The Centovalli Railway celebrates its 100th birthday this Saturday
Published: Saturday, Nov 25th 2023, 07:50
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Its winding route through the valley of a hundred valleys is one of the most beautiful that can be explored on rails: We are talking about the Centovalli Railway. This Saturday, the "Centovallina", as it is affectionately known in Ticino, turns 100 years old.
The birth of the Centovallina, which on the Italian side is called "Vigezzina" like the valley of the same name, was anything but easy. Originally, the line was to be part of the great transalpine route, but then the decision was made in favor of the Gotthard route. The Centovallina was built after all and is still the fastest connection between Bern and Ticino today.
With 83 bridges and 31 tunnels over a distance of 52 kilometers, the Centovallina is considered a masterpiece of engineering. But it took a whole 25 years from the initial idea to its realization.
One of the main promoters of the railroad was the mayor of Locarno, Francesco Balli (1852-1924). The former member of the Council of States wanted his town to participate in the upswing in the hotel industry from 1875, and this required a connection to the rail network. The Gotthard Railway Company had built a branch line from Cadenazzo to Locarno even before the tunnel opened. However, the Locarnese hinterland was hardly able to benefit from this.
Interruption due to the war
The "Centovalli Railway" project progressed, however, and after some back and forth on the Italian side, the Ministry of Public Works in Rome granted the construction permit in the fall of 1912.
However, with the start of the First World War in 1914, construction had to be interrupted: The Italian workers joined the army and Italy used the building material intended for the section in the Vigezzo Valley at the front.
After the end of the war, Swiss diplomats in Rome worked out an international treaty with their Italian colleagues on the operation of the railroad line. This was ratified by the Italian King Vittorio Emanuele and the Federal Council in 1919. Among other things, the agreement obliged both sides to ensure unity in technology and operation.
From 1919, construction work progressed rapidly and at the end of March 1923, a works train traveled the entire route for the first time. The railroad line was officially opened on November 25, 1923.
©Keystone/SDA
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