Italy Railway Ultimate Guide

Italy railways are of high quality and low price in Europe, especially between cities and towns. The Italy railway system has developed since 1800, and it rapidly developed in the era of the Nazi Mussolini, and Mussolini during the Second World War. At that time,  the slogan of Italy railways was “making the train on time”. Since 1970s, Italy has developed high-speed railways and modernized the railway system constantly.

Trains are usually the best option for traveling in Italy, as road traffic has so much unpredictable problems and parking fee is expensive. If you want to travel to the Italian countryside or to a remote town, train is usually the best choice.

Railway Operators: Mostly state-owned

The Italy railway system is mainly operated by two companies:

Both companies have a cooperation with the website of G2railway, with data interconnection, travellers can check the train tickets of all domestic and international routes in Italy on the website. At the same time, website of G2railway is the representative of the Italy National Railway Company in China, and also the sponsor of the Chinese website of the Italian Juventus football team.

Search results of Milan to Venice from the website of G2railway

Check out the most popular routes in Italy Rome Termini – Florence Santa Maria Train Station time and price.

G2railway can search for the results of several major railway companies in Italy, providing travellers more choices. As what can be seen from the Logo, the first choice is Flixbus, which is the largest coach services company in Europe. And the second choice is Trenitalia’s EuroCity (EC),  and the sixth choice is the Italo train of the Ferrari Railway Company (NTV).

Italian National Railway(Trenitalia)

The Italy state-owned railway company is called Trenitalia. In Latin, “Tren” is the meaning of the train. Its official website is www.trenitalia.com, which is the largest train operator in Italy. They run all kind of trains in Italy, whatever a high-speed rail or an intercity train or a very slow regional train. The colour of their trains is usually the colour of the Italy national flag.

Trenitalia Frecciarossa 1000 Train

Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori(NTV)

Ferrari’s boss led the establishment of a private train operator called NTV (Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori), which was put into operation in 2011. For commercial interests, the company only run the routes between major cities such as Milan, Rome and Venice. They are the most popular high-speed trains in the market. The development of NTV is relatively rapid, and the quality of service is much higher than that of the Italian National Railway. The NTV train is called Italo. The Ferrari train is red in color.

Italian National Railway(Trenitalia)

Main Train Model

The price and speed of different models are quite different. Take the journey from Rome to Naples as an example (one way). Leaving at noon on weekdays, the Red Arrow train (Frecciarossa) takes only 1 hour and 10 minutes, it costs 25 euros for the second class or 58 euros for the first class. Then if it is an InterCity train, it takes 2 hours and 13 minutes and costs 22 Euros (second class) or 29 euros (first class). Finally, if it is a regional (Regionale, R; Regionale Veloce, RV) train that takes 2 hours and 34 minutes and costs only 10.50 euros (only one class).

Because the Frecce train is not only faster, but also more comfortable and cleaner, if traveller have sufficient budget , they will probably prefer Frecce trains. It is the best choice clearly if there are discounts on these trains. The sooner the ticket is booked, the lower the fare (Trenitalia can check the booking six months in advance).

Frecce Series train

The Freece Series train has the fastest speed between major Italy cities. Also known as the high-speed train. The Freece series trains are divided into three types: Red Freece (Frecciarossa, FR), Silver Freece (Frecciargento, FA) and White Freece (Frecciabianca, FB). The Freece series high-speed rail must be reserved. The ticket reservation fee is already included in the fare at the time of ticket purchase and no extra charge is required.

Red Arrow train tickets are only valid for selected trains on the selected date. All are equipped with air conditioning, and there is a restaurant bar, all passengers can enjoy it. The restaurant offers a three-course meal for 33 euros and a half bottle of wine for 10 euros. Credit cards are available. The seats have sockets that can be used for tablet and mobile phone charging (two, 220v). Passengers with the Eurail Pass must reserve a seat and pay a reservation fee of EUR 10 for each trip in advance (First class Eurail pass is equivalent to business class, Second class Eurail pass is equivalent to standard seat). The booking fee makes the Eurail pass less attractive in Italy, because the train ticket from Rome to Florence costs only 45 euros.

Red Freece (Frecciarossa)

Red Freece (Frecciarossa) Train

The Red Freece (Frecciarossa) train travels through Italy’s entire territory and has a maximum speed of 300 km/h. It enters the centre of the main city so as to shortens the travel distance. Choosing a Frecciarossa train means being able to travel frequently , as departures and arrivals in the city centre and geographical coverage of major cities. In addition, you can choose the most convenient station to suit your needs.

