Rome tram update...
Jun 10th, 2013, 07:06 AM
#1
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Rome tram update...
Just wanted to let you all know that the #8 tram through Trastevere now goes all the way to Piazza Navona. You no longer have to get off at the Largo Argentina.
(As a matter of fact, I have been "in the middle" twice this week and chose to walk down to the Piazza, as I was fairly well-assured of getting a seat if I pick the tram up at it's starting point, as opposed to hardly ever being able to get a seat when people pile on at the Argentina stop!)
PS Also discovered fabulous place for lunch today, at the SW corner of the Argentina archeological site- The Ducati Caffe. (Yes, the motorcycle folks.) The food was unbelievably affordable and quite delicious. The zabaglione was incredible, and quite enough for 2 to share!
(As a matter of fact, I have been "in the middle" twice this week and chose to walk down to the Piazza, as I was fairly well-assured of getting a seat if I pick the tram up at it's starting point, as opposed to hardly ever being able to get a seat when people pile on at the Argentina stop!)
PS Also discovered fabulous place for lunch today, at the SW corner of the Argentina archeological site- The Ducati Caffe. (Yes, the motorcycle folks.) The food was unbelievably affordable and quite delicious. The zabaglione was incredible, and quite enough for 2 to share!
Jun 10th, 2013, 07:14 AM
#2
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Heading to Rome at the end of this week and are not familiar with the tram. Usually walk everywhere and have once taken the subway and once the bus. Can you tell me about the tram? Where do you pick it up and is it a good way to avoid walking EVERYWHERE as is my husband's way of doing things? Thx!
Jun 10th, 2013, 08:07 AM
#3
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Some suggestions for you...
- the tram network (yet to be updated for the extra few stops now made by the 8, beyond Argentina.... and with the western end of route 3 still served by buses numbered as 3B)
http://www.atac.roma.it/files/doc.asp?r=5
- a day's outing, using tram 3
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/riding_tram_3
- and the little electric buses that are our favourite means of transport when in no great hurry:
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/electric_buses
Whilst walking in Rome is always enjoyable, at 500 km2 the city's too big to cover entirely on foot?
Peter
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde
- the tram network (yet to be updated for the extra few stops now made by the 8, beyond Argentina.... and with the western end of route 3 still served by buses numbered as 3B)
http://www.atac.roma.it/files/doc.asp?r=5
- a day's outing, using tram 3
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/riding_tram_3
- and the little electric buses that are our favourite means of transport when in no great hurry:
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/electric_buses
Whilst walking in Rome is always enjoyable, at 500 km2 the city's too big to cover entirely on foot?
Peter
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde
Jun 10th, 2013, 08:26 AM
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Peter, it was not hot, but more lukewarm. Definitely freshly made. It included chunks of fresh strawberry, tiny chocolate chips and broken up pieces of a cinnamon biscotti. It was topped with a yummy cookie and tiny chiffonades of basil. Truly, it was killer. And huge! For only E5. I will order every time I go there, for sure!
rbn- Do yourself a BIG favor- stop in a Tobacchi shop and buy an E24 7-day (Biglietto settimanale CIS) transportation pass. You validate it only on first use, then it is good until midnight of the 7th day. You can use it to ride the Metro lines, buses, trams and even the local regional trains. (I have used mine extensively, including regional trains to St. Paul Outside the Wall and Ostia Antica.) The ATAC website has a great downloadable pdf map of all the bus routes in Rome. It includes the Metro stops. They also have great downloadable maps for the Metro systems.
Staying in Trastevere, right near the actual regional train station is great. I take the 3B bus from here to the Ostiense/Piramide station (about a 10-minute ride). The Ostiense station is regional trains. The Piramide is on the Metro B line. If you want to get somewhere on Metro A, you simply take B to Termini and change to Metro A line. It really could not be easier. You can catch a bus to almost anywhere if you have a map and your ticket.
Just know that you have to keep that ticket with you at all times, even if you don't have to validate but once. If you are asked for it by an inspector, you will need to present it. Additionally, you need it to get onto the Metro or trains. It really is easy to use the public trans system. I have been EVERYWHERE in Rome in the 3 weeks I've been here, thanks to public trans.
rbn- Do yourself a BIG favor- stop in a Tobacchi shop and buy an E24 7-day (Biglietto settimanale CIS) transportation pass. You validate it only on first use, then it is good until midnight of the 7th day. You can use it to ride the Metro lines, buses, trams and even the local regional trains. (I have used mine extensively, including regional trains to St. Paul Outside the Wall and Ostia Antica.) The ATAC website has a great downloadable pdf map of all the bus routes in Rome. It includes the Metro stops. They also have great downloadable maps for the Metro systems.
