Varese transport commitments: Vedano spur, Gallarate-Luino

Context

TL;DR

• The Pd secures commitments regarding the PRMT in Lombardia
• The Peduncolo di Vedano is included in further studies
• Gallarate-Luino is included in the design phases of the Plan
• Passenger use of the Luino-Sesto Calende line will be assessed

Key facts

• Plan: Regional Mobility and Transport Plan (PRMT)
• Territory: province of Varese
• Project: Vedano Olona spur road
• Line: Gallarate-Luino
• Assessment: passenger use of the Luino-Sesto Calende line
• Status of the Luino-Sesto Calende line: currently reserved for freight

The debate on the Regional Mobility and Transport Plan (PRMT), which lasted for more than a week in the Regional Council, led the PD and the other opposition parties to secure commitments on public transport. For the province of Varese, the outcomes include two motions submitted by PD regional councillor Samuele Astuti: one devoted to the Vedano Olona spur road, the other to the Gallarate-Luino railway line and the possibility of opening the Luino-Sesto Calende line to passenger traffic.

Spur road: further studies and timeline

The first commitment calls on the Region to promote, in agreement with Anas, further design studies on the Vedano Olona spur road. The text also provides for a transparent assessment of the alternatives and the definition of a timeline.

The stated objective is to complete the project within the PRMT timeframe, but only if the further studies produce positive results. The commitment described therefore concerns the preparatory work, the comparison of alternatives and the indication of the timetable.

Railways: Gallarate-Luino and Luino-Sesto

The second motion calls for the subsequent design phases of the Gallarate-Luino line to be included in the Plan, reconciling the needs of passengers and freight traffic with those of the areas crossed by the line and providing for appropriate environmental mitigation measures.

The requests also include an assessment of the possibility of opening the Luino-Sesto Calende line to passenger transport—currently reserved for freight—with the aim of restoring the railway connection between the municipalities located on the western shore of Lake Maggiore. Astuti summarized the request: «Now what is needed are defined timelines and concrete steps».

Operational details

Two commitments, two levels

The comparison of the two dossiers shows different operational requests, while remaining within PRMT planning. For the Peduncolo di Vedano Olona, the source describes a process consisting of further studies, an evaluation of alternatives, and a timeline. For the railways, however, the agenda item concerns the planning of the design phases and calls for a specific assessment of passenger service.

The comparison between the dossiers

The main difference concerns the level of the request. In the case of the Peduncolo, the ultimate goal of completing it is indicated, but remains dependent on the outcome of the further studies. In the case of Gallarate-Luino, the text calls for planning the subsequent phases and simultaneously considering passenger transport, freight traffic and the areas traversed. For Luino-Sesto Calende, however, the source refers to an assessment of passenger use, not to the already-decided launch of a service.

This distinction is relevant to those who depend on the connections, including cross-border workers mentioned by Astuti along with commuters. The text identifies works and lines for which answers are needed, but does not indicate the number of users affected, schedules, train frequency or alternative routes. Nor does it provide a completion date for the Peduncolo or a date for the activation of passenger service on the Luino-Sesto Calende line.

The source therefore allows programming and further-study commitments to be described, but not the works to be presented as already completed or the railway connection between the municipalities on the western shore of Lago Maggiore as already operational.

Key points

The regional framework and open issues

The discussion on the PRMT concerned not only the dossiers of the province of Varese. For regional public transport, the Pd and the other opposition forces also secured these commitments: free access to public transport services for under-14s throughout Lombardy, reductions for under-26s, an automatic procedure for granting compensation to Trenord subscribers in the event of significant service disruptions, and the possibility of using the Carta del docente to purchase travel tickets.

These measures have a regional scope, while Astuti's two motions concern works and connections in the Varese area. The source therefore keeps separate the measures intended for public transport in Lombardy and the requests concerning the Peduncolo, the Gallarate-Luino and the Luino-Sesto Calende.

The point still open

Astuti also identifies the upgrading of the Malnate-Laveno line among the issues still open, together with the further interventions needed to make connections more efficient for the benefit of commuters and cross-border workers. The regional councillor announces that he will continue to insist during the budget debate as well, asking that the province's needs not be left behind.

The limitations of the available data

The text does not indicate funding, dates for the start or completion of the works, train schedules, service frequencies or an already defined outcome for passenger use of the Luino-Sesto Calende. The timetable for the Peduncolo is also presented as an objective to be defined, not as a schedule already published.

The reference to the cross-border worker remains general: Astuti speaks of connections for commuters and cross-border workers, without indicating individual cases. The source does not document effects on permit G or on AVS and LPP. Nor does it address LAMal, rebates or withholding tax. For a comparison with mobility services in Ticino: Ticino public transport

Source: varesenoi.it