Line C (Rome Metro)

{{short description|Rapid transit line in Rome, Italy}}{{Expand Italian|date=May 2024|topic=transp}}{{Infobox rail line | name = Line C | logo = Metropolitana_di_Roma_C.svg | logo_width = 120px | image = Rails End of Line C Metro of Rome.jpg | image_width = 300px | caption = Elevated section of Line C close to its eastern terminus | color = {{rail color|Rome Metro|C}} | type = [[Rapid transit]] | system = [[Rome Metro]] | status = | locale = [[Rome]], [[Italy]] | start = [[Monte Compatri-Pantano (Rome Metro)|Monte Compatri-Pantano]] (east) | end = [[Colosseo (Rome Metro)|Colosseo]] (west)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://romamobilita.it/it/progetti/trasporto-pubblico/2018/12maggio-apre-metroC-sangiovanni| language=it|title=12 maggio, ore 12.00: apre la stazione Metro C "S. Giovanni" |accessdate=2018-05-11 |publisher=romamobilita.it}}</ref> | stations = 24<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.romatoday.it/cronaca/bus-roma-modifiche-apertura-san-giovanni-metro-c.html|language=it|title=Apre la stazione San Giovanni: da lunedì modifiche alle linee bus|accessdate=2018-05-11 |publisher=romatoday.it}}</ref> | daily_ridership = 40,999 (2023)<ref name="2023 report">{{cite web|url=https://www.comune.roma.it/web-resources/cms/documents/Annuario_2024.pdf|title=Il trasporto pubblico locale a Roma. Anno 2024|accessdate=10 August 2025|language=it}}</ref> | open = {{Start date and age|2014|11|9|df=y}} | lastextension = 2025 | close = | owner = ATAC | operator = [[ATAC (Rome)|ATAC]] | character = underground, at-grade and elevated | stock = [[AnsaldoBreda Driverless Metro]] | linelength = {{convert|21.2|km|abbr=on}} | tracklength = | tracks = | gauge = {{Track gauge|1435mm}} | electrification = [[Overhead lines]] | speed = | elevation = | map = [[File:Roma - mappa metropolitana linea C aggiornata(geografica).svg|300px|Map of the C metro updated to Colosseo]] | map_state = }} '''Line C''' is a [[Rome Metro]] line which runs from [[Monte Compatri-Pantano (Rome Metro)|Monte Compatri-Pantano]] in the eastern suburbs of [[Rome]], in [[Italy]], to a temporary terminus at [[Colosseo (Rome Metro)|Colosseo]].<ref name="reuters-new-metro">{{cite web |last1=Balmer |first1=Crispian |title=New Rome metro stations showcase ancient treasures after years of delays |url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/new-rome-metro-stations-showcase-ancient-treasures-after-years-delays-2025-12-16/ |website=Reuters |publisher=Reuters |access-date=16 December 2025}}</ref> It is the third metro line to be built in the city and the first to be fully automated.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://metrocspa.it/en/a-driverless-line/ |title=A driverless line |publisher=Metro C Scpa |accessdate=2025-12-20 | archive-date=2025-12-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251220194533/https://metrocspa.it/en/a-driverless-line/}}</ref>

The line has interchanges with two other Metro lines: one with [[Line B (Rome Metro)|Line B]] at Colosseo and one at [[San Giovanni (Rome Metro)|San Giovanni]] where it meets [[Line A (Rome Metro)|Line A]].<ref name="andfinally">{{cite news|last1=Biondino|first1=Alessio|title=Raggi inaugura la stazione Metro C San Giovanni: "Giornata storica"|url=https://www.romait.it/articoli/25526/raggi-inaugura-la-stazione-metro-c-san-giovanni-giornata-storica|accessdate=24 May 2018|publisher=Romait|date=13 May 2018|language=Italian}}</ref>

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.<ref name="LineC-Jun2015"/> The third, from Lodi to San Giovanni, opened on 12 May 2018.<ref name="andfinally"/> The fourth, from San Giovanni to Colosseo, opened on 16 December 2025.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Metro C: aperte le stazioni Colosseo e Porta Metronia |url=https://www.comune.roma.it/web/it/notizia/metro-c-aperte-stazioni-colosseo-e-porta-metronia.page |access-date=2025-12-20 |language=it |publication-date=2025-12-16}}</ref> The line reuses parts of the old [[Rome-Pantano railway]], a [[light rail]]way that is the last remaining part of the [[Rome–Fiuggi–Alatri–Frosinone railway]].

