European Railroad Discussion > The passenger train that rides a ferry (Italy)

One of the most unusual passenger train operations occurs between Villa San Giovanni, at the tip of Italy's boot, and Messina, on the island of Sicily. The entire train, in two sections, with passengers on board, rolls onto a large ferry to cross the narrow Straight of Messina. The train consisted of a locomotive, three coaches, a cab control car, a second cab control car (nose to nose), three coaches, and a locomotive. The train was separated between the two cab control cars and each half rolled onto the outer tracks of the four-track ferry. I would have bet money that the trains would be switched onto the ferry by a shunter and an idler car(s) but the electric trains came onto the ferry under their own power. Once in Messina, the trains remained separated as the rear half went along the north coast to Palermo while our half went down the east coast to at least Catania.

We were told that such a passenger train-ferry operation only occurs one other place on the planet somewhere in China. I was then surprised to the extent that we were given free range on the ferry allowing the images posted here. Only when our train was ready to depart the ferry was I waved back into the train (I was on the steps of my car hanging partway out).

1. With our train in the clear on the ferry, the second half of the train enters the ferry with the cab control leading.

2. And proof that the train was under its own power as the end of the train comes into view.

3. A view of both trains on the ferry. The stairs at the center lead up to seating, restrooms, and a snack bar.

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4. A view out the front of the ferry while still aligned with the dock.

5. The dock starts to raise and shortly the door on the end of the ferry will lower from above.

6. A view with the end door closed.

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7. My favorite ferry shot while always waiting to be yelled at which did not happen. My train is on the right.

8. For a brief moment, the door to the cab control car was open allowing this view out to the dock just before exiting the ferry.

9. Having left the rain behind in Messina, our train arrives in the picturesque coastal town of Taormina-Giardini which has a most attractive station and platform.

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Excellent, I didn't realise that it is unique in Europe now. Something very similar occurred in Denmark across the Great Belt until 1997, which I rode a number of times, and, of course, the Night Ferry from London to Paris did the same until 1980.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/11/25 13:16 by 86235.

There are a number -- originally 4 I think -- of the FS IC E464's that were fitted with 'last mile' battery power specifically for this operation.

I'm not aware of any other major* European ferry operation where a locomotive normally went on board with the passenger carrying vehicles.  There have been numerous instances where dmu's went on and off ferries under their own power, the IC3's and the Lyntogs before them being the most well known examples.  FS Ale's went to Sicily, but I think they were shunted on and off.
 * I'll define major as standard gauge and not on a lake

Great photos !!!

Best regards, SZ

Great group of photos of an unusual operation.  Made my day among the TO posts today!

Rich

About 100 years ago this was how the Southern Pacific got across the Carquniez Strait in California, except the equipment wasn't as modern (steam locomotives, for instance).  There were other places in the US where car ferries of this sort operated at one time or another.  Bridges have replaced them.

Do they still sell Arancini rolls (Sicilian rice balls) on the ferry? They're delicious! 

When we rode it ~2008 we just followed the crowd up to the deck. There was a line to the seller, and we thought, let's follow their lead. Man, it was worth it. 

Allow me to add three more, from my trip in ~2008.

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symph1 Wrote:
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> Do they still sell Arancini rolls (Sicilian rice
> balls) on the ferry? They're delicious! 
>
Sorry, I did not spend that much time on the passenger deck of the ferry and did not assess the rice ball situation. People were queuing up for something at the snack bar.

Sometime in the past, I took a DB train that went from Hamburg to Copenhagen.  The train was put on a ferry and then taken off when the ferry got to Denmark.

John

DocJohn Wrote:
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> Sometime in the past, I took a DB train that went
> from Hamburg to Copenhagen.  The train was put on
> a ferry and then taken off when the ferry got to
> Denmark.
>
> John

That was the Fehmar Baelt ferry.  Unfortunately, the trains have been rerouted to an alternative land/bridge route, and the ferry replaced by a new road bridge.  Fifteen years or so ago I posted a video of the crossing on this board.

Dave

 

DavidP Wrote:
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> DocJohn Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Sometime in the past, I took a DB train that
> went
> > from Hamburg to Copenhagen.  The train was put
> on
> > a ferry and then taken off when the ferry got
> to
> > Denmark.
> >
> > John
>
> That was the Fehmar Baelt ferry.  Unfortunately,
> the trains have been rerouted to an alternative
> land/bridge route, and the ferry replaced by a new
> road bridge.  Fifteen years or so ago I posted a
> video of the crossing on this board.
>
> Dave
>
>  

That ferry crossing is being replaced by a road
and rail tunnel due to be completed in 2029.
https://femern.com/the-tunnel/fehmarnbelt-tunnel/

Note the spelling varies depending on language.