Milan, Lombardy, Italy – Trenord has announced a significant disruption to its Milan-Varese railway line, with services suspended between Gallarate and Rho for a period of 10 days over the Christmas and New Year holidays. The closure, which begins on December 26 and concludes on January 5, is essential for Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI) to carry out construction work on the new fourth track.
Major Disruptions Expected on Key Lines
The suspension will impact several key Trenord lines, leading to significant changes in schedules and routes. Commuters and travelers are advised to check the Trenord website for the most up-to-date information before planning their journeys.
Affected Lines and Service Modifications:
- S5 Line (Treviglio-Milan-Varese): Trains will operate only between Rho and Treviglio. The entire route of train 24587 is canceled. No service will be available between Rho and Gallarate/Varese.
- RE Domodossola-Milano Centrale: Trains will run regularly between Milano Centrale and Rho. Between Gallarate and Arona/Domodossola, early or delayed schedules are expected. There will be no circulation between Rho and Gallarate.
- R Domodossola/Arona-Gallarate-Milano Porta Garibaldi: Service is guaranteed only between Gallarate and Arona/Domodossola, with schedule modifications. No connection will be available to Milano Porta Garibaldi.
- RE Porto Ceresio-Varese-Gallarate-Milano Porta Garibaldi: Trains will circulate only between Varese and Porto Ceresio, with early departures from Varese and delays on the return journey. No circulation will be available to/from Milano Porta Garibaldi.
- R Luino-Gallarate-Milano Porta Garibaldi: Services on the Gallarate-Mornago section will experience early and delayed timings.
- S30 Line (Cadenazzo/Luino-Gallarate): Similar to the R line, this service will see early departures from Gallarate to Mornago and delayed arrivals.
- S40 Line (Como San Giovanni – Varese): This service will operate on holidays (except for train 25452). Trains from Como San Giovanni will be extended to Gallarate, stopping at all stations between Varese and Gallarate. From Gallarate towards Giubiasco/Como San Giovanni, the route will include stops at all stations up to Varese. Train 25454 will run regularly.
- S50 Line (Biasca/Mendrisio-Gallarate-Malpensa): Trains will operate between Biasca/Bellinzona/Mendrisio and Gallarate, with all stops between Varese and Gallarate. The Gallarate-Malpensa section will be suspended.
Alternative Transport and Future Delays
Trenord has stated that it is currently arranging replacement bus services, which are still under review by external providers. Further details on these services are expected to be announced shortly. Passengers are advised to monitor official Trenord channels for updates on these alternative arrangements.
Following the completion of these works, from January 5 to February 1, some slowdowns are anticipated along the line. Trenord has indicated that these will result in delays of approximately three minutes compared to the scheduled timetable. These minor delays are a consequence of the ongoing infrastructure improvements and the integration of the new fourth track.
The construction of the fourth track is a crucial project aimed at enhancing the capacity and efficiency of the railway network, ultimately leading to improved service for commuters in the long term. However, in the short term, these necessary works will require patience and understanding from travelers.
Trenord encourages all passengers to consult their official website and mobile applications for real-time updates and to plan their journeys accordingly to minimize inconvenience during this period of essential railway maintenance and upgrade.
Source: https://www.milanotoday.it/attualita/interrotti-treni-milano-varese-natale-2025.html
