The Giovi line and the three-phase electrification

The three-phase railway electrification was largely developed in Italy early in 20^th century and became known as the “Italian system” for railway electrification. It proved a suitable system, in particular, for railways facing high slopes. The first experiment, carried out for the Valtellina line in 1902, was followed in 1911-1913 by that of the Giovi line connecting the Mediterranean sea (Genoa) to the Po valley and the continental Europe. In the following three decades in Italy over 1800 kms where electrified at 3400 V 16.7 Hz. The paper describes the origin and the characteristics of the Giovi line.