Line C (Rome Metro)

Rome Metro Line C
File:Rails End of Line C Metro of Rome.jpg Elevated section of Line C close to its eastern terminus
Overview
Type	Rapid transit
System	Rome Metro
Locale	Rome, Italy
Termini	Monte Compatri-Pantano (east) Lodi (west)
Stations	21
Daily ridership	50,000
Operation
Opened	9 November 2014 (2014-11-09)
Owner	ATAC
Operator(s)	ATAC
Character	underground, at-grade and elevated
Rolling stock	AnsaldoBreda Driverless Metro
Technical
Line length	18.1 km (11.2 mi)
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Electrification	Overhead lines
Route map 300px

Line C is the third line of the metro system of Rome, Italy running from Monte Compatri-Pantano in the eastern suburbs of Rome to Lodi (its current western terminus); it is also the first fully automated metro line in the city. The first section, between Monte Compatri-Pantano and Parco di Centocelle, opened on 9 November 2014; the second, from Parco di Centocelle to Lodi, opened on 29 June 2015; a further three stations are currently under construction but work became suspended in December 2015 due to missing payments. As of 2015 the line is not yet connected to the other two metro lines in Rome, though the line should interchange with Line A in 2016. The line reuses parts of the old Rome-Pantano railway, a light railroad that is the last remaining part of the Rome-Fiuggi railway.

Construction

Rome Metro · Line C

3							Fori Imperiali-Colosseo B
							Amba Aradam-Ipponio
3							San Giovanni A
							Lodi
RM-Giard.							Pigneto
							Malatesta
							Teano
5 19							Gardenie
5 19							Mirti
RM-Giard.							Parco di Centocelle
							Alessandrino
							Torre Spaccata
							Torre Maura
							Giardinetti
							Torrenova
							Torre Angela
							Torre Gaia
							Grotte Celoni
							Due Leoni-Fontana Candida
							Borghesiana
							Bolognetta
							Finocchio
							Graniti
							Monte Compatri-Pantano

From August 2006 onwards archeological investigations took place before construction could start. The first construction sites opened in March 2007, on Piazza Roberto Malatesta, to construct Malatesta station. Lodi station followed one month later.

In May 2008 two Tunnel Boring Machines were set up at Giardinetti, and two months later the old Rome-Pantano railway was truncated at Giardinetti to allow restructuring part of the old surface line, which forms a part of the new metro. This stretch, from Montecompatri-Pantano to Parco di Centocelle, was inaugurated in 2014. The section between Parco di Centocelle to Lodi was opened on 29 June 2015, one further station (San Giovanni) will be added in 2016. The section of Line C further west is partly under construction (to Fori Imperiali-Colosseo with one further station in between) and is due to be opened in 2020. Planning for an additional station at Piazza Venezia is currently in the planning phase and funding has been secured. The project planning for further extensions crossing the city centre (from Venezia up to Clodio-Mazzini) were suspended in 2010. A shortened extension to Ottaviano (thus providing a second interchange with Line A) is again under discussion.

In 2009, during preliminary excavations works for the station at Piazza Venezia (near the Capitoline Hill) remains of what has been identified as emperor Hadrian's Athenaeum were found.

Works on the different sections of Line C are supposed to be finished according to the following schedule:

• 2016: Third section extending the line by one station to San Giovanni – currently under construction
• 2020: Two stations of the third section, Amba Aradam/Ipponio and Colosseo – currently under construction
• unknown year: One more station at Piazza Venezia, for which funding has been secured.

Route

Line C operates on 18.1 kilometers (11.2 mi) of route (of which 8.7 kilometers (5.4 mi) is at grade), and serves 21 stations. Of the entire route, about 10 kilometers (6.2 mi) are underground, while the rest is located in the open air.

Originally, the two planned termini were Pantano (a frazione of the comune of Monte Compatri) in the east and Clodio-Mazzini in the north, but in March 2007, a northward extension along the Via Cassia was announced, with nine more stations up to Grottarossa. A depot has been built at Graniti. Once construction is complete, the line will cross Line A at San Giovanni and at Ottaviano, and Line B at Colosseo. At Pigneto an interchange will be built with a new railway station on the FL1. At the Colosseo stop a public museum was to be constructed in the station to display archaeological material that was excavated during construction, but the project has been scrapped due to the lack of funds.

The original plan featured a station at Largo di Torre Argentina in the city center. However, archaeological remains on the site were even more extensive than expected and the station was cancelled.

Extensions

The following extensions have been studied:

• Northward (towards Rome's rail ring) and the Rome-Viterbo railway, which would be connected to the Metro line at Tor di Quinto; this extension would have five stations and would allow for interchange with the FL5 line at Vigna Clara and Tor di Quinto;
• A southward extension of one station to Tor Vergata, where a secondary depot might be built;
• A northward extension of the east branch from Teano to reach Ponte Mammolo allowing interchange with Line B, with five new stations. This extension would also meet FL2 at Togliatti.

Rolling stock

As of July 2015, Line C is served by 13 AnsaldoBreda Driverless Metro convoys; once completed, 30 will be operational.

The metro depot of Line C, the Deposito di Graniti, which extends over 21,7 hectare is located between the station Graniti and the Eastern terminus Monte Compatri-Pantano. It additionally serves as the maintenance and control center of Line C.

External links

• Official website
• Metro C Spa – the general contractor building the new line