 Frecciarossa (
Trenitalia)
High-speed rail in Italy
–
ETR 1000 Frecciarossa 1000 (
Trenitalia)
High-speed rail in Italy
–
AGV 575 Italo (
NTV)
High-speed rail in Italy
–
ETR 600 Frecciargento (
Trenitalia)
17.
Ferrovie dello Stato
–
Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane S. p. A. is a government-owned holding company that manages infrastructure and services on the Italian rail network. One of the subsidiaries of the company, Trenitalia, is the rail operator in Italy. Ferrovie dello Stato was instituted by an act on 22 April 1905, taking control over the majority of the national railways, the president was nominated by the government. With the rise of fascism, a policy was carried out. The board of directors and chief administrator office were abolished at the end of 1922, the institution was administered by a commissioner, appointed by the King until April 1924. Since then, Ferrovie dello Stato was managed by the newly born Ministry of Communications, after the armistice on 8 September 1943, Italy was divided and train operations were separately directed too, with headquarters in Salerno for the south and Verona for the north. The period after World War II was particularly tough for Ferrovie dello Stato, since most of the Italian rail network was severely damaged, the network was rebuilt almost entirely by 1952. Since then, a period of renewal started, new trains were introduced, among them the ETR300, and many sections of the national network were electrified and sometimes doubled. In 1957, the new ALn 442/448 multiple unit was introduced, during these years, the rolling stock was generally renewed and expanded with the mass construction of electrical and diesel multiple units, like the Ale 883, ALe 840 and ALn 772. However, the revolution was the introduction in 1956 of the new FS ALn 668 diesel multiple unit. In the following years,3 MU out of 4 were 668, many electrical multiple units were also introduced during this period, like the ALe 601, progenitor of the Ale 801/940 and ALe 803 EMU, still in use today on regional service. During the 1970s, electronic cars were first introduced on the Italian network, trains for regional and metropolitan service. The new E.444 was the first attempt on high-speed rail, the ETR401 was the first prototype of the new Pendolino class. Following other network improvements, works for the first Italian high-speed rail line started in these years, the Direttissima line from Florence to Rome was partially opened in 1986 and concluded in 1992. In 1986, trains were travelling the line at 200 km/h, in 1988, the ETR450 Pendolino was travelling regularly at 250 km/h, todays top speed on the line. The line was the fastest in Europe after the French TGV lines, the old logo was renewed in 1982 and again in 1994, with the introduction of the XMPR livery. The FS was left unchanged in its structure until the end of 1985. From the following year, after 80 years, the Azienda Autonoma delle Ferrovie dello Stato was replaced by a new company, the newly born Ferrovie dello Stato underwent major structural transformations between 1986 and 1992
Ferrovie dello Stato
–
Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane S.p.A.
18.
Trenitalia
–
Trenitalia is the primary train operator in Italy. Trenitalia is owned by Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane, itself owned by the Italian Government, the Italian government formed Trenitalia to comply with European regulations. The European Commissions First Railway Directive from 1991 prohibited that the railway company manage the rail infrastructure. On 1 June 2000, therefore, Italy created Trenitalia as the rail transportation company. However, the separation was only formal, since both are subsidiaries of the Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane holding and are owned wholly by the government, Trenitalia offers national rail transport in Italy and international connections to Austria, France, Germany, and Switzerland. The company operates regional and long-distance trains. Regional trains travel within an Italian region or between neighboring Italian regions, Trains usually stop at all stations at most, thus connecting small centres to cities. Regionale veloce are trains stopping at about half of station stations at most, there are no reservations for regional trains, and for this reason, there is no price advantage to acquiring regional tickets in advance online. Once bought, tickets for trains have to be validated at the station before departure. Validation in this case means placing a stamp on the ticket by inserting into a green. This is done because regional tickets are not for a date or time but are valid for a period. The date/time stamp is to show that the ticket cannot be reused, from 1 August 2016, tickets are valid for the 24 hours chosen by online buyers, the date of use can be changed until the previous 24 hours of the later date. The date of use can be anticipated until the 24 hours following this adjusting operation, the omission about the period of use at paper shops will involve a one-way daily ticket issue. This change aims to hinder fare evasion, there are no discount schemes available for non-residents of Italy on regional trains. Long-distance trains are of mainly of two types, the Frecce and Intercity trains, Intercity trains also serve medium-sized cities besides the big cities, thus are generally slower but are cheaper than the Frecce. Night trains operate mainly between north and south of Italy and between Italy and its neighbouring countries and are comparable to Intercity level, there are currently four generations of ElettroTreno in service on the network. Trenitalia ordered 50 high speed trainsets in 2010, new trains will be ETR1000 series. They will be 200 metres long, non-articulated trains, with distributed traction, mauro Moretti, chief executive of FS group, said FS was considering long-distance international services to France, Germany, or even Spain and the UK
Trenitalia
–
Trenitalia Minuetto regional train
Trenitalia
–
Trenitalia SpA
Trenitalia
–
Frecciabianca High-Speed train
Trenitalia
–
Frecciargento High-Speed train
19.
Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane
–
Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane S. p. A. is a government-owned holding company that manages infrastructure and services on the Italian rail network. One of the subsidiaries of the company, Trenitalia, is the rail operator in Italy. Ferrovie dello Stato was instituted by an act on 22 April 1905, taking control over the majority of the national railways, the president was nominated by the government. With the rise of fascism, a policy was carried out. The board of directors and chief administrator office were abolished at the end of 1922, the institution was administered by a commissioner, appointed by the King until April 1924. Since then, Ferrovie dello Stato was managed by the newly born Ministry of Communications, after the armistice on 8 September 1943, Italy was divided and train operations were separately directed too, with headquarters in Salerno for the south and Verona for the north. The period after World War II was particularly tough for Ferrovie dello Stato, since most of the Italian rail network was severely damaged, the network was rebuilt almost entirely by 1952. Since then, a period of renewal started, new trains were introduced, among them the ETR300, and many sections of the national network were electrified and sometimes doubled. In 1957, the new ALn 442/448 multiple unit was introduced, during these years, the rolling stock was generally renewed and expanded with the mass construction of electrical and diesel multiple units, like the Ale 883, ALe 840 and ALn 772. However, the revolution was the introduction in 1956 of the new FS ALn 668 diesel multiple unit. In the following years,3 MU out of 4 were 668, many electrical multiple units were also introduced during this period, like the ALe 601, progenitor of the Ale 801/940 and ALe 803 EMU, still in use today on regional service. During the 1970s, electronic cars were first introduced on the Italian network, trains for regional and metropolitan service. The new E.444 was the first attempt on high-speed rail, the ETR401 was the first prototype of the new Pendolino class. Following other network improvements, works for the first Italian high-speed rail line started in these years, the Direttissima line from Florence to Rome was partially opened in 1986 and concluded in 1992. In 1986, trains were travelling the line at 200 km/h, in 1988, the ETR450 Pendolino was travelling regularly at 250 km/h, todays top speed on the line. The line was the fastest in Europe after the French TGV lines, the old logo was renewed in 1982 and again in 1994, with the introduction of the XMPR livery. The FS was left unchanged in its structure until the end of 1985. From the following year, after 80 years, the Azienda Autonoma delle Ferrovie dello Stato was replaced by a new company, the newly born Ferrovie dello Stato underwent major structural transformations between 1986 and 1992
Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane
–
Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane S.p.A.
20.
Frecciarossa 1000
–
The Frecciarossa 1000, also known as the ETR1000 is a high-speed train developed by AnsaldoBreda and Bombardier Transportation and designed by Bertone. Fifty trainsets were ordered by Trenitalia in 2010, initial specifications were for a train meeting European high-speed technical standards, with a design commercial speed of 360 km/h, initially operated at 300 km/h, and to be tested to 400 km/h. The Trenitalia contract was awarded to the Bombardier/Ansaldo joint-venture in August 2010, the bid was less expensive at €30. 8m per train than the €35m per train cost given by the other bidder, Alstom. The contract value was €1. 54bn of which Bombardiers share was €654m, a mock up of the train was unveiled at Rimini in August 2012. The trains design includes a suspension system. On 26 March 2013 the first trainset was unveiled during a ceremony at the Ansaldo-Breda facilities in Pistoia. The train was named Pietro Mennea, in memory of the Italian world record holder of the 200 metres track sprint event from 1979 to 1996, the train underwent extensive testing in order to be certified to operate on the Italian high-speed rail network at 360 km/h. On February 26,2016, on the High Speed Line Torino-Milano, in total 50 trains are being built and gradually entered regular service starting from mid 2015, after the first trains entered service during Expo 2015. By the end of March 2017,47 trainsets have already been delivered to Trenitalia
Frecciarossa 1000
–
Frecciarossa 1000
Frecciarossa 1000
–
Rail car at InnoTrans 2014
21.