Main Routes

• Turin – Milan – Reggio Emilia AV – Bologna – Florence – Rome – Naples – Salerno: 115 trains per day, some of which continue north to Brescia, continue to Arezzo and Perugia in central Italy , head south to Taranto
• Venice – Padova – Bologna – Florence – Rome – Naples – Salerno: 26 trains a day; 2 of them will extend from/to Fiumicino Airport
• Rome Termini – Fiumicino Airport: 2 trains per day
• Bolzano / Bergamo – Brescia – Verona – Bologna – Rome: 4 trains a day
• Trieste / Udine – Venice – Padova – Vicenza – Verona – Brescia – Milan – Turin: 48 trains per day, 2 of which are with Venice, Padua, Verona and Milan, and Genoa
• Turin/Milan – Reggio Emilia AV – Bologna – Rimini – Ancona – Pescara – Foggia – Bari – Lecce

The popular travel routes include:

• Firenze Santa Maria Novella, SMN – Venezia Santa Lucia
• Venezia Santa Lucia – Milano Centrale
• Roma Termini – Firenze Santa Maria Novella, SMN
• Roma Termini – Venezia Santa Lucia
• La Spezia Centrale – Manarola
• Venezia Santa Lucia – Bologna Centrale
• Roma Termini – Venezia Mestre
• Napoli Centrale – Roma Termini
• Napoli Centrale – Firenze Santa Maria Novella, SMN
• Paris Gare de Lyon– Milano Centrale
• Firenze Santa Maria Novella, SMN – La Spezia Centrale
• Milano Centrale – Brig(Switzerland)
• Milano Centrale – La Spezia Centrale
• Milano Centrale – Nice Ville
• Pisa Centrale – La Spezia Centrale
• Milano Centrale – Torino Porta Nuova
• Milano Centrale – Arth-Goldau(Switzerland)
• Milano Centrale – Spiez(Switzerland)

Facilities

Red Freece (Frecciarossa) Train is Trenitalia’s Flagship product，which product a  comfort environment. They are ETR 500 and ETR 1000 trains. All are equipped with:

• Air conditioning
• Socket for each seat
• LED Lighting
• Sufficient luggage space
• Travel information and news that are constantly updated in the seat display.
• FRECCE Portal is accessible via Wi-Fi network, providing entertainment services, internet access and travel information
• In the No. 3 compartment, there are two places for wheelchairs for the disabled and two nursing staff seats.
• Toilet in the No. 3 compartment for disabled people
• Baby changing diaper table

Class

Red Freece (Frecciarossa) Train has 4 classes

• Executive
• Business and Business Silent
• Premium
• Standard

Each Red Freece (Frecciarossa) Train has 10 Executive seats only

Red Freece (Frecciarossa) Train with a Meeting room in Executive Compartment

Red Freece (Frecciarossa) Train Business Class

Red Freece (Frecciarossa) Train Premium Class 

Red Freece (Frecciarossa) Train Standard Class

Silver Freece (Frecciargento)

Silver Freece (Frecciargento) operates on high-speed and traditional routes, at speed of up to 250 km/h, the connection shortens the distance between Rome and some metropolitan areas in northern and southern Italy. The model is ETR 450/460/485 or the most advanced pointed ETR 600.

You can choose from 48 routes at your convenience and time each day:

Main Routes

• 16 trains connect Rome with Venice: 2 trains to Udine, 2 trains to Trieste from Venice, and 4 trains Rome’s Fiumicino Airport, in Padua Tiles, Bologna, Florence and Rome docked. Depart from Fiumicino Airport at 11:08 in the morning, take the Frecciargento 8431/8432 at 11:08 am and leave Frecciargento 8445/8446 at 3:28 pm
• From Rome to Verona’s 16 trains, continue to Bergamo (4 trains), Brescia (4 trains, increase to 6 miles over the weekend) or Trento and Bolzano (Monday to Thursday 8 trains) , increased from Friday to Sunday to 10 ); 4 trains Bolzano – Rome – Naples
• 6 trains from Rome to Lecce in Caserta, Benevento, Foggia, Barletta, Bari, Brindisi, Monopoli and Ostuni, in Rome, Caserta and There are 2 new trains between Benevento
• 2 Direct train from Rome to Bari
• 2 From Rome to Reggio Calabria, staying in the main areas of Puglia and Calabria
• The 2 trains from Rome to Mantua stop in Florence, Bologna, Modena and Carpi
• Two trains from Rome to Genoa stop in Florence, Pisa and La Spezia

Facilities

• Air Conditoning（ETR600/485）
• Socket for each seats（ETR600/485）
• Travel information and news that are constantly updated in the seat display.（ETR600）
• Indicator light on the seat（ETR600）
• The space of the large suitcase at the two ends of the carriage.  In the No. 3 compartment, there are two places for wheelchairs for the disabled
• There is a toilet in each compartment, 2 toilets in the 2nd and 3rd compartment, and a disabled toilet in the 3rd compartment.（ETR600/485）

Class

Silver Freece (Frecciargento) Train has 2 Classes

• First
• Second

Silver Freece (Frecciargento) Train First Class

Silver Freece (Frecciargento) Train Second Class

White Freece (Frecciabianca)

