Palatino train route?
Jan 26th, 2005, 12:24 AM
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Palatino train route?
Hi! I've booked an excelsior cabin on the Artesia night train from Paris to Rome in May 05. I know it leaves Paris Bercy at 19:09, Dijon at 21:52... and then apparently arrives in Piacenza at 04:58am, and then Parma, Bologna, Firenze and finally Rome at 10:06am, BUT - which route does the train go between Dijon and Piacenza?? I've searched the web and some say Lyon, Modane, Turin... one said Domodossola and Milan.... Someone else said all Artesia's go through Swtizerland. Is anyone able to tell me which route the night train takes please?
Jan 26th, 2005, 12:41 AM
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If you are speaking of EuroNight (EN) #227 it does, in fact, go through Domodossola and then Milan (Lambrate) which means it goes through Switzerland (most likely through Geneva and Brig/Simplon Tunnel) and not through Modane/Turin.
You can check out the route yourself using the GermanRail website. I'll give you the link in a subsequent post.
After you input your starting and endpoints and the appropriate date, click on the appropriate selection (the one with no changes) and then click on "details for selection" and also "intermediate stops"
You can check out the route yourself using the GermanRail website. I'll give you the link in a subsequent post.
After you input your starting and endpoints and the appropriate date, click on the appropriate selection (the one with no changes) and then click on "details for selection" and also "intermediate stops"
Jan 26th, 2005, 12:42 AM
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Jan 26th, 2005, 01:02 AM
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At one time, the 'Palatino' used to go via Modane, passing directly from France to Italy, but it now goes via Switzerland. One practical consequence of this is you have to leave your passport with the sleeping car attendant in case the Swiss police want to check it at the borders; this would not be necessary if the train passed from France directly into Italy where there are no passport controls under the Schengen agreement.
Jan 26th, 2005, 09:29 PM
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Thanks for the information, guys. I'm thrilled to learn I'll be going through Switzerland - great rail, I hear - but being the overnight train, I don't suppose I'll actually see much in the dark. Still, it'll be my first time on a European train, so I will no doubt sit up as late as possible with the light out straining to see what ever scenery I can see. 
And, thanks to reading other messages in the forum, I now know not to waste money on the over-priced average meals in the train's Dining Car.
And, thanks to reading other messages in the forum, I now know not to waste money on the over-priced average meals in the train's Dining Car.
Jan 27th, 2005, 01:14 AM
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Yes, the meals in the restaurant car are perhaps over-priced and average, but so are many of the meals I have in other restaurants. I often eat in restaurants that happen to be conveniently nearby or that happen to have an empty table, rather than hunting around for one that might be better or cheaper. I've had perfectly acceptable meals on the Artesia night trains. It is a proper dining car with linen tablecloths and the meal is served as in a restaurant, and not like an airline meal. Eating dinner on the train allows you to get by with a snack lunch, which may give more time for sightseeing in Paris.
Jan 27th, 2005, 09:22 AM
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The extent of my sight-seeing in paris this time around will be walking from Gare du Nord over to Gare de Lyon and then on to Gare de Bercy. I'm taking the 12.09pm Eurostar from London, arriving in Paris at 4pm, and am going First Class so will be getting (what i hope is) a good lunch on the train. 