==Construction== {{Rome Metro Line C}}

[[Archeology|Archeological investigations]] began in August 2006, before the first construction sites opened in March 2007 on Piazza Roberto Malatesta, to construct [[Malatesta (Rome Metro)|Malatesta station]]. The [[Lodi (Rome Metro)|Lodi station]] followed one month later.<ref>{{cite web| date=1 October 2007 |publisher=Roma Metropolitane |language=Italian |url=http://www.romametropolitane.it/Notiziario%20Cantieri/master%20Linea%20C.pdf |title=Notiziario |trans-title=News Bulletin |accessdate=2008-07-26 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013134154/http://www.romametropolitane.it/Notiziario%20Cantieri/master%20Linea%20C.pdf |archivedate=2007-10-13 }}</ref>

In May 2008, crews constructed two [[tunnel boring machine]]s 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metrocspa.it/diario_del_cantiere.asp |title=Diario del Cantiere |trans-title=Construction Site Diary |accessdate=1 December 2017 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080804091226/http://www.metrocspa.it/diario_del_cantiere.asp |archivedate=2008-08-04 |publisher=Roma Metropolitane |language=Italian}}</ref> This section, from [[Monte Compatri-Pantano (Rome Metro)|Montecompatri-Pantano]] to [[Parco di Centocelle (Rome Metro)|Parco di Centocelle]], opened in 2014.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.metroxroma.it/2013/09/linea-c-i-dettagli-dellaccordo-date-penali-prolungamenti/| title=Linea C: I Dettagli Dell'Accordo. Date, Penali e Prolungamento| trans-title=Line C: Details of the Agreement, Dates, Penalties and Extension| publisher=Metroxroma| date=September 10, 2013| language=it}}</ref> The section between Parco di Centocelle to [[Lodi (Rome Metro)|Lodi]] opened on 29 June 2015, one further station ([[San Giovanni (Rome Metro)|San Giovanni]]) opened in May 2018.<ref name="andfinally"/> The section of Line C further west is partly under construction (to [[Venezia (Rome Metro)|Piazza Venezia]] with two further station in between). Project planning for further extensions crossing the city centre (from [[Venezia (Rome Metro)|Venezia]] to [[Clodio-Mazzini (Rome Metro)|Clodio-Mazzini]]) was suspended in 2010.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://metrocspa.it/en/the-work/future-developments/ | title=Future Developments| publisher=Metro C Spa| date=22 April 2015| accessdate=1 December 2017| language=it| format=PDF}}</ref> A shortened extension to [[Ottaviano – San Pietro – Musei Vaticani (Rome Metro)|Ottaviano]] (thus providing a second interchange with Line A) is again under discussion.

In 2009, during preliminary excavations for the station at [[Piazza Venezia]] (near the [[Capitoline Hill]]) workers found remains of what has been identified as emperor [[Hadrian]]'s [[Athenaeum (ancient Rome)|Athenaeum]].

==Route== Line C operates on {{convert|19.5|km|mi|sp=us}} of route (of which {{convert|8.7|km|mi|sp=us}} is at grade),<ref name="LineC-Jun2015">{{cite journal |first=Marco |last=Chiandoni |url=http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/metros/rome-metro-line-c-reaches-lodi.html |title=Rome metro Line C reaches Lodi |journal=[[International Railway Journal]] |date=30 June 2015 |accessdate=2015-06-30}}</ref> and serves 22 stations. Of the entire route, about {{convert|11|km|mi|sp=us}} are underground, while the rest is located in the open air.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.romametropolitane.it/articolo.asp?CodMenu=1&CodArt=22| title=I numeri della metro| trans-title=The Numbers of the Metro| publisher=Metropolitana di Roma| accessdate=1 December 2017| language=Italian}}</ref>

Initially, the 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 to [[Grottarossa]]. A depot has been built at Graniti. Once construction is complete, the line will cross [[Line A (Rome Metro)|Line A]] not only at [[San Giovanni (Rome Metro)|San Giovanni]] but also at [[Ottaviano – San Pietro – Musei Vaticani (Rome Metro)|Ottaviano]], and [[Line B (Rome Metro)|Line B]] at [[Colosseo (Rome Metro)|Colosseo]]. At [[Pigneto (Rome Metro)|Pigneto]], a new railway station is currently being constructed on the [[FL1 (Lazio regional railways)|FL1 line]]. 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.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2011/05/18/metro-niente-museo-alla-stazione-colosseo.rm_017.html| title=Metro C, niente museo alla stazione Colosseo| newspaper=[[la Repubblica]]| trans-title=Metro C: No museum at the Colosseum Station| accessdate=5 March 2017| language=Italian}}</ref> Instead, a portion of the ruins of the barracks used by the Praetorian Guard will be viewable through a large glass window.<ref name="lorenzi">{{cite journal| last1=Lorenzi| first1=Rosella| title=While you are waiting |journal=Archaeology| date=Jun–Aug 2017| volume=70| issue=4| page=12| url=http://web.b.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=100&sid=ed946c5a-47a5-445f-b6da-e95cfe0d5c1c%40sessionmgr103| accessdate=2 July 2017| issn=0003-8113|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