Trentino-Alto Adige
–
Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol is an autonomous region in Northern Italy. Since the 1970s, most legislative and administrative powers have been transferred to the two self-governing provinces that make up the region, Trentino and South Tyrol. From the 8th century until its annexation by Italy in 1919, the region was part of Austria-Hungary and its predecessors, the Austrian Empire, together with the Austrian state of Tyrol it is represented by the Euroregion Tyrol-South Tyrol-Trentino. With a past of poverty, the region is today among the wealthiest and most developed in both Italy and the whole European Union, in English, the region is also known as Trentino-South Tyrol or by its Italian name Trentino-Alto Adige. The region was conquered by the Romans in 15 BC, after the end of the Western Roman Empire, it was divided between the invading Germanic tribes in the Lombard Duchy of Tridentum, the Alamannic Vinschgau, and the Bavarians. After the creation of the Kingdom of Italy under Charlemagne, the Marquisate of Verona included the south of Bolzano. From the 11th century onwards, part of the region was governed by the prince-bishops of Trent and Brixen, the two bishoprics were secularized by the Treaty of Lunéville of 1803 and given to the Habsburgs. Two years later, following the Austrian defeat at Austerlitz, the region was given to Napoleons ally Bavaria, the new rulers provoked a popular rebellion in 1809, led by Andreas Hofer, a landlord from St. Leonhard in Passeier, this rebellion was crushed the same year. The resulting Treaty of Paris of February 1810 split the area between Austria and the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy, during French control of the region, it was called officially Haut Adige in order to avoid any reference to the historical County of Tyrol. After Napoleons defeat, in 1815, the returned to Austria. South Tyrol, indicated mostly todays province of Trentino, Trentino was also called Welschtirol or Welschsüdtirol. Sometimes Südtirol also indicated the whole of the Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol region, nevertheless, thousands of people were relocated to the Third Reich and only with great difficulties managed to return to their ancestral land after the end of the war. The region was de facto annexed to the German Reich until the end of the war and this status ended along with the Nazi regime and Italian rule was restored in 1945. German and Italian were both made official languages, and German-language education was permitted once more, the region was called Trentino-Alto Adige/Tiroler Etschland between 1947 and 1972. However, the implementation of the agreement was seen as satisfactory by neither the German-speaking population nor the Austrian government, the issue became the cause of significant friction between the two countries and was taken up by the United Nations in 1960. The issue was resolved in 1971, when a new Austro-Italian treaty was signed and ratified, the new agreement proved broadly satisfactory to the parties involved and the separatist tensions soon eased. Matters were helped further by Austrias accession to the European Union in 1995, all parties, including the separatists, rejected this measure as potentially causing a revival of ethnic tensions. It is extremely mountainous, covering a part of the Dolomites
Trentino-Alto Adige
–
The Prince-Bishops of Trent ruled from Buonconsiglio Castle from the 13th until the 19th century
Trentino-Alto Adige
–
Flag
Trentino-Alto Adige
–
Cathedral Maria Himmelfahrt in
Bolzano /Bozen, capital of South Tyrol
Trentino-Alto Adige
–
View of the
Rosengarten group in South Tyrol
22.
