The railway connection on the Apennine Peninsula is well developed: the railway network covers all key cities, and trains in Italy run on schedule, delays and delays are extremely rare. It should be noted that when planning a trip between the main cities of mainland Italy, most tourists prefer to travel by train: it is often more convenient and profitable.
There are several types of domestic trains running along Italy's railways, as well as Thello international trains.
Types of trains
Frecciarossa - The fastest trains in Italy, connecting the major cities of the country: Rome, Florence, Milan, Turin, Bologna and Naples. These are high-comfort trains moving at an average speed of 300 km per hour and not making any stops (or just the minimum) along the route.
Frecciarossa - Superior Train
The trains Frecciargento ply both on high-speed and on ordinary roads at speeds up to 250 km per hour. They connect the capital of Italy with Verona, Venice, Brescia, Naples, Lecce, Bari, Reggio Calabria.
Domestic trains Frecciabianca connect large and small cities, between which not high-speed, but ordinary railways are laid. The routes of these trains cover the coasts of the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian seas.
Regionale - one- and two-story trains, which are convenient to travel on short routes within the same province.
Night- comfortable night trains for moving over long distances. A trip on such a train can significantly save time and money, which otherwise would be spent on overnight stays in hotels.
Frecciabianca trains run between cities in Italy
Train tickets in Italy
BlogoItaliano has already dedicated a separate article to the purchase of tickets on Italian railways, so now we will not repeat it.
We add only that, in addition to the tickets themselves, those travelers who plan active travel around the country with numerous transfers can also take a closer look at the possibility of buying train tickets. In some cases, this may turn out to be more profitable than buying one-time tickets.
Tariffs
If you buy tickets on intercity lines through the Omio website, you will surely notice that the final price of a ticket very much depends on the chosen fare. Therefore, we consider the most popular tariffs in more detail.
Electric train Regionale - runs within the same province
Base fare (Base) does not provide any discounts, but allows you to exchange a ticket before departure an unlimited number of times without penalty.
The Economi tariff is valid for all trains and wagons of the 1st and 2nd class and allows you to purchase tickets at a significant discount. Such tickets are not subject to exchange and return.
Tickets for the Super economi fare are quite difficult to catch, but if you're lucky, you can get the maximum discount possible. The disadvantage of such a ticket is the inability to return or exchange.
There is also a Family rate for families, where there is at least one child under 12 years old, as well as a Group rate for tourist groups from 10 people.
Useful articles:
- Map of Italy Railways and Train Routes
- Train timetables in Italy and buying tickets
- Italian Railways: Things to Know When Going on a Trip