Vintage carriages have recently returned to vogue and are taking travelers on journeys, offering a real leap back in time amid puffs of steam and Piedmontese landscapes. This time we take you along the historic Novara-Varallo railway line, which is turning 140 years old and for the occasion returns to the forefront with a special weekend dedicated to railway history and culture.
Saturday, September 12 and Sunday, September 13, 2026 a historic steam train will connect Novara to Varallo Sesia, traversing the Valsesia region and bringing back to the rails an atmosphere from another era. The initiative, organized by Fondazione FS Italiane together with the Valsesiano Railway Museum and the Municipality of Varallo Sesia, will not be just a train journey: the arrival in Varallo will inaugurate a series of events ranging from exhibitions, meetings, guided tours and activities dedicated to the line’s 140-year history.
Historic steam train from Novara to Varallo
The absolute star of the celebrations will be a historic train hauled by the steam locomotive FS Gr. 880, with Centoporte carriages from the 1930s and a baggage wagon. The train will depart from Novara station at 9:50 AM, reaching Varallo Sesia at 12:00 PM, on a route that allows rediscovering one of Piedmont’s historic railway lines. The destination has value also from a scenic point of view: Varallo station is located at the foot of the Sacro Monte, set in a context of great historical and natural interest. The journey thus becomes part of a broader experience exploring Valsesia.
In Varallo the program will continue throughout the day with an exhibition of railway memorabilia, dioramas and models, a photographic display devoted to the line’s history, and the presence of the historic Centoporte carriages. It will also be possible to view the steam locomotive on the station forecourt and on the turntable. There will be talks and presentations dedicated to railway history, as well as entertainment moments and a tasting organized by the Valsesian Railway Museum in collaboration with the Varallo Municipality. In the afternoon there is also planned a guided tour of Varallo’s historic center, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
Dates, times and tickets
The special trip on the Novara-Varallo line is scheduled for both Saturday the 12th and Sunday the 13th of September 2026. On both days the historic train will depart from Novara at 9:50 AM, arriving in Varallo Sesia at 12:00 PM.
Tickets for the outbound or return trip cost 17.50 euros for adults, while the reduced fare for children aged 4 to under 12 years is 8.75 euros. Children aged 0 to 4 travel free. The listed price refers to a single journey. Tickets can be purchased through Trenitalia channels, including ticket offices and self-service machines present at stations, as well as authorized travel agencies. Sales opened on August 29.
