ROMA SAN PIETRO

"Roma San Pietro" is a junction station next to the famous Saint Peter’s Basilica (hence the name). It was opened on 29th April 1894, upon the inauguration of the Rome-Viterbo line. At that time, the surrounding zone was unpopulated as the nearest district (Prati) was built some years later. The station lies between two tunnels, and for many years it was a pretty local station, with just a running track, a passing loop and some goods sidings. With the residential expansion of the area, the station became one of the busiest of the line (being the “first” station in Rome coming from Viterbo), especially after the introduction of diesel railcars during 1930s. In 1934 an international branch was opened to connect the Vatican City with the Italian mainline network; this new short line (measuring only 1,27 km) was only used for special journeys made by the Pope. After the Second World War, there were no important news for the line and the station (a part the decrease of steam and goods traffic, which will disappear during 1970s). In 1986 FS (Italian Mainlines Company) undertook the rerouting of the Rome-Pisa mainline, diverted from the ancient route Trastevere-Ponte Galeria-Maccarese to a new and faster one Trastevere-S.Pietro-Maccarese, in order to relieve the rail link to Fiumicino. The new route was opened in May 1990, just in time before the beginning of Fifa World Cup “Italia 90”. Three new platforms were added, two for the new mainline route, and another one being the double track for the Rome-Viterbo line (added with the aim to create a northern ring line, which has never been completed). The station was also enlarged with the creation of a great concourse just beneath the track, leading to a new access at via Gregorio VII, which enabled a quick connection with many bus routes. Passengers flow drastically increased since 1994, with the creation of a proper suburban rail network for Rome, and S.Pietro became the junction between FR3 (Rome-Viterbo services) and FR5 (Rome-Civitavecchia services). In 1998 services to and from Viterbo were withdrawn to allow a massive transformation of the line to a double track-electrified commuter line, which reopened in 2000, with frequent trains throughout the day (4 tph during off peak). In 2006, the FR3 was doubled even on the other side, towards Roma Ostiense. The station offers many facilities, as ticket offices, toilets and parking lots but any long distance service stops here.

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