Train announcements for a number of stations now include Ladin, too: Brunico Nord/Bruneck Nord, Brunico/Bruneck, San Lorenzo/St. Lorenzen, Chiusa/Klausen and Ponte Gardena/Waidbruck. And throughout the Ladin-speaking valleys, bus stops will soon also be announced in three languages.
Upon entering the stations of Brunico Nord/Bruneck Nord, Brunico/Bruneck, San Lorenzo/St. Lorenzen, Chiusa/Klausen and Ponte Gardena/Waidbruck, train passengers are now greeted with a message announcing upcoming stops not only in German and Italian, but also in Ladin – or, to be precise: partly in the Val Badia/Gadertal variant and partly in the Val Gardena/Gröden variant of the language. With the launch of new vehicles over the course of the next few weeks and months, Ladin bus stop announcements will also be available on buses serving the Val Badia/Gadertal, Val Gardena/Gröden and Val di Fassa/Fassatal valleys.
“We want to send a strong signal in favour of the continued use of Ladin and contribute to conserving and fostering South Tyrol’s oldest language in both its versions – the ones spoken in the Val Badia/Gadertal and Val Gardena/Gröden valleys”, South Tyrol Mobility Minister Alfreider explained. Moreover, this comes as a gesture of appreciation for the Ladin place names.
Fun fact: The voice of the Ladin-language announcements belongs to Maria Craffonara, who lives in Brunico/Bruneck and comes from a long line of Val Badia/Gadertal valley locals. The voice recordings for approximately 355 stops were made in cooperation with the STA’s südtirolmobil Service and Information Centre.