Concept

A new age in public transport began in Pustertal with the launch of the 2008 winter timetable. Following the successful re-opening of the Venosta Valley railway, work began on the Fortezza - San Candido railway.

The new Pustertal train: a very complex challenge

The launch of the new winter timetable on December 14th 2008 marked a major step forward in setting up a modern and functional service plan for the local public transport system. In Pustertal, trains running every thirty minutes between Fortezza and Brunico is a new, efficient and effective service, which is also integrated by an extensive network of feeder buses.

A clear improvement in passenger trasport
The new service plan has brought about conspicuous improvements in the local public transport system. Stations have been revamped, new rolling stock purchased: the perfect complement to the new services and a concrete response to the requests made by commuters for many years. Now, more than half the services operating on the Pustertal railway feature brand new rolling stock. Also, to meet the requirements of commuter, every morning between 7.30 and 9.00 am there is a service from Brunico to Bolzano. During the rest of the day, there are now five direct connections between San Candido and Bolzano,  or Brunico and Bolzano. Connection times have also improved at Fortezza and San Candido junctions. In the future,  connections at Fortezza towards Bolzano will be provided by means of regional trains, a much more reliable solution than long-distance Intercity or Eurocity trains, which commuters were forced to use in the past.
The new winter 2009 timetable marks the end of phase two of the Pustertal railway project that envisages services operating every thirty minutes.

Why is it not always possible for trains to stop at all stations?
With the new timetable the Pustertal railway will accommodate E464 Trenitalia electrotrains, the new FLIRT trains purchased by the Province of South Tyrol, as well as the Austrian Railways trains travelling to/from Lienz (also known “corridor trains”). Since there are different kinds of rolling stock using the tracks, trains are also travelling at different speeds. This makes junction management complex and is the reason why trains do not always stop at all stations. Trains to/from Lienz, for example, are heavier and slower, which is why they do not stop at some stations(Vandoies and Valdaora). Also, in order to provide services in lower Pustertal, several trains are required to reverse at Brunico.
As from December 2009, the 30 minute interval between services will be operational along the entire line. From then on, each train – except the Austrian trains – will stop at all stations in Pustertal.