Trenitalia 10/28/2009 Press Release
 

Trenitalia has issued this press release today concerning significant enhancements to its high-speed (Alta Velocita') services, effective with the new schedules on December 13, 2009:

http://www.fsnews.it/cms/v/index.jsp...003f16f90aRCRD

For those who don't read Italian, in a nutshell, the press release says the following:

1. There will be 36 daily "Frecciarossa" AV trains in each direction between Rome and Milan (an increase of 10 in each direction), of which 14 AV-Fast trains in each direction will connect the two cities in 2 hrs., 59 mins., and 3 AV-Fast trains in each direction in only 2 hrs., 45 mins. (Roma Tiburtina and Milano Rogoredo).

2. Milano/Naples and Turin/Rome in 4 hrs., 10 mins.

3. Rome/Verona in 3 hrs.

4. Rome/Venice in 3 hrs., 30 mins.

5. Rome/Bar and Rome/Lamezia Terme in 3 hrs., 59 mins.

It's taking much less time to connect between large cities in Italy!!!!

Yay Wonder what kind of price increases will see for these trains?

Initially, prices should not increase. Eventually (next year??), prices will continue to increase. On December 13, the first trains of the day on each route will be priced equal to the travel time. Hence, Rome to Milan will cost 2.59 Euros. The 7-day and 15-day advance purchase promotional fares for AV and ES trains will continue to be offered, as will the special round-trip day fares on select routes.

Despite the promotional fares, the AV trains will continue to be the most expensive options. However, by studying the schedules carefully, one can save up to 50% by taking an Intercity (IC) train (on routes where available), which takes longer than the AV and ES trains to reach destination, but is usually a very acceptable alternative to save money.

Great information, GAC, thanks!

Another amazing example of the incredibly reduced travel times: between Florence and Bologna will be a mere 37 minutes, starting on December 13, 2009.

BUT .... the one-way "base" fare will be 24 Euros .... OUCH!!!!!!!!

Trenitalia has now translated into English the webpages describing the various new promotional fares available on and after December 13, 2009:


http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...003f16f90aRCRD

Trenitalia has also translated into English its webpages describing the rules for the "base" fare (regular undiscounted) tickets:


http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...003f16f90aRCRD

Thanks GAC--very informative.
What about family discounts--are they still active?

YES, the "Familia" discount program will continue past 12/13/09, but the "rules" have changed ever so slightly (mainly to put them "in line" with the "tighetening" of the rules on reservation changes and "hop on" privileges):

Nuova offerta Familia
Per viaggi a partire dal 13 dicembre:

http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...003f16f90aRCRD

(Italian only; English translation expected to be posted shortly).

UPDATE: Trenitalia has just uploaded the new schedules (effective 12/13/2009) for all ES-CIty trains in Italy. This includes the very important Milan/Venice corridor, the Turin/Genoa/Rome corridor, and the Turin/Milan/Bari/Lecce corridor.




You will note that virtually all trains between Milan and Venice will be ES-CIty trains. No more "regular" ES trains, and we'll know next week whether there will be any more "regionale" trains on this corridor. ES-City trains will run every 30-60 minutes throughout the day.




The "base" fare for the ES-CIty train between Milan and Venice will be 30.50 Euros (increased from 27.60 Euros), but 15% and 30% discounts will be available with advance purchases of at least 7 and 15 days, respectively.




The final updating of the Trenitalia website should occur next week.

The ES-City train will typically have eight second class railcars with 72 seats each (4 across), and two first class railcars with 52 seats each (3 across), for a total of 680 seats. There will be no restaurant car, but many convoys will have the snack/beverage rolling cart service for people who need that can of Coke, package of crackers, or shot of espresso. There will be special racks for heavy luggage, and of course no smoking anywhere on the train, plus air conditioned railcars.

For the 2.5 hour trip between Milan and Venice, second class will be fine for most travellers. First class will nevertheless be available for a 12-Euro surcharge (40% increase over second class).

Thanks for the update and translation.

I have a question though: If you can't book the tickets thru trenitalia website because you have a US credit card, how are you supposed to take advantage 7-15d in advance prebooking discounts?! please help, I'm leaving for italy in a couple of places... am i supposed to wait to buy the tickets when I arrive there?

I'm really worried the tickets will get super expensive or sell out.

The tickets don't go up in price, you just don't get the discounts. If you are traveling between major cities, selling out won't be a problem unless it a major holiday or peak travel time.

The only practical way to take advantage of the 7 and 15 day advance purchase promotional fares for Trenitalia trains is either (i) ask a friend or relative in Italy to purchase tickets for you; (ii) order the promotional tickets through a trusted travel agency in Italy which sells Trenitalia tickets (such as American Express in Rome, for pickup in person); or (iii) plan to start saving money 7 or more days AFTER you arrive in Italy.

As Kybourbon correctly points out, the fares you see on the Trenitalia website for travel post-December 13, 2009 will not "get super expensive" (they will be the fares reflected online), nor will tickets "sell out" (in all but the most limited of circumstances).

Perhaps some time in the future, the Trenitalia site will start accepting foreign-issued credit cards for bookings.

