Tracks, Goods, and Stations. The Continuous Evolution of Milan’s Railway Infrastructure (1840-1908)
Journal title STORIA URBANA
Author/s Federico Meneghini Sassoli
Publishing Year 2026 Issue 2026/183
Language Italian Pages 27 P. 99-125 File size 1979 KB
DOI 10.3280/SU2026-183006
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The railway revolution, launched in 1825 with the Stockton–Darlington line, brought profound changes to European cities. In Italy, Milan stood out as an excep-tional case for the early adoption and rapid expansion of its railway system. From the 1840s onwards, the city developed into a major railway hub, with infrastructure con-tinuously reshaped to meet increasing transport demand, even during the pre-unifica-tion period. Unlike many other Italian cities, where railway networks suffered from weak demand and limited infrastructure, Milan saw the early emergence of a strong and dynamic freight sector. Key freight stations and facilities, such as the Porta Garibaldi, Porta Ticinese, and Porta Sempione station, played a crucial role in managing goods traffic and sustaining the city’s industrial growth. This dynamism required a great infrastructural effort to follow a continuously increasing demand for transportation. This article examines the development of Milan’s freight railway infrastructure be-tween 1839 and 1908, focusing on the city’s ongoing efforts to address chronic infra-structural insufficiency. Drawing on archival material, technical reports, and contem-porary press sources, the study highlights how goods stations shaped the urban fabric and contributed to Milan’s economic transformation.
Keywords: Railway History, Milan, Goods Yard, Freight Transport, 19th Century.
Federico Meneghini Sassoli, Binari, merci e stazioni. Il continuo mutamento delle infrastrutture ferroviarie milanesi (1840-1908) in "STORIA URBANA " 183/2026, pp 99-125, DOI: 10.3280/SU2026-183006