Most of the White Freece (Frecciabianca) Train is retired IC trains that have been modernized and refurbished at a speed of 125 km/h. The front is usually a locomotive or the first-generation ETR500 Power Car. The White Freece (Frecciabianca) train has air conditioning and a dining car. However, Some trains have a bar while there is no dining car. They run on traditional routes which are not included in the high-speed network, and ensure comfort and high-quality services. They also providing 42 classes a day and connecting medium and large cities, from 05:00 to 21:00 so as to  ensure extensive coverage of the entire territory of Italy

Main Routes

• There are 24 trains per hour to the main areas of northern Italy and the Adriatic coast until Ancona/Pescara/Bari/Lecce/Talento
• The 12-inch train connects 20 cities on the Tuscan and Ligurian coast with Rome, in small towns and some stops to Milan and Turin
• 4 trains connecting Rome with Campania, Basilicata and Calabria’s main train station
• 2 trains connect Rome and the Adriatica coast (Falconara M.ma, Pesaro, Rimini and Ravenna)

Facilities

• Spacious reclining seat, spacious seating
• Air conditioning
• Spacious space for cumbersome luggage
• There is a disabled seat in the No. 3 compartment and there is also a disabled toilet
• Hook hanging under the suitcase near the window
• The socket on the seat can charge the phone battery, you can also use the computer, watch movies, listen to music.
• Indicator light on the seat
• Folding table at the seat
• Tilting baby changing table in the bathroom of the No. 3 compartment
• Baby changing table in the bathroom of the No. 3 compartment
• The sound system will be updated with information about travel, parking stations, Trenitalia services and promotions

Class

White Freece (Frecciabianca) Train has 2 Classes

• First
• Second

White Freece (Frecciabianca) Train First Class

White Freece (Frecciabianca) Train Second Class

InterCity Train (IC), EuroCity (EC)

Following by Freece Series High speed train is InterCity Train IC. It is driven by a locomotive and has a speed of 100-120 km/h.  Like the Red Freece train, the IC train must be reserved before boarding, otherwise you will not be allowed to get on the train. Tickets can be booked directly at www.italy-rail.com. Some IC Trains use open seats, there are corridors in the middle, and some IC Trains has classic six-seat cabins. The EC train is an international version of the IC.

Trenitalia InterCity Train at Cinque Terre

Trenitalia InterCity Train 1st Class

Trenitalia InterCity Train 2nd Class

Main Routes

• Rome-Naples-Sicily
• Rome-Pisa-Cinque Terre-Genoa-Milan
• Milan-Genoa-Ventimiglia

Regionale Veloce Train (RV) and Regionale Train (R)

Trenitalia Regionale Veloce

Trenitalia Regionale

 

Ticket Validation Machine

Regional trains do not require a reservation in advance, but travellers need to validate their tickets on the validation equipment (green, white or yellow) on the platforms before boarding. You can choose any vacant unreserved seats. Baggage can be placed on the luggage rack above the seats or on the floor. Make sure to validate the tickets before boarding. After the ticket is validated, the ticket will be valid for the next 4-6 hours. Passengers who have Eurail Pass the ticket do not need to reserve an extra seat. They just have to show the pass after they get on the train. The RV and R series have many models covering the entire territory of Italy. These tickets are very cheap and would never sold out.

InterCity Night Train (InterCity Notte, ICN)

InterCity Notte Train Exterior

 

Night train is the best choice for long distance travel. For example, go to Sicily from Milan or Rome, or go to Naples from Venice or Milan. Compared to airplanes, night trains are much more affordable and convenient, and they also save accommodation expenses. The night train have  Couchette (Hard Sleeper) and Sleeper (Soft Sleeper). Some night trains also have seat tickets without a bed, but they are not recommended. Both soft and hard sleepers are safe in locked compartments.

Rooms Type

6-person Hard Sleeper (Couchette)

6-person Hard Sleeper(Couchette)

Six basic beds are divided into upper bed, middle bed and lower bed. There are basic mattresses, blankets and pillows available. The 6-person box is gender-neutral. Nowadays, such rooms are becoming less and less common, and will gradually be replaced by more modern and comfortable hard sleepers.

4-person Comfort Hard Sleeper(Couchette)

The 4-person comfort hard sleeper room is air-conditioned and has 8 to 9 four-person private rooms in each compartment, which are divided into upper bed and lower bed. Each bed has a mattress, blanket and pillow. There will be one staff for every two compartments. A hard sleeper room for 4 people is an affordable option, especially for family travellers. The 4-person hard sleeper is gender-differentiated and is divided into a 4-person room (mixed), a 4-person room(female), and a 4-person room(male).

1/2/3-person soft sleeper room(Sleeper)

2-person Soft Sleeper Room

Soft sleeper room after the beds are folded

Each car has 12 comfortable rooms, one for Singolo, two for Doppio, and three for Compartento 3 Letti. Each room has a basin and comfortable beds, which can also be folded into a closed small room including a sofa and coffee table. There are attendants in each compartment, which can provide drinks, snacks and a light breakfast. Compared to hard sleepers, soft sleepers are a more comfortable option. A ticket for each bed (Berth), if you want to own a private room, you only need to buy all the beds. If you do not want to buy all the beds in the box, the soft sleeper is divided by gender. For example, if you want to buy a private 2-person room, you can buy a “Posto Doppio – Intero”. If you are a lone ranger and want to buy a bed for a 2-person room, you will need to choose “Posto Doppio – Donna” or “Posto Doppio – Uomo”.