Veneto
–
Veneto or Venetia is one of the twenty regions of Italy. Its population is five million, ranking fifth in Italy. The regions capital and largest city is Venice, Veneto was part of the Roman Empire until the 5th century AD. Later, after a period, it was part of the Republic of Venice until 1797. Venice ruled for centuries one of the largest and richest maritime republics. The Statute of Veneto describes Venetians as a people, besides Italian, most inhabitants also speak Venetian. The region is home to a notable nationalist movement, the regions largest party is the Venetist/Padanist Liga Veneta, a founding member of Lega Nord. The current President of Veneto is Luca Zaia, elected in 2010 with 60. 2% of the vote and the support of Lega Nord, The People of Freedom, Veneto is the 8th largest region in Italy, with a total area of 18,398.9 km2. At its northernmost corner it borders also on Austria, the north-south extension of Veneto is 210 km from the Austrian border to the mouth of the River Po. By area, 29% of its surface is mountainous, the highest massif in the Dolomites is the Marmolada-massif at 3,342 m. Other dolomitic peaks are the Tre Cime di Lavaredo and the Pale di San Martino, the Venetian Prealps are not as high and range between 700 m and 2,200 m. Fossil deposits are abundant there. The plain itself is subdivided into the plain and the lower plain. The lower plain is both a mainstay of production and the most populated part of the region. Several rivers flow through the region, the Po, Adige, Brenta, Bacchiglione, Livenza, Piave, the eastern shore of the largest lake in Italy, Lake Garda, belongs to Veneto. The coastline covers approximately 200 km, of which 100 km are beaches, the coasts of the Adriatic Sea are characterised by the Venetian Lagoon, a flat terrain with ponds, marshes and islands. The Po Delta to the south features sandbars and dunes along the coastline, the inland portion contains cultivable land recently reclaimed by a system of canals and dykes. Fish ponds have been created there as well, the delta and the lagoon are a stopping-point for migratory birds
Veneto
–
Venice, the primary tourist destination and the capital of Veneto
Veneto
–
Veneto
Veneto
–
Lake Alleghe near
Belluno
Veneto
–
Tre Cime di Lavaredo
23.
Lombardy
–
Lombardy is one of the twenty administrative regions of Italy, in the northwest of the country, with an area of 23,844 square kilometres. Milan, Lombardys capital, is the second-largest city and the largest metropolitan area in Italy, the word Lombardy comes from Lombard, which in turn is derived from Late Latin Longobardus, Langobardus, derived from the Proto-Germanic elements *langaz + *bardaz, equivalent to long beard. Some sources derive the second element instead from Proto-Germanic *bardǭ, *barduz, Lombardy referred during the early Middle Ages to the entire territory of Italy ruled by the Lombards, a Germanic tribe who conquered much of the Italian peninsula beginning in the 6th century. During the late Middle Ages, the term shifted meaning and was used to identify the whole of Northern Italy, with a surface of 23,861 km2, Lombardy is the 4th largest region of Italy. It is bordered by Switzerland and by the Italian regions of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol and Veneto, Emilia-Romagna, three distinct natural zones can be fairly easily distinguished in the Lombardy region, mountains, hills and plains – the latter being divided in Alta and Bassa. Inconsistent with the three distinctions above made is the subregion of Oltrepò Pavese, formed by the Apennine foothills beyond the Po River. The mighty Po river marks the border of the region for a length of about 210 km. In its progress it receives the waters of the Ticino River, the other streams which contribute to the great river are, the Olona, the Lambro, the Adda, the Oglio and the Mincio. The numerous lakes of Lombardy, all of glacial origin, lie in the northern highlands, from west to east these are Lake Maggiore, Lake Lugano, Lake Como, Lake Iseo, Lake Idro, then Lake Garda, the largest in Italy. A minor mountainous area, the Oltrepò Pavese, lies south of the Po, in the plains, intensively cultivated for centuries, little of the original environment remains. The most commons trees are elm, alder, sycamore, poplar, willow, in the area of the foothills lakes, however, grow olive trees, cypresses and larches, as well as varieties of subtropical flora such as magnolias, azaleas, acacias. Numerous species of flora in the Prealpine area include some kinds of saxifrage, the Lombard garlic, groundsels bellflowers. The highlands are characterized by the vegetation of the whole range of the Italian Alps. At a lower levels oak woods or broadleafed trees grow, on the slopes beech trees grow at the lowest limits. Shrubs such as rhododendron, dwarf pine and juniper are native to the summital zone, Lombardy has a wide array of climates, due to local variances in elevation, proximity to inland water basins, and large metropolitan areas. In addition, there is a seasonal temperature variation. A peculiarity of the climate is the thick fog that covers the plains between October and February. In the Alpine foothills, characterised by an Oceanic climate, numerous lakes exercise a mitigating influence, in the hills and mountains, the climate is humid continental
Lombardy
–
Mount Adamello
Lombardy
–
Lombardy Lombardia
Lombardy
–
Bridge over the
Ticino river
Lombardy
–
The
Alpine ibex (Capra ibex)
24.
