Modena (Modena)

There are three options for taking a train from Florence/Firenze to Modena.

1. Despite the comparatively short distance, the most frequent option involves taking a high speed train to Bologna and connecting there for a journey on to Modena
2. There is a daily Frecce train from the main city centre station in Florence/Firenze to Modena, but it doesn't depart until late into the evening.
3. There are also a few Intercity trains, but if you want to set off from the main city centre station, S.M.Novella, you'll need to make a connection into these trains.

Modena is the closest major city to Bologna, so there' s no need to plan a journey in advance, simply turn up at the station, buy a ticket and off you go.

Modena was by-passed when the Bologna to Milano high speed line was constructed, so all but two of the Frecce trains between Roma and Milano inevitably take that line, so don't call in Modena.

Hence when looking up a Roma to Modena journey on the ticket booking websites, nearly all of the options you will see, involve connecting between two trains in Bologna.
However, if the timings suit there are two daily direct Frecce trains, plus two slower Intercity trains, which avoid the need to make connections.