Type Rapid transit Locale Rome, Italy Daily ridership 50,000 (2015) | System Rome Metro Stations 21 | |
 | ||
Termini Monte Compatri-Pantano (east)
Lodi (west) | ||
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;. As of 2016 the line is not yet connected to the other two metro lines in Rome, though the line should interchange with Line A to 2017. The line reuses parts of the old Rome-Pantano railway, a light railroad that is the last remaining part of the Rome-Fiuggi railway.
Contents
Construction
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) should open in 2017. 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 2022. Planning for an additional station at Piazza Venezia is currently in the planning phase and funding has been secured. Project planning for further extensions crossing the city centre (from Venezia up to Clodio-Mazzini) was 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:
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:
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.