Trenord
–
Trenord is a railway company which is responsible for the operation of regional passenger trains in Lombardy. The company was established by the two railway companies in Lombardy, Trenitalia and Ferrovie Nord Milano, to manage train operations in the region. The equity is divided between the two companies. Trenitalia LeNord was founded in Milan on 4 August 2009 from the merging of LeNord, company owned by FNM, the first step of the new company was the opening of a new maintenance and cleaning center for trains in Lombardy, the biggest in Italy. Trenitalia and LeNord rented their Lombardy regional trains divisions to the company on 30 October 2009 for 11 months, after this trial period the rent was extended to the end of 2010. After this date, the rent was extended twice to 31 March and finally to 1 May 2011. The last agreement included also the Trenitalia control over TiLo and the EuroCity service by LeNord in partnership with DB and ÖBB, Trenord inherited Trenitalia and LeNord operations in Lombardy. It therefore operates 42 regional lines,12 suburban lines, the Malpensa Express and co-operates the EuroCity in Italy in cooperation with Deutsche Bahn, there are 2200 rides per day, serving 650.000 people on the 1,920 km long regional network. The infrastructure is owned by RFI and Ferrovienord, the companys rolling stock comprises 1850 items, inherited from Trenitalia regional division and from LeNord. As of May 2011, the Trenord rolling stock comprises, As of early 2014 and these newer trains include features such as through carriages, digital information display, air conditioning and electronic door controls. Media related to Trenord at Wikimedia Commons
Trenord
Trenord
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A Trenord train at
Cadorna station, Milan
25.
Malpensa Express
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The Malpensa Express is an airport rail service linking the city of Milan with Malpensa Airport, in the region of Lombardy, northern Italy. First operated in 1999, the Malpensa Express originally ran between Malpensa Aeroporto and Milan Cadorna station only and it was operated initially by member companies of the Ferrovie Nord Milano group and then by Trenitalia LeNORD. In late 2010, airport rail services to and from Malpensa were reorganised, Malpensa Express services to and from Milan Cadorna, operated by Trenord, continued to link the airport with the city. To coincide with the change on 10 December 2010, however. In 2014 a contract was awarded for extension of the line from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2. The station was opened in December 2016, the new Malpensa Terminal 2 railway station is within 200 m north of the T2 arrivals hall, that is accessed by an outdoor covered walkway. The Malpensa Express train run, between 5,07 and 23,58 from Milano Cadorna, and between 5,26 and 00,26 from Malpensa. Between 5,25 and 23,25 from Milano Centrale, Malpensa Express train tickets are also valid on the shuttle bus service connecting Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, which does not have direct pedestrian connection to Terminal 1 or the train station. An extension of the railway was constructed to reach Terminal 2. There stopping services linking Milano Cadorna station to Malpensa Airport, named MXP, the running times of the services is about 43 minutes. The Malpensa Express then continues to Saronno, which offers interchange with the lines for the cities of Varese-Laveno, or Como, or Seregno. From Saronno, the Malpensa Express proceeds along the Saronno–Novara railway, to the junction at Sacconago, located just beyond Busto Arsizio and it then heads to the airport along a rail link branching off to the right from the line to Novara. There are two kind of services linking Milano Centrale to Malpensa Airport. The running times of services is about 57 minutes, they both have 2 class. At Porta Garibaldi station, the Malpensa Express uses the new route and it reaches PM Ghisolfa and leaves the RFI network to enter tracks 1 and 2 at Milano Bovisa-Politecnico station. The rest of the Malpensa Expresss route from Bovisa-Politenico station to Malpensa is the same as for its counterparts from Cadorna, even the other rail service to Malpensa have a similar ticket limitation scheme for journeys starting or ending in Malpensa. The original Malpensa Express trains are Treno ad alta frequentazione and their livery is a combination of the colours burgundy, dark green and cream and sometimes sponsored coaches. Since February 2010, a new class of trains, the Convoglio Servizio Aeroportuale, has been gradually introduced, the new CSA trains are designed specifically for the Malpensa Express services
Malpensa Express
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Malpensa Express at
Milano Cadorna
Malpensa Express
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Passageway between the terminal and the railway station at Malpensa Airport
Malpensa Express
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A CSA train
26.