>>>they will be the fares reflected online<<<

FYI - The online fares are discounted 5% for the fast trains (AV/ES/ES City). You will pay 5% more for a walk-up fare than what's listed on Trenitalia.

http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...003f16f90aRCRD

I suspect that the 5% discount for online purchase will disappear when the new schedules go into effect on December 13. Otherwise, why would the bottom of every schedule page say the following: "The price indicated refers to an adult at the Base Fare; this price, *for journey until 12th December*, includes a 5% discount for the trains where applicable."

Zerlina is correct that the 5% internet discount for ES and AV trains disappears effective 12/13/2009. Here is the Trenitalia disclosure in Italian:

"Lo sconto del 5% sugli acquisti online sarà valido solo per viaggi entro il 12 dicembre 2009."

This means that, effective 12/13/2009, the fares you see on the Trenitalia website will be the actual, honest-to-goodness fares to pay (as I stated in my previous posting), whether you purchase the ticket online, via telephone in Italy, at an automated kiosk, or at a manned teller window at the station.

Thanks for all the clarification. But, I have one more concern: when I look at the trenitalia timetables and purchasing, I only get results for EuroStar and EurostarAV -- where are the IC/regional/slower train results? Is there something I'm misreading in the original post? I know when I did the search a few weeks ago IC showed up (now for assisi to florence = only ES/ESAV =60E).

Even though trenitalia shows only ES/ESAV i can still get IC/regional train tickets when in italy, right? I guess that's my biggest concern.

Thanks!

The schedule that goes into effect on December 13 has not been fully uploaded. Have another look in two weeks.

Assisi-Florence is a Regionale/IC route. At the moment, it's only showing a single ES connection because the R and IC schedules have not been uploaded.

All this information looks great but I have a question. Is the fastest train from Rome to Lamezia Terme the 3 hour and 59 min. Does this train go non stop? I haven't begun to tackle reading the train schedules yet.

One more question: Does anyone know how far ahead train tickets for sale in Italy?

No train from Rome to Lamezia Terme is "nonstop". The Trenitalia website shows all intermediate stops for all trains, by clicking on the informational icons for the train in question.

Tickets for long-distance trains with automatic seat reservations (i.e. all trains EXCEPT the "regionale" ones) go on sale beginning 4 months before travel date. Under the new fare structure beginning 12/13/2009, one can save 15% by purchasing at least 7 days in advance, or 30% by purchasing at least 15 days in advance. This now applies to ALL long-distance trains (AV, ES, ES-City, IC, ICN, EXP) excepting the "regionale" trains, which are non-discountable.

Tickets for the "regionale" trains go on internet sale one week beforehand (but there is little reason to buy in advance, since one cannot reserve seats).

Most Italians buy tickets for "regionale" trains at automated kiosks at the train station the morning of departure or the day beforehand. There is no difference in fare, and no advantages to buying them via the internet.

Because I've seen a lot of confusion on several travel websites (including this one) concerning the Trenitalia webpage schedules, let me remind everyone that the website updating should be completed by the end of the coming week (of November 30). Currently, the train schedules post 12/13/2009 do NOT show ANY "regionale", "IC" or even all of the "ES" trains. THE SCHEDULE IS STILL INCOMPLETE AND CONSEQUENTLY MISLEADING!!!!!!!

Be patient and check the website again towards the end of the coming week, when the updates should be complete.

GAC, many thanks for the detailed reply.

Thanks for the info!

The Trenitalia website has a new message informing that the new schedules effective 12/13/2009 will be completely uploaded tomorrow, December 4.

The new Trenitalia schedules effectice 12/13/2009 have now been fully uploaded onto the Trenitalia website. There is mainly GOOD news:

1. Most if not all Intercity (IC) and Intercity Night (ICN) trains have been retained, and fares seem NOT to have increased.

2. There are still "regionale" commuter trains on medium-distance routes such as Milan/Venice; Florence/Rome and Rome/Naples.

3. Fares for the AV trains have all increased between 10% and 15%, but travel times have been shortened, as noted in the previous postings.

4. The DIFFERENCE in fares between AV trains and Intercity/Regionale trains is now even greater: for example, between Florence and Bologna, the AV costs 24 Euros; the IC 9.50 Euros (expect some very crowded IC trains on this segment). Similarly, between Rome and Naples, the AV train costs 44 Euros; the IC train 19.50 Euros.

5. The "AMICA" fare for ES-City, IC, ICN and EXP trains has been eliminated. These trains now qualify for the standard 15% and 30% promotional fares, which require a 7 and 15-day advance purchase, respectively. (This is a negative development).

6. There are some unexpected quirks: for example, all Eurocity (EC) trains between Verona and the Brenner Pass will no longer be sold through Trenitalia (only through Austrian Rail and Ferrovie Nord as sales agent in Italy). Also, the direct Eurostar train between Rome and Trento/Bolzano appears to have disappeared.

The new high-speed rail line between Bologna and Florence, which opens on Sunday, will reduce travel time to an incredible 37 minutes. Of the 78 kilometers, 73 kilometers consist of tunnels. During test runs in February of this year, the "Frecciarossa" reached a speed of 362 kilometers/hour, a world record inside of a tunnel.

The fare for this short hop is "merely" 24 Euros, which many will consider to be confiscatory. However, saavy travellers know that they can get between Bologna and Florence for merely 5.40 Euros, by taking two regionale trains which connect at Prato Centrale.

Looking at the matter from a different perspective, 24 Euros for the "Frecciarossa" on this route represents half the cost of taking a taxi from central Rome to Fiumicino airport, yet takes about the same time.