Roma San Pietro railway station is situated at Piazza della Stazione di San Pietro, west of the city centre, and a short distance to the south of Vatican City; the station owes its name to its proximity to St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican (just 300m (980ft) away).
History
Opened along the line to Viterbo on 29 April 1894, the station, before structural changes to its "country station" features, was one of the favourite locations of the world of cinema. Many of the greatest actors and directors shot a scene in the station or in the forecourt, including Totò, Sordi, Virna Lisi, Buzzanca and many others extending back to the black and white era of film.
At that time, the station consisted of two through tracks passing a small passenger building. Although the station was then situated on a secondary line, the passenger traffic, consisting largely of pilgrims, was notable.
View of the station yard, 2012
With the construction in 1990 of the new Maccarese–Roma section of the Pisa–Livorno–Rome railway (Maccarese-Fregene – Roma Aurelia – Roma San Pietro – Roma Trastevere), the station underwent significant changes: the number of through tracks was increased to 6, the line was electrified and a pedestrian underpass was built.
To coincide with the Great Jubilee of 2000, and the simultaneous re-opening of the line to Viterbo, the platforms were erected and two lifts installed.
Between 2000 and 2006, prior to the opening of the tunnel to Roma Ostiense, Roma San Pietro was the terminus of half the trains from Cesano and Viterbo.
Features
The station has a passenger building, which houses the waiting area, ticketing booths, ticket machines, a bar, a kiosk and toilets.
Five through tracks pass through the station yard.
The typical offering in off-peak hours on working days is a train every 15 minutes for Roma Ostiense and Cesano, a train every 30 minutes to Bracciano, Civitavecchia and Roma Termini, a train every hour to Grosseto and Viterbo Porta Fiorentina and a train every two hours to Pisa Centrale.