Deutsche Bahn
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Deutsche Bahn AG is a German railway company. Headquartered in Berlin, it is a private company, with the Federal Republic of Germany being its single shareholder. It carries about two billion passengers each year, Deutsche Bahn came into existence in 1994 as the successor to the former state railways of Germany, the Deutsche Bundesbahn of West Germany and the Deutsche Reichsbahn of East Germany. It also gained ownership of railway assets in West Berlin held by the Verwaltung des ehemaligen Reichsbahnvermögens. There are three periods of development in this unified German railway, its formation, its early years. At its creation, Deutsche Bahn took over the abbreviation and logo DB from the West German state railway Deutsche Bundesbahn, erik Spiekermann designed the new corporate font DB Type. However, these plans have been put on hold, and the Bahntower leased for at least three more years, the second step of the Bahnreform was carried out in 1999. This new organisational scheme was introduced not least to implement European Community directive 91/440/EEC that demands access to railway systems free of discrimination. In December 2007, DB reorganised again, bringing all passenger services into its DB Bahn arm, logistics under DB Schenker and infrastructure, the DB is owned by the Federal Republic. By the Constitution, the Federal Republic is required to retain a majority of the infrastructure stocks, in 2008, it was agreed to partially private DB, with 25% of the business to be sold to the private sector. However the onset of the Financial crisis of 2007–08 saw this cancelled, in World war II the Deutsche Reichsbahn helped the Nazis to deport the Jews from Greece. As of 2016, the company currently lacks a management director, other members of the board include, Dr. The DB group is divided into five main groups, Arriva, DB Bahn, DB Dienstleistungen, DB Netze. These subsidiaries are companies in their own right, although most of them are 100% owned by DBAG, Deutsche Bahn placed a bid in May 2010 for the UK-based transport company Arriva. Arriva runs bus and rail companies in 12 European countries, the merger was approved by the European Commission in August 2010, subject to DB divesting Arriva services in Germany. The merger became effective on 27 August 2010, services in the UK formerly run as DB Regio are now operated by a new subdivision of the company, Arriva UK Trains. It operates the Arriva Trains Wales, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, Grand Central, on 1 April 2016 Arriva became the operator of the Northern rail franchise. It also holds a 50% shareholding in London Overground Rail Operations and has lodged an application to operate services under the Great North Western Railway brand, in November 2016, Arriva Rail London will commence operating the London Overground concession in its own right
Deutsche Bahn
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The corporate headquarters of Deutsche Bahn at
Potsdamer Platz in
Berlin
Deutsche Bahn
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Arriva North West Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied
Volvo B7TL in
Liverpool in June 2013
Deutsche Bahn
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An
ICE 3 long-distance high speed train of
DB Fernverkehr and
Siemens Velaro
Deutsche Bahn
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A regional train of
DB Regio
27.
Austrian Federal Railways
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The Austrian Federal Railways is the national railway system of Austria, and the administrator of Liechtensteins railways. The ÖBB group is owned entirely by the Republic of Austria and is divided into separate businesses that manage the infrastructure and operate passenger. The Austrian Federal Railways has had two periods of existence. It was reformed in 1947, using the slightly different Österreichische Bundesbahnen name,1882 – Gradual nationalisation of the railway network of the Austro-Hungarian Empire into the Imperial Royal Austrian State Railways. By the outbreak of the World War I, the major railway in Austria to remain in private hands was the Austrian Southern Railway. 1923 – Foundation of the independent, commercial enterprise, the Bundesbahn Österreich and this company took over the assets of the ÖStB and the Südbahn, together with other minor railways. 1938 – The Anschluss of Austria into the German Empire, the BBÖ was taken over by the Deutsche Reichsbahn. During World War II about 41% of the Austrian railway network was destroyed,1947 – The company was reformed using the slightly different name of Österreichische Bundesbahnen and the abbreviation ÖBB as a state-owned company. Their infrastructure was rebuilt and electrification was accelerated,1969 – A new federal railway law was enacted. The ÖBB became a non-independent, economic entity, that was run as a branch of the governments industrial programme,1992 – The ÖBB were broken out of the federal budget and turned into company with its own legal status. The company is 100% owned by the Republic of Austria and this change had two primary aims,1. It had to conform to EU rules on the admission of Austria into the European Union, the financial demand on the public purse was to be reduced as a result of improvements in efficiency and the pressure of competition. 