About this journey

Domodossola station has served as a break-of-gauge junction since 9 September 1888, where standard-gauge main lines meet the metre-gauge Centovalli Railway departing for Locarno. It is here that passengers and crews transfer to the narrower network operated, on the Italian side, by Società Subalpina Imprese Ferroviarie (SSIF).

The line itself opened on 27 November 1923, following a convention signed between Italy and Switzerland on 12 November 1918, with the initiative credited largely to the then-Mayor of Locarno, Francis Dance. Running approximately 52.2 km in total — 32.3 km through Italy and 19.8 km through Switzerland — the route is electrified at 1,350 V DC and laid to a gauge of 1,000 mm. Gradients reach up to 60 per thousand on the steepest sections, demanding careful handling throughout. The many lateral valleys on the Swiss side give the Centovalli its name — meaning 100 valleys — while bridges and viaducts carry the line repeatedly across deep gorges. Beyond the Italian–Swiss border, operation passes to Ferrovie Autolinee Regionali Ticinesi (FART), whose tracks descend toward Lake Maggiore. Since 1990, trains arrive at Locarno FART station, a dedicated underground terminus that replaced the earlier surface platform on the station forecourt.