Menaggio Railway Station 2006 viewed from where the track started its climb up to Grandola
This section is based on the notes made by Pietro Magni who traced the route of the railway in 2001 and my own observations during a visit to Menaggio in 2006.
Very little trace of the railway remains at Porlezza as the large station area has been completely built over. The landing stage and wharf have been removed and no trace remains of them. The waterfront end of the station is now occupied by the Hotel Europe which uses part of the former station buildings as a store. Behind the hotel is a building complex with a laboratory and pharmacy. Houses have been built over a 300 metre section of the former railway near the river.
Leaving Porlezza the former station building at Tavordo stands abandoned. Parts of the route can be traced as far as S. Pietro where the station building is inhabited. Between S. Pietro and Piano parts of the track have been built over. The station building at Piano is inhabited.
East of Piano the route becomes overgrown and difficult to follow, The station building at Bene Lario still stands. Between Bene Lario and Grandola the route is again overgrown. The station building at Grandola was temporarily occupied in 2001 although it appears to have been previously left abandoned for some time.
As the route descends towards Menaggio part of the former line has been converted into a private access road to a farm. The western end of the tunnel is partially bricked up. Beyond the tunnel the bridges and cuttings are still visible. The area near the regresso has been built over and houses and gardens occupy the former switchback loop.
The route can be followed as it descends into Menaggio, however the final 200 metres between the Youth Hostel and the terminus has been lost due to road widening. Nothing remains of the station area on the western side of the road, which is now occupied by a petrol service station. Menaggio station building on the lake side of the road remains and the very faded railway lettering is still visible on the northern and southern walls.
Menaggio Railway Station 2006 viewed from where the track started its climb up to Grandola
The Ponte Tresa-Luino line (along with much of the former SVIE tramway network), is listed as a cycle trail.