Mantua Industry Boosts Support for New Lonato-Castiglione Rail Bypass
Occasionally, the project comes back into the spotlight. Five years ago, it was the mayor of Castiglione delle Stiviere who was its most outspoken supporter; now, the mayor of Ceresara has stepped forward, forming alliances with colleagues from Asola, and especially Castel Goffredo and Castiglione delle Stiviere.
To meet the increasing demands of the large Mantuan industries, the chapter on the construction of a new rail bypass connecting Lonato, Castiglione, Carpenedolo, and Asola is once again gaining prominence. Lonato’s railway station is in fact the closest and most suitable hub for an area characterized by very high industrial density, with sector-specific zones (tights in Castel Goffredo; food, chemical, textile industries, and others in Castiglione delle Stiviere; again tights for Ceresara) that rank among the most important in Europe.
The role of Lonato and industrial interests
The mayor of Lonato, Morando Perini, has been informed of the project and, while flattered, he defers judgment: “Lonato already has a railway line on an important route like Milan-Venice,” says Perini, “but the plan proposed by the Mantuan authorities will need to be examined. We do not prejudge, but any railway axis must protect the environment and bring benefits to Lonato’s residents; the creation of interchange hubs between networks should be avoided, and any interconnection with the Milan-Venice line should be located on the outskirts of Lonato.”
It should be remembered that the city will be crossed by 8 kilometers of high-speed railway, with construction work for nearly five years set to disrupt the area south of the town as the route is built through tunnels between Faccendina and the highway service area.
The industries of upper Mantua are watching the Milan-Venice connection with great interest because transportation costs by road are reaching unsustainable levels, and rail transport allows for moving significantly larger loads.
Businesses and line reconstruction
Some major names from Castiglione and Goffredo industries are even willing to participate jointly with the Railway Authority to realize the new section, which between Castiglione and Lonato could take advantage of the old ballast and the trackbed of the line that operated until just after World War II.
Reintroducing this route does not face significant obstacles in terms of elevation changes; only a need for an underpass is necessary. The real challenge? Finding the right balance between the needs of industrial development and territorial conservation.