2004 – The ÖBB were reorganised into ÖBB Holding AG and a number of operating subsidiaries, the holding company was to oversee the operations of the companies assigned to it, coordinate a coherent strategic approach and allocate tasks for the whole enterprise. 1 January 2005 – The subsidiaries of ÖBB-Holding AG became autonomous, in 2012, ÖBB celebrated the 175th anniversary of the Nordbahn, the earliest predecessor company marking the start of rail transport in Austria. ÖBB CEO Christian Kern inaugurated an exhibition on the collaboration with the Third Reich, named The Suppressed Years – Railway. He referred to that period as the darkest chapter of our company history, the exhibition later went on tour and was presented at the European Parliaments parliamentary building in Brussels. The Austrian rail system is largely electrified, electrification of the system began in 1912 but did not reach an advanced state until the 1950s. The last steam locomotive in service on the standard gauge network was retired in 1978
Austrian Federal Railways
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Railjet (RJ), the
high-speed-train of ÖBB
Austrian Federal Railways
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Intercity-Express (ICE)
Austrian Federal Railways
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InterCity (IC) on the
Semmering railway
Austrian Federal Railways
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A ÖBB
EuroCity (EC) train in
Bozen,
South Tyrol
28.
Swiss Federal Railways
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Swiss Federal Railways is the national railway company of Switzerland. It is usually referred to by the initials of its German, French and Italian names, either concatenated as SBB CFF FFS, the Romansh version of its name, Viafiers federalas svizras, is not officially used. The company is headquartered in Bern and it used to be a government institution, but since 1999 it has been a special stock corporation whose shares are held by the Swiss Confederation or the Swiss cantons. Swiss Federal Railways is divided into three divisions and two groups, Passenger traffic Freight traffic Infrastructure Real estate Core services The corporation is led in an entrepreneurial manner, a performance agreement between Swiss Federal Railways and the Swiss Confederation defines the requirements and is updated every four years. At the same time the rates per train and track-kilometre are defined. Subsidiary SBB GmbH is responsible for traffic in Germany. It operates the Wiesentalbahn and the Seehas services, further subsidiaries are Thurbo, RegionAlps, AlpTransit Gotthard AG, Cisalpino AG and TiLo. The Swiss Federal Railways hold significant shares of the Zentralbahn and Lyria SAS, to maintain heritage, the Stiftung Historisches Erbe der SBB was founded in 2002. This foundation takes care of the rolling stock and runs a technical library in Bern, document and photographic archives. The metre gauge Brünigbahn was SBBs only non-standard gauge line, until it was out-sourced and merged with the Luzern-Stans-Engelberg-Bahn to form the Zentralbahn, SBB is often known as the worlds most on time type of transportation In the 19th century, all Swiss railways were owned by private ventures. The economic and political interests of companies led to lines being built in parallel. On 20 February 1898 the Swiss people agreed in a referendum to the creation of a railway company. In the meantime, the trains were run by the Swiss Confederation on behalf of the private companies, on 1 January 1999 the Swiss Federal Railway has been excluded from the Federal Administration and became a fully state-owned limited company regulated by public law. First class compartments were discontinued on 3 June 1956, and second and third class accommodation was reclassified as first and second class, in 1982 SBB introduced the Taktfahrplan, with trains for certain destinations leaving every 60 minutes, greatly simplifying the timetable. On December 12,2004 the first phase of Bahn2000, a programme to improve the companys services, was put into effect. The core element was the Zurich-Bern-Basel triangle, where travel times between the cities was reduced to one hour, resulting in good connections from these stations for most trains. Some connections between cities got two trains in each direction per hour or more, and the S-Bahn services were intensified to four or more trains per hour, because of these changes 90% of the timetable was changed, 12% more trains were scheduled and travel times generally improved. It was the greatest timetable change since the introduction of the Taktfahrplan, on 22 June 2005 a short circuit on a long distance power transmission line in central Switzerland led to a chain reaction
Swiss Federal Railways
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InterCity on the
Gotthard Line
Swiss Federal Railways
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SBB network (for the whole Swiss railway network see:
Rail transport in Switzerland)
Swiss Federal Railways
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ICN between
Zurich and
Winterthur
Swiss Federal Railways
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Historic SBB push-pull train consisting of BDe 4/4, A, ABt near
Hettlingen ZH
29.