1/2-person Hard Sleeper

On some routes, there will be a hard sleeper with a narrow box. There will be one or two folding beds in each box. They are called 1 bed hard bed (Posto Speciale) or 2 bed hard bed (Compartimento 2 Letti). Similarly, it is divided into male, female or all-inclusive cars.

1/2-person Luxury Soft Sleeper

It has gradually disappeared in the routes in Italy, except for the Rome-Sicily night train. There will be a private shower and toilet inside the room, similar to an ensuite. There are not many rooms in each compartment. If you find a ticket for that, you should buy it immediately, as it is highly recommended.

City Night Train (CNL)

DB Double-decker Sleeper train

Florence to Munich City Night Train, 2-person Soft Sleeper Room

The City Night Train of German Railway is very famous. The train from Munich, in addition to arriving in Rome and Venice, has also operated a new route to Milan. The interior design of the train is modern. The first-class sleeper compartment has a separate shower and toilet, while the non-overnight trains has a second-class low-cost seat. With the Eurrail Pass, you can pay for the difference to book a sleeper, which is expensive.

Famous Night Train Routes：

• Venice – Milan – Paris
• Milan – Munich

Ticket

Point-to-point ticket

3-person test ticket from Roma Termini to Milan Central Station

The Italian National Railway’s point-to-point ticket is an electronic ticket, an A4 pdf, which needs to be printed. If you take the Freece train, your ticket will be checked on the train. If you are taking an IC, RV, etc., you need to validate the ticket at the station yourself.

Ticket Discount

Italian Railways uses a floating fare system and basically has three discounts. Tickets can usually be purchased six months in advance, the sooner the cheaper. How big is the difference? Take Rome to Milan as an example. The Red Freece train has a full price of 89 Euros, and the limited time discounted ticket has a minimum price of 19.9 Euros, saving 70 Euros! So try to book a discounted ticket as early as possible.

Ticket booking can go to the website of g2Rail

From Milan to Rome, you will find a variety of discounts and a variety of seats.

Full fare ticket(Base)

• No need to change the ticket. Even if you have already booked a seat for a train, you can still board the train on the same line within an hour before and after the car, but you need to pay a fee of 8 euros.
• Refund fee is 3 Euros 24 hours before departure, with the face value is 20% as the refund fee.

Discounted ticket(Economy)

• Can be changed once before departure, the handling fee is 3 euros
• The ticket cannot be refunded or changed to other trains after it is sold.
• Tickets need to be purchased in advance, and the fare starts from 9 Euros and 19 Euros depending on the length of the line.

Limited time discounted ticket(Super Economy)

• Unable to change or refund the ticket
• The ticket needs to be purchased in advance, and the fare starts from 9 Euros and 19 Euros depending on the distance of the journey.

Group ticket(Mini Group)

• Unable to change or refund the ticket
• The ticket needs to be purchased in advance

Reserve Seat

The purchase of the Freece series and the IC train ticket offer free seat reservations. For the RV, etc., there is no need to reserve a seat. Passengers using Eurail pass need to reserve a seat at the station for 10 Euros per trip, so the pass is often not a competitive option in Italy.

Italo(NTV)

Since April 2012, Italy has a private train company (Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori, NTV). Also known as Italo. Italo only has high-speed trains. The first route is Milan-Bologna-Florence-Rome-Napoli. Italo also has coach service and currently covers more than 30 major cities and regions in Italy.

Train Model

Italo has two train model AGV575 and Italo EVO.

AGV575

Based on the technology of the latest generation of ultra-high-speed AGV Alstom trains, the drive system is distributed under the entire train, rather than on a dedicated locomotive of the train. This innovative concept makes it possible to eliminate locomotives and take advantage of the space available to accommodate more passengers (20% increase in airborne capacity). Its articulated train set structure has distributed power, eliminates most of the vibration and noise generated by on-board motion, absorbs motion between vehicles, optimizes the aerodynamics of the train, these ensure optimum safety and saves 15% maintenance fee.
All in all, this innovative technical solution combines with composite materials and, by improving the efficiency of the traction system, it can reduce the quality of the Italo train by 70 tons lighter than its competitors.
Therefore, from an environmental point of view, Italo has particularly good performance and saves 15% in energy consumption. In more detail, the main advantages of the new Italo train cover all aspects of performance: power/weight, car space and comfort, power consumption, safety and maintenance.

