Trenitalia Frecciarossa ETR1000: FR9612 Roma T to Bologna on Direttissima 6/11/22

Here are some video highlights I took on 6/11/2022 whilst travelling the Direttissima. This is the high speed line between Rome and Firenze (Florence). I was travelling on Frecciarossa 9612 (an early morning Salerno to Torino service) from Roma T to Milano C. It was formed of an ETR1000 unit (didn't notice which)- these look amazing, and have really comfortable seats, but I personally find the interiors too bright and lively (with LED spotlights, light colours and TV screens everywhere). They are very popular though. Another slight drawback with these units is the ride quality is not what it might be. Sometimes they run very smooth, but frequently, there is "gravelly" feel to the ride. My one also made a weight metalic wheezing noise as the suspension soaked up vertical bumps. As for the Direttissima itself, this is the first high speed mainline to open in Europe (1977). At the time, it only ran from Settebagni (on the outskirts of Rome) to Città della Pieve (kind of in the middle of nowhere). The rest of the route took until 1992 to complete (due to technical challenges). The line has a top speed of 250km/h- it is somehwhat limitted by the fact that it is powered ot 3Kw DC, rather than AC. There has been talk of converting it, but it hasn;t happened yet. I think the line is part (or all) converted to ETRMS, or should be soon. Italian high speed lines are used differently to other countries- some (including the Direttissima) have InterCity trains (125mph), Regionale Veloce (100mph), Sleeper trains (100-125mph) and freight scheduled. This means that the junctions to and from the intermediate towns on the route are actually used. It is a wonderful ride- piecing through the Lazia plains, then Umbria and Tuscany like an arrow. The original line (called the Linea Lente, or LL- slow line), river Tiber and A1 autostrada also weave their way across the line's path. It is often elevated on extended viaducts. As the line approaches Firenze, the amount of tunnels increase, culminating in a very long tunnel down to the city. At this point, the high speed line stops, and everything is decanted onto a slow and tortuous route around the city. However, a high speed line tunnel is being built in the city (with a new station) due by 2027 (though highly delayed). The video isn't as good as I would have liked- the combination of the low, strong morning sun, train window glass, frequently tunnels and high speed played havoc with my cameras auto focus. However, I got enough to capture the spirit of the ride! Index Points: 00:00:00 Leaving Roma Termini 00:00:10 Passing classic rake of E464 MDVE and MDVC stock 00:00:58 Trenitalia Jazz and Rock units 00:01:25 Rome Laziali station for narrow gauge Centcelle line is behind the wall here 00:01:55 Leonardo Express Jazz unit 00:02:17 Temple of Minerva Medica 00:02:53 Porta Maggiore (Rome city gate)- line to Naples leaves 00:03:12 ATAC tram depot 00:03:23 Lines from Naples and Pisa join 00:04:08 Roma Tiburtina (pass), with TAF unit in station 00:05:51 Roma Nomentana (pass)- Fast and slow lines split 00:06:31 Overpass to Roma Smistamento station 00:06:41 Bridge over Fiume Aniene, then bridge parapets of incomplete northern ring line (now complete to Vigna Clara) 00:07:07 Running by Roma Smistamento depot 00:07:35 We have now rejoined the line that runs round the other side of the depot 00:08:12 Bivio/PC Settebagni 00:08:25 Settebagni (pass) 00:08:37 We have now left the LL and are on the Direttissima, running by the A1 00:09:12 The Sabine Mountains, part of Lazio Sub-Apennines in the background 00:09:27 Fiume Tevere 00:10:07 Galleria Monte Cellarino and Sant'Oreste 00:10:27 PC Capena 00:11:08 Fiume Tevere 00:11:25 LL runs by DD south of Orte 00:11:51 Fiume Tevere 00:12:05 LL runs under DD 00:13:56 LL runs under DD again 00:14:06 Fiume Tevere 00:16:29 PC Civitella D'Agliano 00:17:22 Interconessione Orvieto Sud 00:19:35 Interconessione Orvieto Nord 00:20:35 Fiume Paglia 00:21:17 Running with the LL again at Allerona 00:22:08 LL passes under the DD 00:22:21 Passing over A1 00:22:26 Interconessione Chiusi Sud- the end of the line from 1977 until 1992, when the extension to Firenze opened 00:23:02 We are now on the 1992 extension 00:23:13 Città della Pieve (LL only- closed 2017) 00:23:29 PC Farmeta Nord 00:25:44 PC Rigutino and Interconessione Arezzo Sud 00:27:46 Interconnessione Valdarno Nord, crossing A1, then PC San Donato 00:28:13 Just past Firenze Campe Marte, where the new high speed passante line starts- link to Faentina line leaves 00:28:22 Fiume Mugnone 00:28:56 Firenze Statuto (pass) 00:31:03 We now join the line from Firenze SMN- the new underground Firenze Belfiori is being built on the other side 00:32:28 Firenze Rifredi (pass) 00:34:37 Junction complex where the Pisa, Pistoia and Bologna AV lines seperate. The Firenze AV passante will also join here. 00:35:11 Firenze-Bologna AV line start here at Firenze Castello- it is mostly in tunnel