Treni Regionali Ticino Lombardia
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The companys goal is to develop the regional cross-border traffic between the Canton of Ticino and the Region of Lombardy. In 2009 the company carried 6,000,000 passengers, most traveled along the Como ↔ Chiasso ↔ Mendrisio ↔ Lugano ↔ Bellinzona ↔ Biasca and Bellinzona ↔ Locarno routes, served by trains every 30 minutes. Line S30 Bellinzona ↔ Luino is served every 2 hours, with a daily train continuing to Busto Arsizio. The staff that runs the trains in Italy is supplied by Trenord, the fleet consists of 19 RABe 524. 0/ETR150 Stadler FLIRT 4-car EMUs 11 RABe 524. The trains are accompanied by a driver only, except for the S10 only in the Italian section Chiasso - Albate. TILO is a member of the Arcobaleno tariff network, TILO currently operates the lines S10, S20 and S30 of the Rete celere del Canton Ticino, and a RegioExpress line from Bellinzona to Milan
Treni Regionali Ticino Lombardia
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TiLo train in station in
Lugano
30.
Emilia-Romagna
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Emilia-Romagna is an administrative Region of Northeast Italy, comprising the historical regions of Emilia and Romagna. It has an area of 22,446 km2, and about 4.4 million inhabitants, Emilia-Romagna is one of the wealthiest and most developed regions in Europe, with the third highest GDP per capita in Italy. Bologna, its capital, has one of Italys highest quality of life indices, the name Emilia-Romagna is a legacy of Ancient Rome. Emilia derives from the via Aemilia, the Roman road connecting Rome to northern Italy, completed in 187 B. C. and named after the consul Marcus Aemilius Lepidus. Romagna derives from Romània, the name of the Eastern Roman Empire applied to Ravenna by the Lombards when the western Empire had ceased to exist, before the Romans took control of present-day Emilia-Romagna, it had been part of the Etruscan world and then that of the Gauls. During the first thousand years of Christianity trade flourished, as did culture and religion, afterwards the University of Bologna—arguably the oldest university in Europe—and its bustling towns kept trade and intellectual life alive. After the referendum of 2006, seven municipalities of Montefeltro were detached from the Province of Pesaro, the municipalities are Casteldelci, Maiolo, Novafeltria, Pennabilli, San Leo, SantAgata Feltria and Talamello. On 20 and 29 May 2012 two powerful earthquakes hit the area and they killed at least 27 people and caused churches and factories to collapse. The 5.8 magnitude quake left 14,000 people homeless, the region of Emilia-Romagna consists of nine provinces and covers an area of 22,446 km2, ranking sixth in Italy. Nearly half of the consists of plains while 27% is hilly. The regions section of the Apennines is marked by areas of flisch, badland erosion, the mountains stretch for more than 300 km from the north to the south-east, with only three peaks above 2,000 m – Monte Cimone, Monte Cusna and Alpe di Succiso. The plain was formed by the retreat of the sea from the Po basin. Almost entirely marshland in ancient times, its history is characterised by the work of its people to reclaim. All the rivers rise locally in the Apennines except for the Po, the northern border of Emilia-Romagna follows the path of the river for 263 km. Emilia Romagna has been a populated area since ancient times. Inhabitants over the centuries have radically altered the landscape, building cities, reclaiming wetlands, all these transformations in past centuries changed the aspect of the region, converting large natural areas to cultivation, up until the 1960s. The trend then changed, and agricultural lands began giving way to residential and industrial areas, the increase of urban-industrial areas continued at very high rates until the end of the 2010s. In the same period, hilly and mountainous areas saw an increase in the registration of semi-natural areas, land use changes can have strong effects on ecological functions
Emilia-Romagna
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Castle Estense in
Ferrara
Emilia-Romagna
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Emilia-Romagna
Emilia-Romagna
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Lagoons along the
Po delta
Emilia-Romagna
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Seat of the
Regional Assembly of Emilia-Romagna in
Bologna.
.jpg)
Media related to Transport in Italy at Wikimedia Commons