Italo AGV575

Italo EVO

Ruby red and our unique golden hare, the Italo EVO was launched in 2016. It is the evolution of the Pendolino series and is the benchmark for high performance and reliability as well as elegance. Its futuristic front end is designed to provide driver with anti-collision protection and improved aerodynamic performance in the event of a collision. Another feature of the Italo EVO is its drive system, which also allows the AGV 575 to set the new wheeled railway world speed record to 574.8 km/h on April 3, 2007.
Twenty-two new Italo EVO trains will increase the size of the Italo fleet, from 25 to 47. The first ItaloEVO will be operational in December 2017 and will be perfectly integrated with the 25 AGVs currently in service. Italo EVO trains will be assembled in Alstom, Italy, Savigliano (near Cuneo), Sesto San Giovanni (near Milan), and Bologna and Nola warehouses (near Naples) will be repaired 30 Year because it has been done for Italo’s AGV train.
Due to its high use of recyclable materials, the train is environmentally friendly and is designed to ensure reduced CO2 emissions. Its distributed drive system increases efficiency and generates energy when braking. With a top speed of 250 km/h and a length of 187 m, these trains consist of 7 vehicles and can accommodate approximately 480 passengers. The train is fully compliant with the latest 2014 TSI [1] regulations established by the European Union.
For Italo, presenting these new trains for the present and the future is a great achievement. In fact, thanks to the 12 new trains, the company will expand its network, increase the frequency of service, and always provide the best travel solution for passengers.
Italo’s EVO is part of the Alstom Avelia range of high-speed and ultra-high-speed trains. Based on the current four flagship products – Pendolino, Euroduplex, Liberty and AGV – the Avelia series represents 35 years of expertise and provide more than 1,050 train services worldwide.

Italo EVO

Italo Route Map

Class

Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori Time Schedule, Price,Class and Remaining Seats in g2Rail website

Italo has 4 classes

• Club/Club Room (Each train has two rooms, No. 1 and No. 2). Club class has tilting leather chairs and each seat has a 9″ display. Club class is at the front and last compartments. Clubclass will have full-time attendants standby, free Wifi, and socket at each seat. If you pay, you can even reserve lunch or dinner and enjoy it in your seat.。
• Prima. The leather chair can be tilted, with three seats in each row, two seats on both sides of the walkway, and one on the other side. There are free alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks, snacks, free Wifi, and socket at each seat. If you pay, you can also reserve lunch and dinner and enjoy it in your seat.
• Comfort. The seats and seat arrangement are the same as for the club class, but there is no service. There is free Wifi, socket, small tables. Snacks and coffee are available from the vending machine.
• Smart. The most affordable option with a tilting leather chair.  Four seats per row (2+2). Free Wifi, power outlets, small tables, and vending machines.

Italo Club class

Italo Club Room(Club Sallotto)

Italo Prima class

Italo Comfort class

Italo Smart class

Ticket

Point-to-Point ticket

Italo electronic tickets

Italo’s point-to-point tickets are electronic tickets (pdf) that need to be printed on A4 paper.

Ticket Discount

Italian Railways uses a floating fare system and basically has three discounts. Tickets can usually be purchased six months in advance, the sooner the cheaper. How big is the difference? Take Rome to Milan as an example. The Red Freece train has a full price of 89 Euros, and the limited time discounted ticket has a minimum price of 19.9 Euros, saving 70 Euros! So try to book a discounted ticket as early as possible.

Ticket booking can go to the website of g2Rail

Full Fare Ticket (Flex)

• The refund fee is 3 Euros, plus a 35% face value of the ticket
• Need to purchase tickets in advance

Saver Ticket(Economy)

• Cannot refund the ticket
• Within 2 hours after the change is allowed, the refund fee is 3 Euros, plus a 35% face value of the ticket

Super Saver Ticket (Low Cost)

• Cannot refund the ticket
• Within 2 hours after the change is allowed, the refund fee is 3 Euros, plus a 35% face value of the ticket

Family Ticket (Family)

• Cannot refund or change the ticket
• Need to purchase tickets in advance

Reserve Seats

Italo offers free seat reservation

Stations and Boarding

Stations

There are many train stations in big cities in Italy. For example, there are dozens of stations in Rome, such as Roma Termini, Roma Tiburtina, and Fiera di Roma. Rome Fiumic “Fiumicino Aeroporto” and so on. Each city has one to two main train stations.

 Roma Termini Station Exterior

 Roma Termini Station Departure 

Trenitalia Online Live Departure Boards

From G2rail stations site, you can check out latest departure, delay, cancellation, platform change information, such as below is Departure information of Milano Centrale station

English	Italian	Main Station	Abbreviation of Station	Description
Roma	Roma	Roma Termini, Roma Tiburtina	ROMA TE	Roma Termini is main station
Milan	Milano	Milano Centrale	MI C.LE
Venice	Venezia	Venezia S. Lucia, Venezia Mestre	VE. S.L.,MESTRE	Venezia S. Lucia located on Venice island, Venezia Mestre located outside Venice Island
Florence	Firenze	Firenze S. M. Novella	Fl.SMN
Naples	Napoli	Napoli Centrale	NA C.LE
Turin	Torino	Torino Porta Nuova、Torino Porta Susa	Torino.P.N.	Torino Porta Susa is main station
La Spezia	La Spezia	La Spezia Centrale	SPEZIA	A must-go station to Cinque Terre
Verona	Verona	Verona Porta Nuova
Genoa	Genova	Genova Piazza Principe ,Genova Brignole	GE P.P.,GE BRIG	Genova Piazza Principe is main station
Bologna	Bologna	Bologna Centrale
Pisa	Pisa	Pisa Centrale	PISA C.

