Italy trains: one general one specific ?
 

Hello. I have never traveled second class on the Eurostar on Italian trains. Can someone please compare / contrast with first class? Are the seats assigned?

A more specific question that I have is on Termini train station. I am going to need to eat a meal there and am interested in recommendations on where some of the better food can be found. I know there is a McDonalds there. Anyone speak to any of the other places?

Are the seats assigned? yes

Tis should tell you everything you need to know:

http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/trains/index.htm

A more specific question that I have is on Termini train station. Anyone speak to any of the other places? Standard Italian coffee bars with panini and the like

The seats are assigned in first and second class. First class is just a wee bit roomier, but the real difference is the noise level. Most Italians don't spring for a first class ticket.

Fewer Italians = fewer non-stop cellphone conversations.

Where are you coming from that you have to eat a meal at Termini? How long is your train layover?

Thanks for the replies thus far.

We will be landing at FCO around 8:30, taking a hired car (six of us total) to Termini, and buying tickets on whatever the next Eurostar train is from Rome to Venice. We will have luggage, so venturing outside the train station doesn't seem like too good an option.

So this is breakfast you're eating?

Italians don't eat breakfast!

I'm afraid you're going to be stuck with train station panini and panini on board the train, too. Not very long ago, you could get a fresh cooked hot meal on long-distance Eurostars -- their quality is violently disputed by foodies -- but I think they stopped. But you might check.

You definitely want first class tickets for that long trip.

Any chance your group would spring for a night in Roma and head out the next day for Venezia?

Hi MD,

Our last visit, we were scheduled to arrive at FCO at 08:30. Due to various delays, we got to Rome TE at 11:30.

There is a very nice self-serve cafe at the terminal. I'm not sure how early it opens.

Won't they give you bkfst before you land?

((I))

There's an Autogrill on the upper level that has pasta, salads, etc.

Try this link for options:
http://www.grandistazioni.it/client_...e.php?id=10013

I second (or perhaps, third) that endorsement of the Autogrill that is in Termini...it is an excellent spot with very good food and not limited to "cookies" for breakfast. It also has a very good, clean washroom facility but do remember to take your receipt with you as you must prove you are a customer of the restaurant to use it.

I love Autogrill! You can buy some snacks to take on the train (wine for breakfast - afterall it's vacation and 5 o'clock somewhere). I would get food to go and picnic on the train. There should be a beverage/snack car and most times full dining car on the longer ES routes. See last picture below for pic of dining car.

The differences in 1st cl ES and 2nd cl ES:
1st cl has two seats on one side of the aisle (with two facing them divided by shared table) and one facing one on the other side of the aisle with shared table. See picture.
http://www.trenitalia.com/en/treni_s...i_a_bordo.html

2nd cl has two facing two with shared table on each side of aisle. See top right picture.
http://www.trenitalia.com/en/treni_s...ta/etr460.html

IMHO - 2nd cl ES is much more comfortable than coach airline seats.

I saw mdtravel's other posts on this subject, and it appears that some in his party are hoping to nap on the train, understandably so.

Under the circumstances, I think first class is warranted for less noise.

I know Autogrill is convenient, and use it myself, but let's raise expectations too high about their first meal in Italia!

>>not limited to "cookies" for breakfast<<

I realized one morning after I'd moved to Italy that probably one of the reasons I did was so I could eat cookies for breakfast. I sort of love Italians for that. It's fun to read the sides of their cookie boxes that spell out, with pictures, how 3 cookies plus a cup of hot milk is a nutritious meal.

Folks,
Thank you for all the answers, thoughts and input.

We will be arriving to Rome on a Thursday. I don't think we will buy our tickets ahead of time because I don't want to get burned if our flight is late or even cancelled.

What are my odds of being able to purchase 6 first class tickets from Rome to Venice, walk-up, for departure within two hours of when I go to buy them (will be in the morning)?

Would you put it at 0%, 50% or close to 100%?

Hi md,

If you look at the schedule at www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html
you will see that there are 10 trains between 10:50 and 16:50.

You will be able to get to Venice.

Enjoy your visit.

((I))

We need a date before we can give odds. lol

I've purchased walk-up tickets in high season (mid-June) at Termini for 6 people (Rome/Naples) and we left 10 minutes later.

FWIW - ES trains (1 hourly on this route)have between 140 and 200 1st class seats depending which style of ES train is used.

Are you using Rome Shuttle Limousine for transport from FCO to Termini? Their rate is cheaper than the cost of the train for 6 people and they seem to be cheaper than the other limo services.
http://www.romeshuttlelimousine.com/FiumicinoE.htm

If I'm not mistaken -- but I might be -- you can buy the tickets to Venezia in Fiumicino. But maybe not.

There are usually more first class tix available than other classes.

If you go the Slow Travel website, there is a thorough explanation of what happens if you are holding tickets but miss the train.

I would ask over there because they have regular posters who live in Roma, have taken the route more than once and some who are Trenitalia geeks.

I'm no expert but I'd say 100%, right? This is a common/popular route.

I would also advice getting 1st class because of coming off a LONG overnight plane flight & going directly onto a LONG train ride. If anyone's expecting to sleep, imo 1st class is your best hope.

I forgot you were taking a limo to Termini. Obviously better to just buy the tix there.

Thank you everyone. There is pretty much one train per hour, but there is a gap in the schedule where there is no ES train...only IC trains. That gap falls right where I could see us getting to Termini. I appreciate the suggestion on the SlowTrav post...I will do that or search over there.