Rail Travel in Italy

Below is a detailed map of the railways of Italy. You can zoom in by using the +/- buttons or by using the wheel on your mouse whilst hovering over the map.

This map has been extracted from the Railway Map of Europe with kind permission of the publishers.
You can purchase copies of the full map, as well as rail timetables, from The European Railway Timetable website

ITALY

Italy has a comprehensive rail network covering all regions of the country. There is a substantial high-speed network linking many towns and the major cities, which is slowly expanding. A substantial number of Intercity services also link towns and cities using the classic main lines. All regions provide a good service of Regional Semi-fast and local stopping services. Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna and Puglia also have their own networks of local lines. There are also some narrow-gauge lines in several parts of the country.

TRENITALIA – the state operator – (See link below)
They run:-

1. High speed trains called Frecciarosso(FR) and Frecciaargento (FA), have compulsory seat reservations using “global pricing” – busy services will cost a lot more than quiet services. Tickets purchased up to 2 months in advance are always cheaper. Bicycles cannot be conveyed on these trains. These are the most expensive and have 4 different fares on offer: Standard, Premium, Business and Executive .
2. Premium services using some classic lines are called Frecciabianca (FB), also with compulsory seat reservations using “global pricing” – busy services will cost a lot more than quiet services. Bicycles cannot be conveyed on these trains. These are cheaper than FR & FA trains with first and 2nd class fares. Tickets purchased up to 2 months in advance are always cheaper.
3. Inter City(IC) services making more stops than the Frecciabianca serve all the classic main lines. They also require compulsory seat reservations using “global pricing” – busy services will cost a lot more than quieter services. These are cheaper than FB trains with first and 2nd class fares. Bicycles cannot be conveyed on these trains. Tickets purchased up to 2 months in advance are always cheaper.
4. Fast Regional trains are called Regionale Veloce(RV) and sometimes run from one region to another, where there will be a “national tariff” based on kilometres travelled. RV trains limited to just one region will have the fares & frequencies set by the relevant region – some regions are cheaper than others. They have both first and 2nd class accommodation. Bicycles can be conveyed on these trains for a supplement.
5. Local trains are called Regionale(R) with fares & frequencies set by the region. Many have only standard class accommodation. Bicycles can be conveyed on these trains for a supplement.
6. Night trains are called InterCity Notte(ICN) and run daily services from Calabria, Puglia and Sicily in the south to major towns and cities in the north. They offer a range of global prices for a seat, a couchette or in a sleeping car.

Passengers with reduced mobility can use the Sala Blu network via their call centre or in person at offices in 330 stations and 14 major stations. Help can be booked up to 1 hour ahead for trains serving these 14 main stations, for the rest it is up to 12 hours in advance.
Tickets can be bought on-line, via their 24 hour call centre, from multi-lingual vending machines and ticket offices in most stations.

ITALO see: (See link below)
Italo – are an open access operator -they have a competing network of high speed trains also serving many towns and the major cities. Their fares tend to be a bit cheaper than Trenitalia, though their services are less frequent. They have 3 classes of travel – Smart – Prima and Club Executive and seat reservations are compulsory. Tickets can be bought on-line, from their call centre or from vending machines and ticket offices at all the stations they serve. Passengers with reduced mobility can book assistance via their call centre.

INTERNATIONAL CONNECTIONS:
Swiss Railways(SBB) run regular Eurocity services from Milan to Basel, Geneva and Zurich.
Austrian Railways(OBB) run 2 daily services from Venice to Vienna and one overnight service. They also run a daily service from Trieste to Vienna via Ljubliana and Maribor in Slovenia.
French Railways(SNCF) run several TGV services from Milan to Paris and Trenitalia have now launched a similar competing service.
German railways(DB) and Austrian Railways(OBB) jointly run a daily Eurocity service every 2 hours(5 times a day) between Verona and Munich. OBB also run 2 daily night trains – one from Milan & Rome to Munich and another from Venice to Munich.

CIRCUM VESUVIANA(CV)
A narrow- gauge network based in Naples with one line going along the coast to Sorrento, another going round Mount Vesuvius and another going inland to Nola and Baiano.

FERROVIE METRO CAMPANIA NORDEST (MCNE)
(See link below)
They run 2 suburban lines inland from Naples to Piedimonte and Benevento.

FERROVIE DEL GARGANO (FdG) (See link below)
A local railway linking Lucera & Foggia to Peschici on the Gargano peninsular.

FERROVIE DEL SUD EST(FSE) : (See link below)
A local narrow-gauge train network run by the Italian state linking small towns & villages with Bari, Taranto, Brindisi & Lecce.

FERROVIE APPULLO – LUCANE SRI(FAL): (See link below)
A local train network linking Potenza and Matera with Bari and also serving small towns & villages in between.

FERROVIE DELLA CALABRIA (FdC) : (See link below)
They run 2 local narrow gauge networks linking small towns and villages.
One links Cozenza with San Giovanni in Fiori and Catanzaro Lido, the other links Gioia Tauro with Palmi and Cinquefrondi.

FERROVIE NORD (FN):
They run a comprehensive network of all the urban, suburban and regional services suburban trains on all of the lines radiating ouwards from Milan up to a distance of about 50 miles.

FERROVIE GENOVA-CASELLA (FGC) : see link below
This is very scenic narrow-gauge line running inland from Genova and over the Ligurian Appenines.

FERROVIE EMILIA ROMAGNA (FER) : see link below
They run a network of local services on single track secondary lines linking Codigoro & Ferrara in the East with Reggio Emilia & Parma in the west. They also run 1 short branch south from Reggio Emilia and one other from Casalecchio near Bologna to Vignola.

TRASPORTO FERROVIARIO TOSCANA (TFT) : see link below
They run 2 local branch lines from Arezzo in Tuscany to Sinalunga and Stia.

TRASPORTO LOCALE Spa (SAD)/ VINSCHGAUBAHN : see link below.
They run a local train service in the Alto Adige (German-speaking) region from Merano to Mals.

FERROVIE UDINE CIVILE (FUC) : see link below
They run a local train service from Udine to Civdale but only at week-ends & national holidays.

SICILY

Most services are Regional and local services provided by Trenitalia. There are also direct long distance day and night services to/from the mainland using the train ferry between Messina and Villa San Giovanni. These direct services run from Palermo in the north and Syracuse & Catania in the south. There are both 2 daily Intercity services and 2 night trains – (ICN) one to/from Rome and one other to/from Milan.

FERROVIE CIRCUMETNEA ( FCE) : see link below
This is a circular railway which runs around the base of Mount Etna from Catania to Riposto.

SARDINIA

Trenitalia run a service of Regional trains on the main north/south line and from Cagliari to Carbonia and Iglesias in the south – all 2nd class only. Tickets can be bought on line or at stations. Reservations are not possible.
The Regional Government(ARST) run a network of:-

(A) Light rail/tram services in Cagliari and Sassari.
(B) Narrow-gauge local services between Alghero, Sassari, Nulvi & Sorso in the north , between Macomer and Nuoro in the centre and from Cagliari to Islili in the south . Tickets can be bought on line or at stations.
(C) Local bus services in Alghero, Carbonia, Iglesias, Macomer and Oristano .
Some local bus services require 48 hours notice for disabled access.
See link below.

NP September 2021