• Milano Centrale
• Milano Porta Garibaldi
• Brescia
• Bolzano Bozen
• Venezia Mestre
• Venezia S. Lucia
• Padova
• Verona Porta Nuova
• Firenze Santa Maria Novella, SMN
• Pisa Centrale
• Firenze Campo di Marte
• Ancona Stazione
• Pescara Centrale
• Torino Porta Nuova
• Torino Porta Susa
• Roma Tiburtina
• Roma Termini
• Salerno
• Foggia
• Penango
• Milano Rogoredo
• Domodossola
• Chiasso
• Como S. Giovanni
• Tirano
• Bergamo
• Crema
• Milano Centrale
• Desenzano del Garda-Sirmione
• Verona Porta Nuova
• Padova
• Pianzano
• Treviso Centrale
• Mogliano Veneto
• Udine
• Ventimiglia
• Genova Piazza Principe
• Monterosso
• Manarola
• Riomaggiore
• Savona
• Modena
• Bologna Centrale
• Rimini
• Bologna Mazzini
• Ferrara
• La Spezia Centrale
• Lucca
• Firenze Santa Maria Novella, SMN
• Pisa Centrale
• Siena
• Firenze Campo di Marte
• Arezzo
• Assisi
• Civitanova Marche-Montegranaro
• Fiumicino Aeroporto (Roma)
• Tivoli
• Napoli Centrale
• Casacalenda-Guardialfiera
• Pompei
• Salerno
• Bari Centrale
• Palermo Centrale
• Cefalu
• Agrigento Centrale
• Messina Centrale
• Taormina-Giardini
• Catania Centrale
• Siracusa
• Malpensa Aeroporto

Station Facilities

 Roma Termini Station Interior

Lavatory

In large stations such as Venice, automatic coin-operated toilets are generally used. After the gates of the door are filled with coins, the gates will open. Please note that such gates offer no change, so the change must be prepared. Some stations will have cashier, the toilet will cost 1 Euro,  in some smaller stations will be free, but usually only one toilet is open and not clean (in fact, those charges are dirty), so it is recommended to go to the toilets in the train if you are not in a hurry.

Newsstand

Gentally, there are newsstands in the halls of the railway stations. You can buy maps, travel guides, postcards, etc., and you can buy bus tickets for your city. If you need to take the bus after leaving the station, remember go to the newsstand first. Because it is usually more expensive to buy a ticket after getting on the bus. And the ticket vending machine on the bus does not change.

Dining

There are a lot of restaurants and supermarkets in large railway stations such as Milan, Florence, Rome, etc. If you think the price is unaffordable, you can find fast food restaurants such as McDonald’s in these stations. There are some sandwich shops in small stations, and vending machines can also be found at stations.

Luggage Storage

Most train stations have luggage storage services, and there are luggage storage offices in Rome, Milan, Venice, Florence, Bologna, Verona, Turin and the main train station in Naples, usually open from 6am to midnight, depend on the opening hour of each train station. The luggage need to register your passport information after passing the security check. The bill will be paid when the luggage is withdrawn. The luggage will be charged 5 euros for the first five hours, and then 6 to 12 hours. An extra charge of 0.7 euros per hour, an additional 0.3 euros per hour for more than 12 hours, and a maximum of 5 days for luggage; ordinary stations generally use automatic storage boxes, but it may be more difficult to store if it is extra large. It should be noted that there are many small stations with no luggage storage! For example, Lucca (visitor information center can offer luggage storage service), Brescia, other stations in Florence, etc., Backpackers travelling through some small cities may be more difficult.

Reminders

1. Information or Info written in the train stations generally refers to the train station’s information desk, not the tourist information center.
2. Because of the design and grade of the train, the service facilities of the train will be different. New trains will have sockets, wireless networks and folding tables. Old trains may not be opened even for air conditioners. For those who are pay attention to comfort, please purchase high-speed trains.
3. Different train rack are set in different positions. If the seat is reserved and the baggage cannot be placed within your field of vision, you are recommended to bring a ring lock or chain. The lock can placed between the luggage and the railing of the luggage rack (although most of the trains are safe, but still to give you peace of mind).

On Platforms

Milan Central Railway Station Departure Display Screen

Upon arrival at the station, you should find a large display showing all the train schedule. If you cannot see your train on the screen, please don’t panic. If you arrive the station too early,  as only the latest departures will be listed in the display. It is also possible that you see Arrival (Arrivi) instead of Departure(Partenze). The easiest way to search for your train is by looking for train number and departure time. The train number can be found in the ticket followed by the word “TRENO”. Please remember: trains are listed by their final destination, and usually your destination is not the last one, so if you look up and find that your destination is not shown on the display, please don’t panic, just double check your train number.