The initial 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metrocspa.it/il-percorso.asp |title=La Linea C |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308002915/http://www.metrocspa.it/il-percorso.asp |archivedate=8 March 2016 |publisher=Metro C scpa |language=Italian}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=October 2021}}

==Extensions== {{Unreferenced section|date=May 2024}} The following extensions have been studied: * Northward (towards Rome's rail ring) and the [[Rome-Viterbo railway]], which would be connected to the Metro line at [[Tor di Quinto]]; this extension would have five stations and would allow for interchange with the [[FL3 (Lazio regional railways)|FL3]] line at Vigna Clara; * A southward extension of one station to [[Tor Vergata]], where a secondary depot might be built; * A northward extension of the east branch from Teano to reach [[Ponte Mammolo (Rome Metro)|Ponte Mammolo]] allowing interchange with Line B, with five new stations. This extension would also meet [[FL2 (Lazio regional railways)|FL2]] at [[Togliatti (Rome Metro)|Togliatti]].

==Rolling stock== Line C uses 30 [[AnsaldoBreda Driverless Metro]] trains.

The metro depot of Line C, the ''Deposito di Graniti'', which extends over 21.7 [[Hectare|hectares]], is located between the station [[Graniti (Rome Metro)|Graniti]] and the Eastern terminus [[Monte Compatri-Pantano (Rome Metro)|Monte Compatri-Pantano]]. It additionally serves as the maintenance and control center of Line C.<ref name="Graniti">{{cite web| url=http://www.metrocspa.it/pdf/DEPOSITO%20DI%20GRANITI%20E%20DIRIGENZA%20CENTRALE%20OPERATIVA.pdf| title=Il Deposito di Graniti| trans-title=The Granite Deposits| access-date=22 April 2015| website=Metrocspa.it| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141102125429/http://www.metrocspa.it/pdf/DEPOSITO%20DI%20GRANITI%20E%20DIRIGENZA%20CENTRALE%20OPERATIVA.pdf| archive-date=2014-11-02| url-status=dead| language=it}}</ref>

==Statistics== {| class="wikitable" ! Year |2014<ref>{{cite web|url=https://documen.site/download/il-trasporto-pubblico-locale-a-roma_pdf|title=IL TRASPORTO PUBBLICO LOCALE A ROMA. Anno 2015|accessdate=10 August 2025}}</ref> |2015<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.comune.roma.it/web-resources/cms/documents/Trasporto_2016.pdf|title=IL TRASPORTO PUBBLICO LOCALE A ROMA. Anno 2016|accessdate=10 August 2025}}</ref> |2016<ref name="C9">{{cite web|accessdate=10 August 2025 |title=Cap.9 Mobilità e trasporti. |url=https://www.comune.roma.it/web-resources/cms/documents/09_Mobilita_Annuario_2024.pdf}}</ref> |2017<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.comune.roma.it/web-resources/cms/documents/TPL_Roma_2018_rev.pdf|title=Il trasporto pubblico locale a Roma. Anno 2018|accessdate=10 August 2025|language=it}}</ref> |2018<ref name="C9"></ref> |2019<ref name="C9"></ref> |2020<ref name="C9"></ref> |2021<ref name="C9"></ref> |2022<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.comune.roma.it/web-resources/cms/documents/09_Mobilita_Annuario2023_ultimo.pdf|title=Il trasporto pubblico locale a Roma. Anno 2023|access-date=10 August 2025|language=it}}</ref> |2023<ref name="2023 report"></ref> |----- ! align="left" |Passengers <small>(millions)</small> | align="right" |0.50 | align="right" |7.64 | align="right" |13.30 | align="right" |12.26 | align="right" |16.20 | align="right" |18.72 | align="right" |10.26 | align="right" |11.70 | align="right" |13.55 | align="right" |14.96 |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Line C (Rome metro)}} * {{Official website|http://www.romametropolitane.it/menu.asp?CodMenu%3D1}} * [http://www.metrocspa.it/ Metro C Spa] – the [[general contractor]] building the new line

[[Category:Railway lines opened in 2014]] [[Category:Rome Metro lines]] [[Category:2014 establishments in Italy]]