Trenino Verde Arbatax–Gairo

ARST - Trenino Verde della Sardegna (operated by Travelling Sardinia tour operator)
Italy
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The Journey

Navigate from Arbatax to Gairo Taquisara across a span of 60km.

Scenery Highlights
  • Arbatax Red Rocks coastal arrival
  • Ogliastra mountain gorges
  • Lanusei railway station (highest town on the line)
  • Gairo vecchio ghost village — abandoned in 1963 after a fatal rockslide, visited by coach from the Gairo Taquisara terminus
  • Trenino heritage diesel locomotive LDe 606 (Breda 1959, 780 hp)
  • Panoramic descent through the Osini valley with terraced vineyards
  • Bees-eaters and Bonelli's eagles reported along the cliff sections in June–July
Quick Facts
  • Duration

    2.5 hours

  • Distance

    60 km

  • Est. Price

    Budget

Official Booking Provider
Classes & Accommodations

Meals: None

Ensuite: No

Meals: None

Ensuite: No

Meals: None

Ensuite: No

Meals: Optional — Sardinian lunch in Lanusei can be pre-arranged (+€18 per person)

Ensuite: No

Engine / Locomotive

Breda LDe 606 diesel-electric railcar (built 1959, 780 hp), series LDe 600–611; heritage stock operated by ARST Trenino Verde della Sardegna

Locomotive Weight

~22 tonnes (LDe 606 diesel railcar); 4-wheel bogie configuration

Track Gauge

950 mm narrow gauge (one of the historic Sardinian secondary-network gauges)

Braking Technology

Pneumatic band brakes on railcars; mechanical through-coupling between vehicles; heritage Westinghouse-style air brake on selected trailer stock

Route Engineering Challenges

  • Steep gradients (up to 35‰) through Ogliastra gorges between Lanusei and Seui

  • 950 mm narrow gauge on mountain routing with tight curves (minimum 60 m radius on cliff sections)

  • Single-track operation with passing loops only at Lanusei and Seui

  • Aging masonry viaducts and timber trestle bridges maintained as part of the heritage line

  • Erosion monitoring along the Osini valley cutting — seasonal speed restrictions after heavy rain

  • Limited spare-parts supply for Breda 1959 components; small in-house fabrication workshop at the Arbatax depot

  • Onboard guide PA-system retrofit (2023) to heritage 1950s electrical bus — preserving original fittings

Route length

60 km (Arbatax → Gairo Taquisara)

Gauge

950 mm narrow gauge

Highest point

~868 m near Arzana saddle between Lanusei and Seui

Maximum permitted speed

60 km/h (heritage line, often slower in practice — typical 25–35 km/h)

Travel time

2.5 hours end-to-end (with photo / gorge stops ~3 hours)

Operating days

Thursdays and Italian public holidays only, 4 June – 24 September 2026

Former operator

ARST Trasporti Regionali della Sardegna (now ARST S.p.A.)

Tourism operator

Travelling Sardinia S.r.l. (registered tour operator n.476RC, Viale Sant'Avendrace 289, Cagliari)

Locomotive origin

Breda Costruzioni Ferroviarie, Milano — 1959–1960 build series

Rolling stock livery

Original ARST green-cream heritage livery with wooden bench seating

Number of curves

~140 distinct curves on the Arbatax–Gairo Taquisara section

Number of tunnels

5 short tunnels between Seui and Gairo Taquisara

Number of bridges

12 masonry arch and steel-truss bridges, including the Osini valley viaduct

Booking

WhatsApp +39 345 2190020 / info@sardegnatreninoverde.com — 24h advance required

Quick Facts
  • Duration

    2.5 hours

  • Distance

    60 km

  • Est. Price

    Budget

Official Booking Provider