Staying in Trastevere, right near the actual regional train station is great. I take the 3B bus from here to the Ostiense/Piramide station (about a 10-minute ride). The Ostiense station is regional trains. The Piramide is on the Metro B line. If you want to get somewhere on Metro A, you simply take B to Termini and change to Metro A line. It really could not be easier. You can catch a bus to almost anywhere if you have a map and your ticket.
Just know that you have to keep that ticket with you at all times, even if you don't have to validate but once. If you are asked for it by an inspector, you will need to present it. Additionally, you need it to get onto the Metro or trains. It really is easy to use the public trans system. I have been EVERYWHERE in Rome in the 3 weeks I've been here, thanks to public trans.
Jun 10th, 2013, 08:56 AM
#7
>>>Just know that you have to keep that ticket with you at all times, even if you don't have to validate but once.<<<
With the 3 day transport for the Roma Pass, you are expected to scan every time you board transport. Is that not the case with a weekly pass?
With the 3 day transport for the Roma Pass, you are expected to scan every time you board transport. Is that not the case with a weekly pass?
Jun 10th, 2013, 02:08 PM
#8
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Yikes, I still find it all quite confusing. No wonder we all lose weight in Rome - we walk EVERYWHERE. But I am no spring chicken and it is not as appealing as it was when I was a spring chicken! Thanks for your help, though!
Jun 10th, 2013, 02:12 PM
#9
Wait, since when, sarge? We were just there 3 weeks ago (staying in Piazza Navona area), and to get from Trastevere to PN, we had to take #8 to Largo Argentina, then get the bus to PN. (Which we usually avoided doing by just walking to LA.)
Jun 10th, 2013, 02:25 PM
#10
thanks for the update, Sarge. I have always been in favour of using the public transport system in Rome since our first visit when we walked almost everywhere and got terrible attacks of what we called 'Roman foot"!
judicious use of the buses etc as described by Sarge and Peter allows one to see so much more, and in more comfort!
judicious use of the buses etc as described by Sarge and Peter allows one to see so much more, and in more comfort!
Jun 10th, 2013, 11:40 PM
#11
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It's very recent...
http://www.ilmessaggero.it/ROMA/CRON...e/288559.shtml
.... although the preparatory work took ages!
6,600,000 Euro, for 450 metres of extra trackway - ouch?
Peter
http://www.ilmessaggero.it/ROMA/CRON...e/288559.shtml
.... although the preparatory work took ages!
6,600,000 Euro, for 450 metres of extra trackway - ouch?
Peter
Jun 10th, 2013, 11:53 PM
#12
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Rbn- it really is easy. Start small if you must. But once you've got route maps, you should feel more comfortable. And ask questions if you're not sure.
Ky- I've been in Rome three weeks and bought three of those 7-day passes. The Tobacci shop guy told me only validate in first use. I verified that on ATAC website. I looked on the back of the ticket after i validated it, the machine placed an expiration date/time on my ticket!!! Very cool, because if you lose track of when you purchased it, it tells you on the back when it expires!
Also, I have purchased many Roma passes. I would have to look up on website, but we never validated on buses with it. We always happened to use it at a site first, and were told that that use then validated the card for its 3-day start.
Ky- I've been in Rome three weeks and bought three of those 7-day passes. The Tobacci shop guy told me only validate in first use. I verified that on ATAC website. I looked on the back of the ticket after i validated it, the machine placed an expiration date/time on my ticket!!! Very cool, because if you lose track of when you purchased it, it tells you on the back when it expires!
Also, I have purchased many Roma passes. I would have to look up on website, but we never validated on buses with it. We always happened to use it at a site first, and were told that that use then validated the card for its 3-day start.
Jun 11th, 2013, 07:39 AM
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Will do!
Rather than being thin cardboard, nowadays the one-card "RomaPass" is "smart" - with a chip embedded in it that's similar to those used on only the longer-duration ATAC passes:
http://www.atac.roma.it/files/doc.asp?r=1642
... except that it also contains museum and site data!
