Viafèra de Montecara

VM

Overview
Owner	Government of Montecara
Area served	Montecara and adjacent areas in Luzela
Transit type	Regional rail Light etro Bus Ferry
Website	vm.mc
Technical
Track gauge	1,500 mm standard gauge 1,000 mm meter gauge
Electrification	25 kV / 50 Hz AC overhead lines 1,500 V DC overhead lines 750 V DC overhead lines

Viafèra de Montecara (VM) (Montecaran, Railway of Montecara), is a public transit provider based in Montecara, with service extending to southeastern Luzela. It operates commuter rail, light metro, bus, and ferry services.

History

Rail transport in Montecara dates back to 1854, when the city-state’s first railroad was constructed from Porta Nuova to Gabalòn, a distance of 12 kilometers. The line carried cargo and passengers on trains powered by primitive steam-driven locomotives. A robust network of rails was developed over the following decades, with services mostly taking the form of interurbans that ran on dedicated right of way in the countryside and down city streets in built-up areas. A conversion process begun in 1935 was designed to integrate these disparate lines into a single network of interoperable, electrified passenger rail with occasional cargo service. Major construction was completed by 1939, and the system began full-capacity passenger operations in July of that year. The system has since been expanded in several phases, most recently with a 2.5-kilometer extension to San Teodòr in 2012.

Governance

VM is owned by the Montecaran state. It is managed by a board of directors appointed by the College of State.

Finances

Fares

Ticket vending machines at Àeroport Enrico Dulio railway station

VM uses an integrated ticketing model where tickets are valid for the entire system, regardless of mode, for a certain period of time.

Tickets are sold at vending machines at all rail stations and many bus stops, at ticket desks at major stations, at tobacconists' shops, via SMS and the VM mobile app, and by mail, but are not sold on board transit vehicles. Most residents of Montecara take advantage of the ability to use the Ùnivers card, the national identification card, as a transit pass that can be loaded with fares online or at ticket machines. All fare media use NFC technology to validate fares.

Real estate

VM owns a substantial portfolio of real estate, some of which it leases at a profit. Major sources of rental icome include air rights over its facilities, telecommunications equipment such as cellular telephone masts, and retail at stations.

Services

Regional rail

Main article: Viaurea

Viaurea is a regional rail network that runs between Montecara and destinations in southeastern Luzela. It includes connections to Precea, Montecara–Enrico Dulio International Airport, and Montecara Pòrta Conìxia railway station.

Metro

Main article: Metrovìa

Metrovìa train en route to Iàlba station

Metrovìa is a light metro network made up of a combination of modern light rail and legacy meter gauge tram lines. It runs mostly underground in the city center and on surface and elevated track in outlying areas. Stations are generally spaced between 500 and 1,500 meters apart, roughly equivalent to a 7- to 22-minute walk taking a direct route.

Bus

VM operates two types of bus service: Autobùs, a typical transit bus service, and Corièra, which provides longer-distance limited-stop services between the urban center of Montecara and outlying communes, particularly those not well-served by rail.

Autobùs vehicles have all been low-floor since 2009. Certain crowded areas have dedicated lanes and signal priority that allow buses to maintain a relatively high speed compared to other traffic. VM is in the process of converting its entire Autobùs fleet to electric buses; the goal set in 2007 of having a 100% electric fleet by 2022 has been pushed back to 2030.

Corièra coaches are equipped with larger, more comfortable seats as well as a toilet and, in newer models, power outlets at every seat.

Ferry

VM's ferry service is branded as Vaporèt. The Montecaran state took over a number of unprofitable ferry lines in 1937, turning them into a single public marine transit company that would later become part of VM. The service currently operates routes across the Bay of Montecara, connecting areas that do not have direct links via bridges or tunnels.

Rolling stock

Service	Image	Class	Built	Floor height	Top speed	Formation	Total capacity (seated + standing)	Track gauge	Overall length	Width	Power
Metrovìa		CFP 213	1999–present	High-floor	90 km/h	3 cars (2 powered; 2 complete units can be combined)	467 (128 seated + 339 standing)	1,000 mm	52 m	2.75 m	1,500 V DC overhead line
Metrovia		CFP U100	2011–present	Low-floor (356 mm)	70 km/h	3, 5, or 7 cars	129 (3 cars) 221 (5 cars) 306 (7 cars)	1,000 mm	18 m (3 cars) 30 m (5 cars) 43 m (7 cars)	2.30 m	750 V DC overhead line