I was considering Ferry to Salerno and then Train - is this a good option and what are the timings like. I dont do well on windy roads but no trouble at sea

You are going the opposite way...if you are in Positano to Rome...you want to go to Naples and then Rome, not Salerno which is south of Rome. Positano to Sorrento or Naples then bus or train to Rome.....about 3-5 hours.

Mike

Late June is our time frame

I know it seems crazy but the timings were similar and I saw a post that said it was sometimes even quicker on another link

The Cooperativa Sant'Andrea ferry schedule from Positano to Salerno-Molo Concordia (April through October) may actually be more convenient than that of Metro del Mare from Positano to Naples (not yet published for 2011). The primary advantage of transiting through Naples is to take the superfast Frecciarossa AV train to Rome (70 minutes), but that advantage is somewhat reduced by the less convenient ferry/train connection in Naples (compared to Salerno-Molo Concordia). Molo Concordia in Salerno is only 400 meters from the train station (6 minutes on foot), compared to a much greater distance between Naples-Beverello Dock and the Naples train station (requiring a taxi or local bus). Hopefully, we will soon know whether the Metro del Mare hydrofoils will operate this year.

OPINION: If you find a good ferry-to-train connection in Salerno, that might be your best bet, rather than transiting through Naples.

www.coopsantandrea.it
www.ferroviedellostato.it
www.metrodelmare.net


Note that there is also a DIRECT Marozzi bus from Positano to Rome from June through September: departure from Positano at 16:10 and arrival at Roma Tiburtina at 21:00. No changes or connections. One-way fare is only 20.50 Euros (but travel time is nearly five hours). This service is particularly useful for physically challenged travellers, or those having a lot of heavy luggage (stow luggage in the underfloor compartment of the long-distance bus).

www.marozzivt.it

Thank you GAC great info

I'll just add that the port-to-train transfer in Naples is no small thing. We took a public bus but would absolutely opt for a taxi were I to do it again.

FWIW and by contrast, the transfer from Circumvesuviana train to intercity train in Naples couldn't be easier.

Train is booked to leave Salerno at 9 am as it is only 2 hours which I believe will rule out the ferries anyone know if they have reasonable priced water taxis\transfers from positano - I have a car quote of 120 euro but would prefer boat any day

Oh and I believe there is a cheap bus connection but it may also not run early in the day

You can expect the SITA bus to take about two hours to get from Positano to Salerno - plus however long you have to wait while changing in Amalfi, as there's not one that goes straight through!

Have a look here, but do recheck nearer the time...
http://www.sitabus.it/sitabus/campan...A/QUADROXV.pdf

That's about the same as if going via Sorrento to Naples - except with that you'd pick up the train further along its journey...

And the 09:02 from Salerno, for example, leaves Naples at 09:50, so you could set off a bit later - maybe half seven, rather than half six?

Peter

Depart Positano 7:10 SITA bus
Arrive Sorrento 8:10
Depart Sorrento 8:26 Circumvesuviana train
Arrive Napoli Centrale 9:15
(Onward train to Rome)

Double-check schedules prior to departure. Pay extra attention to Sunday schedules.

I believe that a private transfer from Positano to Sorrento by boat would be prohibitively expensive.

If your train is already booked out of Salerno at 9:02 a.m., you'll need to depart Positano at 6:00 a.m. by SITA bus, with arrival in Salerno at 8:15 a.m. (with a 10-minute connection in Amalfi). No 6:00 a.m. bus on Sunday, however.

Not a lot of great options, unfortunately ....

If you've booked tickets for the 09:02 from Salerno in late June, you've either done awfully well - or been deceived, as the 11th is the last day Trenitalia are selling them for...

But even if you had, there's no reason why you shouldn't still take the Sorrento route.

After next week's fare rises, the travel cost is going to be €4.00 if you go to Naples, as against €3.30 to Salerno - and no one will care where you decide to join the train...

Peter

I am familiar with most of the options mentioned and the direct Marozzi bus is BY FAR the easiest/best choice (from experience).