The options for taking the train from Paris to Roma/Rome have been reduced recently because the overnight train from Paris to Italy has been cancelled permanently and the late morning TGV from Paris has been temporarily withdrawn.
Leaving three options:
Note that these trains depart from the Gare De Lyon in Paris.
1 x connection per day
Take the TGV which is usually scheduled to depart Paris at 06:44 and then on arrival in Torino, there is a scheduled 46 min connection in Torino Porta Susa station.
So time enough to have a coffee etc in the station cafe; and some contingency for a delay to the train from Paris
Making the connection between trains in Torino has two major advantages over making the connection between trains in Milano:
(1) The TGVs from Paris arrive at Milano Porta Garibaldi station, but most of the Frecce and Italo trains between Milano and Firenze depart from Milano Centrale station.
Though the Milano Metro links Porta Garibaldi and Centrale.
(2) The TGVs don’t use the high speed line between Torino and Milano, but the Frecce trains do, so they save around an hour when making the journeys between the two cities.
So making the connection at Torino Porta Susa station is easier and faster and generally no more expensive than travelling via Milano.
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: 4 months ahead of the travel date
Departing from Paris at 06:44:
This is the usual time, but when the departure is retimed you'll be looking for the journey option which departs Paris before 07:00
Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
---|---|---|
Oui.SNCF | * |
The TGV heading to Torino and on to Milano will often be joined to another TGV heading to a different destination on departure from Paris.
So don't be surprised, when looking at the departure displays at Paris Gare De Lyon, if you see a train departing at the same time and from the same voie (track/platform as the train heading to Milano.
This other train will also have a different train number.
You won't have to worry about boarding the wrong part of the train - your seat will have been assigned in the train heading to Torino.
The TGVs making the journeys to Italy also spell out where they will be heading to on the exterior of the coaches.
This is, in our humble opinion, one of the most exciting journeys you can take on European express trains.
We love the mix of high speed travel and stunning Alpine scenery
Aside from the wow factor of the speed, most high speed train journeys aren't scenically interesting, when high speed lines pass through hills and mountains, they tend to dive into tunnels.
This journey picks up in terms of scenery once the train leaves the high speed line behind - and that's what makes this journey so exceptional, the alpine views from a TGV train don't get better than this!
Final Destination: Salerno
The trains will also call at: Bologna and Firenze/Florence
The train will reverse direction on departure from Milano Centrale.
This is one of the longest European high speed train journeys; the only part of the journey which isn't at high speed occurs when the trains pass through Milano city centre.
It's also a journey of four distinct phases.
(1) The trains speed past the cars on the parallel autostrada for most of the journey between Torino and Milano.
(2) Between Milano and Bologna the trains are at their fastest on this stretch of high speed line - which is fortunate as there's nothing much to see.
(3) Between Bologna and Firenze 99% of the journey is in tunnels.
(4) The high speed line between Firenze and Roma isn't quite as fast as that between Milano and Bologna, but pleasing distant views of hills can be seen from either side of the train.
This is the most scenic part of the train journey.
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This is one of more than 1000 journey guides available on ShowMeTheJourney, which will make it easier to take the train journeys you want or need to make. As always, all images were captured on trips taken by ShowMeTheJourney.