Peter
Rather than being thin cardboard, nowadays the one-card "RomaPass" is "smart" - with a chip embedded in it that's similar to those used on only the longer-duration ATAC passes:
http://www.atac.roma.it/files/doc.asp?r=1642
... except that it also contains museum and site data!
Peter
Jun 11th, 2013, 08:18 AM
#15
>>>Also, I have purchased many Roma passes. I would have to look up on website, but we never validated on buses with it.<<<
Yes, but you are supposed to as I think it's more of a tracking of how passes are used. Of course, when you enter the subway, it's scanned every time.
>>>>LucieV on Jun 10, 13 at 6:12pm
Wait, since when, sarge? We were just there 3 weeks ago (staying in Piazza Navona area), and to get from Trastevere to PN, we had to take #8 to Largo Argentina, then get the bus to PN. (Which we usually avoided doing by just walking to LA.)<<<<
Isn't the tram to Piazza Venezia, not Piazza Navona?
>>>Rather than being thin cardboard, nowadays the one-card "RomaPass" is "smart" - with a chip embedded in it that's similar to those used on only the longer-duration ATAC passes:<<<
Yes, I've had both. The old kind simply included a 3 day transport ticket just like the one you would buy without the Roma Pass.
Yes, but you are supposed to as I think it's more of a tracking of how passes are used. Of course, when you enter the subway, it's scanned every time.
>>>>LucieV on Jun 10, 13 at 6:12pm
Wait, since when, sarge? We were just there 3 weeks ago (staying in Piazza Navona area), and to get from Trastevere to PN, we had to take #8 to Largo Argentina, then get the bus to PN. (Which we usually avoided doing by just walking to LA.)<<<<
Isn't the tram to Piazza Venezia, not Piazza Navona?
>>>Rather than being thin cardboard, nowadays the one-card "RomaPass" is "smart" - with a chip embedded in it that's similar to those used on only the longer-duration ATAC passes:<<<
Yes, I've had both. The old kind simply included a 3 day transport ticket just like the one you would buy without the Roma Pass.
Jun 11th, 2013, 08:25 AM
#16
From the Roma Pass website:
Simply touch your card on the yellow reader to get through buses and metro trains. A green light indicates that the card was read correctly.
Under the Roma & Piu Pass, it says:
The Roma&Più Pass Transport is a ticket that needs to be validated on buses and metro turnstiles.
It's been two years since I purchased a Roma Pass (it was the single card type then). I'm sure somewhere in the info that came with it, you were told to scan on all transport. I doubt it would be enforced in anyway though as long as the pass hadn't expired.
Simply touch your card on the yellow reader to get through buses and metro trains. A green light indicates that the card was read correctly.
Under the Roma & Piu Pass, it says:
The Roma&Più Pass Transport is a ticket that needs to be validated on buses and metro turnstiles.
It's been two years since I purchased a Roma Pass (it was the single card type then). I'm sure somewhere in the info that came with it, you were told to scan on all transport. I doubt it would be enforced in anyway though as long as the pass hadn't expired.
Jun 12th, 2013, 09:35 AM
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Thanks for posting the news of the extension of Tram #8, even if it is to Piazza Venezia and not to Piazza Navona! I love that tram line, having stayed in Trastevere many times. Being able to go all the way to Piazza Venezia makes getting to the Capitoline Museums quicker than ever, and the walk to the Colosseum is quite short from there, too.
To readers who haven't taken one of the trams in Rome, one of the best features of the tram lines is that they run on fixed tracks so that traffic doesn't interfere with their speed. The #8 tram line is especially useful because it runs very frequently, at intervals of 5 to 10 minutes.
The #3 tram line, very handy to get to the Colosseum from the Ministry of Education stop on Viale Trastevere, no longer runs on a fixed track but it does run frequently. Buses now service that route, alongside the old tram lines.
Here's more information about the Rome tram system: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trams_in_Rome
To readers who haven't taken one of the trams in Rome, one of the best features of the tram lines is that they run on fixed tracks so that traffic doesn't interfere with their speed. The #8 tram line is especially useful because it runs very frequently, at intervals of 5 to 10 minutes.
The #3 tram line, very handy to get to the Colosseum from the Ministry of Education stop on Viale Trastevere, no longer runs on a fixed track but it does run frequently. Buses now service that route, alongside the old tram lines.
Here's more information about the Rome tram system: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trams_in_Rome