In Italian, these platforms are called binari (the platform number is displayed in the bin column). In some small stations where the train passes the station, you must use the sottopassagio or subway to reach the platform. In some large stations like Milan Central Station, the train enters the stations instead of passing, you will see the train directly, and the signs on each platform show the next train and its departure time.

 

Validation of Tickets

Ticket Validation Machine

Validation of ticket

Before you get on the train, you must validate the ticket by these Validation Machines! If your ticket did not show a specific train number, date and time, or an RV or R regional train, or a ticket from a private rail company, you have to find a green and white machine before boarding the train (or In some cases an old-style yellow machine), put your ticket in the slot, the arrow points inward, and then push until you hear the sound of . Then the time and date of your train would be printed on your ticket and it is valid for the trip now. If you do not validate your ticket, you will be severely fined. The ticket is valid for regional train tickets or any ticket without a specific date, time and seat number.

If you have an e-ticket or PDF, or a printed ticket with a QR code, you don’t need to verify it , just show it to the conductor on the train.

Boarding

If the train did not allow reservation of seats, you can choose vacant seats you like on the train. Typically, there is a luggage shelf above the seat, or a luggage shelf near the end of each train can hold larger baggage. Please note that you will not find a porter at the station or wait for your baggage at the platform. You have to put your luggage on the train by yourself.

Arrival

Train station is a bustling place, especially in big cities. Be careful with your luggage and wallet. Once you get off the train or taking any vehicles, remember don’t let anyone help you with your luggage. If you are looking for a taxi, please go to the taxi stand or bus stop outside the train station. In a city with a subway system (metro), there is usually a subway station in the train station.

Transfer

If you need to transfer, it is very likely that you have more than one ticket. In fact, changing the train is not as difficult as you think – you only need to be prompt (if the interval is small) and follow the simple steps below:

• Get off the train and find the display screen to check the next departure. Each platform and underground have smaller displays, while the ticket office and waiting room have larger displays.
• Your ticket contains a lot of information about your trip, but to find your next train quickly on the display, you only need to find 3 numbers: the train number (under “treno” on your ticket), the departure station (the first number on the right side of the display) and the departure time (the “ora” on your ticket)
• After arriving at departure platform, you have to check the display above the platform or simply ask the staff or other passengers to confirm whether the next train is docked.
• You must validate your ticket when you take Trenitalia Regional Train (RV, R), otherwise find your seat number (posto) and wagon (carrozza) on the ticket and then get on the train.

Sightseeing Train

Centovalli Railway

This 52 km railway runs from Locarno, Switzerland, to Domodossola, Italy. Passing through Centovalli, the most beautiful landscape in the world. There are spectacular waterfalls, beautiful vineyards and picturesque country towns in the canyon. The 2-hour journey will definitely make you unforgettable. You can also get off the train and explore the valley in the middle of the railway. Eurail Pass can be used in this railway.

Domodossola is located on the northern border of Italy. The nearest big city is Milan, with intercity trains and regional trains available.

Search Result from Milan to Domodossola in g2Rail

International Routes

Austria – Italy Europe Night Train（ÖBB EuroNight，EN）

The Europe night train connecting Austria and Italy is operated by the Austrian Railway Company (ÖBB) While Eurail Pass is valid for the second-class seat, but requires reservations. The night train operates three lines per day:

• • Vienna-Venice Express arrives in Venice via Salzburg, Udine
  • Allegro Tosca from Vienna and arrives in Rome via Florence
  • The third line arrived in Milan via Vienna. In addition, from March to September each year, there is a line from Vienna to Livorno

Germany – Austria Intercity Train（DB-ÖBB EuroCity，EC）

This route operated by Deutsche Bahn (DB) and the Austrian Railway (ÖBB)  from Munich via Kufstein, Innsbruck to Bolzano, Italy.  some trains continue to Bologna and Venice. Part of the train requires reservations for seats, 7 euros for second-class seats and 11 euros for first-class seats. The city night train of the German Railways (DB) is very famous. The train from Munich, not only to Rome and Venice, there is a new route to Milan. The interior design of the train is very advanced. The first-class sleeper compartment has a separate shower and toilet, while the non-overnight section has a second-class low-cost seat.

Venice to Munich Night Train time schedule and price

France – Italy Intercity Train (Thello)

The Italian National Railway (Trenitalia) and the French National Railway (SNCF) established the Thello Railway Company in 2011, mainly operates international routes between Italy and France, the most popular routes include Paris-Venice (via Milan) and Marseille- Milan.

Thello is a railway company co-operated by France and Italian railways, mainly serving French and Italian direct cross-border trains. No Ticket for non cross border section.

Thello Night Train from Paris to Milan

Class

• First
• Second

Beds

• 1-3 person soft sleeper
• 4 person hard sleeper
• 6 person hard sleeper

The multi-person room is divided into the following and is similar to Trenitalia.

