I guess my big question now is: since both DB and Trenitalia sites show frequent trains from Naples Centrale to Sorrento Mare that take 35 minutes and have NO intermediate stops -- where the heck is this Sorrento Mare station? Is this something new? It certainly isn't a stop along the Circumvesuviana route past Pompeii. Or is this now a new direct train that goes to the main station in Sorrento? I've been googling all over the place and can't seem to figure out what this 35 minute train is and where it goes.

Hi NP,

Neither have I.

((I))

To Kybourbon,

I maybe should have gone into more detail about the ES trains in Italy. Yes there are "Eurostar Italia" trains which refers to the power units and rolling stock being the same as the famous "Eurostars" that operate on the ultra high speed lines linking London-Paris, London-Brussels. When I said ES but not Eurostar my point was that these trains are not "the" Eurostars that service London-Paris-Brussels but are instead the premier intercity trains operating only in Italy. So there are Eurostar trains and there are Eurostar Italia trains. I should have been more precise. Even an old professional track engineer can't get away with anything on this board.

Larry J

Patrick/Ira - It's a hydrofoil connection (- 'Nave link').

You have to get from Napoli Centrale to Molo Beverello by public transport (or taxi) as usual - and connect with the hydrofoil service.

The Trenitalia timing doesn't appear to include the journey time by bus/taxi.

Unless there is a new connecting bus service at those particular times - with a guaranteed connection to the hydrofoil service - it's misleading IMO ...

Hope this helps ...

Steve

Steve, that would make sense, except the timing specifically includes the exact time for departure from Naples Central and arrival AT Sorrento Mare 35 minutes later, and it shows a picture of a train engine and says ZUG 70, 2nd class only. That doesn't sound like what you are talking about at all.

There are other links for other times which DO even show walking from Naples Centrale to Naples Circumvesuviana stations including 5 minutes to do so, so I can't imagine how this exact schedule they've given is supposed to include transport to the port. In fact it couldn't possibly be a schedule that anyone could follow as it does not allow enough time to get from Naples Centrale to the port to catch a hydrofoil at that time. What's more the scedule would indicate that the hydrofoil departs FROM Naples Centrale --explain that to me.

If it is supposed to indicate the taking of a hydrofoil, that is the most misleading schedule I've ever seen as it could not possbily be accomplished, and it appears both on the Trenitalia site and the DeutscheBahn site.

I agree Patrick - it's very misleading.

I think it's a new addition to the Trenitalia site (- can't speak for the DB site - I never use it).
I'm sure Trenitalia hasn't previously shown Sorrento as an arrival point - for obvious reasons, it's not on the FS network.

Which is why I suspect there may be a new bus service - run by or in coordination with Trenitalia - from the station direct to Molo Beverello with a guaranteed hydrofoil connection.

Even if that's the case I agree with you - I don't think the timing's right.

Unless there's a new hydrofoil which does it in 20 minutes, there's no way it's 35 mins from N. Centrale to Sorrento.

Misleading is an understatement ...

Steve

Aren't the ferries seasonal?

To mayerfan83, as you can see from the proceeding discussion, the trip from Florence to Positano is not a quick one. And you would probably have to change trains in Rome and Naples, and then switch to a bus in Sorrento. Training to Salerno might be easier--depends on the time of year.

Do you have round trip tickets into and out of Rome? If not, maybe you can get open jaw tickets into Rome and out of Florence or Pisa. Then you could go to the Amalfi Coast/Positano from Rome, which would be slightly simpler. Of course, you would still have to get to Florence from Positano. Some people with big budgets hire a car to meet them at the Naples train station and drive them to Positano.

I am not the most oriented person at times, so I was wondering what the easiest way to get from Florence to Positano is. I am leaving on Friday, and I see that I can take a train to Salerno or Naples and catch a ferry from there. Do ferries run in November? Which is easiest, to catch a train and go to Salerno, or to Naples and then go to Positano? If someone could help me out (I'm leaving this Friday) that would be great.

I would train to either Naples or Salerno and hire a driver from there---ferries only run during season on a regular basis.

Mayerfan83 ... Just got back from Positano and Rome and have to agree with the previous poster. After October 15, the ferries between towns and/or islands off the Amalfi Coast are extremely limited.

We had taken the Eurostar from Rome to Naples (fabulous, 1 1/2 hours, left and arrived exactly on time, DON'T go first class - no need- second class was spotless with free drinks). Either taxis or car services from Naples to Positano will charge you 90 euros so don't let any taxi drivers convince you that it's otherwise. Buon viaggio !!

P.S. It's roughly an hour from Naples to Positano between the traffic around Naples and the one-lane extremely winding roads nearer to Positano.