• Male Private Room(Homme/Uomo/Man)
• Female Private Room(femme/donna/woman)
• Mixed Private Room (Mixte/Misto/Mixed)
• Private Room(Entier/Intero/Whole)，can only be purchased together with all the beds of the entire room

Main Routes

• Venice-Milan-Paris
• Venice-Milan-Nice-Lyon
• Milan-Marseille

Where you do not need a train?

Although trains are the best way for tourists to travel around the country, there are some famous destinations that are easier to reach by different means of transportation. The following is a list:

• Amalfi Coast: Sorrento is the only city on the Amalfi Coast by train. You need to get off at Naples (Trenitalia or Italo) and take the local train – but remember, you can only buy the tickets locally. After entering Sorrento, the best way to get to other cities on the Amalfi Coast is to book a private transfer.
• Matera: Both Trenitalia and Italo cannot arrive Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The nearest city is Bari in Puglia. Once you arrive there, you will need to leave the train station and enter the next small station called “Ferrovie Appulo Lucane” (private and local rail service) on the left. Here you will find many trains to Matera. On weekends, you may need to take a bus instead of a train. The trickiest part is that the correct bus stop is not on the square outside the station, but on the road named Via Capruzzi behind the station.
• Sicily: The trains in Sicily are slower and less frequent than those in other parts of Italy. In addition, the lack of a bridge connecting the island to the Italian peninsula makes the transit of “Stretto” very slow. If you find yourself in Rome or northern Italy and want to go to Sicily, we strongly recommend that you land on one of the three Sicily airports (Catania is the main hub). Another useful tip, Sicily is such a beautiful and cheap destination, renting a car around is probably the best option to enjoy the true spirit of the island.
• Sardinia: This remote island can only be reached by plane or boat. So, our advice is to rent a car, just like Sicily, you then can spend all your time to enjoy the beauty of the area!

Which destinations can only be reached by trains?

Some popular destinations, especially for those far from major cities and airports, can only be reached by Italian trains (or rental cars). This is a short list:

• Cinque Terre：Trenitalia can arrive Cinque Terre directly. Most passengers will take the train from Milan ,Pisa or La Spezia
• Trentino Alto Adige：There is no airport in this mountainous area. You need to get off at Verona ( can take a look of its fantastic city centre) and take the Trenitalia Regionale Train (Brennero or Bolzano direction).
• Salento：Many Italians say the best beaches are in Salento (south of Apulia). There has no airport and trains or cars are the only choice.
• Perugia：Located in the middle of the peninsula, Perugia is the capital of the Umbria region. This is probably the trickest part, no airport, and no direct train connections. Depending on where you are from, you may need to take more than one train to reach Umbria. But once you get there, you will soon notice that this journey is worth!

Is the Italian Pass worth buying?

The pass is suitable for tourists who have a flexible travel plan and do not want to wait for the discounted ticket in advance. If you have already made a full plan, it is recommended to refer to the ticket price before deciding whether to purchase the pass. Taking the youth ticket as an example, the average daily price of the 3-day ticket is 48 euros, and the average daily price of the 10-day ticket is 26.3 euros. The average daily price of the pass is within this range.

Take the high-speed train to Italy’s main cities, the second-class ticket from Milan to Venice is 37.5 euros, the second-class ticket from Venice to Florence is 45 euros, the second-class ticket from Florence to Rome For 43 euros, if the travel time in Italy is not long, the basic fare of the main routes is lower than the daily price of 48 euros, and the use of pass for each high-speed train trip,  requires a seat reservation fee of 10 euros.  Considering that if you can buy a discount ticket of 19 euros and 29 euros in advance, the pass will not be so cost-effective.

In general, the longer the travel time, the more cost-effective it is to use the pass, but at the same time, the distance must be considered. For example, a regional train with a 30-minute drive in some areas, the ticket is only about 4 euros, although there is no need to pay the booking fee, but if It would be too wasteful to use a travel day. It is recommended that long-distance journey can buy the pass, and short-distance journey can just buy a ticket, as long as that all discount tickets are sold out.

Italian railway common vocabulary

English	Italian
Hard Sleeper	Couchette
Soft Sleeper	Sleeper
Mixed	Mista
Male	Uomo
Female	Donna
Entire	Intero	All beds in entire room
Train	Treno
Railway	Ferrovia
Ticket Office	Biglietto
Price List	Tarrife
From	Della
To	Alle
Destination	Destinazione
Time	Orario	(Ora)
Platform	Binario	(Bin)
Toilet	Toilette
Push	Spingere
Pull	Tirare
Entrance	Ingresso
Exit	Uscita
Class	classe
Compartment	Carrello
Seat	posto a sedere

Railway guides all over the world

• Ultimate Guide To Germany Railway
• Italy Railway Ultimate Guide
• Austria Railway Ultimate Guide
• Swiss Railway Ultimate Guide
• British Railway Ultimate Guide

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