Roma / Rome to Bari by train

How to take the rail journey from Rome/Roma to Bari

When travelling from Milano to Bari by train, travellers have a choice of two different train services:
1: the fastest and typically most expensive option is to take the Frecciargento trains which spend the first part of the journey rushing down the high speed line between Roma and Caserta.
2 The slower Intercity train which takes the non high-speed 'classic route' and also makes more station calls.

Italo trains don't operate on this route.

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Routes

Option 1: taking the Frecce trains

Travel Information

Final Destination: Lecce or Bari

5 or 6 x trains per day

Tickets

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings open: 4 months ahead of the travel date

When you look up this Rome to Bari journey on Trenitalia, you'll also see the alternative service of cheaper, but slower, Intercity trains.

Rail pass users can save €10 by taking an Intercity train instead of a Frecce train.

Where to book
Ticket Provider Approximate Cost
Trenitalia from €23.90

Trenitalia Guide

Trenitlalia is the national rail operator in Italy and in addition to its cheaper types of ticket; it also typically offers other discounts available to non-Italians, which include:

  • Group Offers, provides for a discount of up to 50% when 3-5 Adults travel together.
  • Family Offer for when groups of 2 - 5 people are travelling together and at least one of the party is a aged 11 and under.
  • The Children Free Offer is available for journeys by Frecce trains, when groups of 2 - 5 people are travelling together and at least one of the party is a aged 15 and under.
    Those aged 15 and under travel for free, but the Adults will need to purchase full price 'Base' tickets.
Italiarail from €23.90

Italiarail Guide

ItaliaRail lives up to its name by selling tickets for rail journeys within Italy and the core feature of its service is that it is primarily designed to be used by international visitors to Italy.
So the English translations of place names are used when looking up journeys and the terms and conditions for using each type of ticket are clearly explained.
It also clearly points out the additional costs of upgrading to other classes and types of tickets while spelling out the additional benefits of doing so.

Users of InterRail and Eurail passes can also book seat reservations on the Frecce and InterCity trains without paying a booking fee,

On this journey

Journey Features

High Speed (partial)

Good to Know

Connecting to the ferries to Grecce in Bari:

If you will be connecting into the ferry to Patras, that departs from Bari at 19:30, you can take the first of these Freece trains of the day from Roma, which is usually scheduled to arrive in Bari at around 12:00.
The second Frecciargento train of the day from Roma arrives in Bari only 30 mins before the departure of most of the ferries; so you won't have to time check-in for the ferry if you take that train.

However, on Mon-Sat, if you take the alternative Intercity train you'll still be in time to catch the ferry; and you'll almost certainly save money too.

Although on most Sundays the ferry to Patras typically departs Bari at 13:00, but even IF the train from Roma arrives on time at around 12:00 you won't have time to check-in for the ferry departure.

More info on how to make the transfer to the ferry port in Bari is available if you click the Bari Centrale station guide.

We confess we have yet to take a train all the way from Rome to Bari; hence the lack of images (it's on the agenda in 2022).

But what we do know is that travelling from Rome to Bari, by these Frecce trains, is a journey of three distinct phases:

(1) From Rome to Caserta the train will be travelling at more than 270 km/h on the high speed line.

(2) The train will then cross central Italy on a twisting route to Foggia; hence the tilting version of the Frecciagento trains are used on this route.
There are some very nice views to be enjoyed from the right as the train ascends into the hills on departure from Caserta.

(3) The train will then speed up as its head south to Bari, though views of the Adriatic are sporadic and distant, the railway line here is inland from the coast.

Option 2: taking the Intercity train

Travel Information

Final Destination: Lecce (or Taranto)

The Intercity (IC) train is usually scheduled to depart from Roma Termini daily at 07:28.

The Frecce train which usually departs Rome at 08:01 overtakes the daily Intercity train and gets to Bari around 1hr 25 mins before the IC train is due to arrive.

1 x train per day

Tickets

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings open: 3 months ahead of the travel date

If you don't book more than 3 months ahead, you can compare the prices and journey times of the InterCity train and the faster Frecciargento trains.
Those Frecciargento trains are more frequent, but their speed comes at a price, as they're more expensive than the Intercity train..

Rail pass users

Target this IC train f you want to save €10 on rail pass reservation fees.
Though if you'll want the peace of mind of remaining in the same seat for the entire journey, paying the optional €3 fee is virtually essential.

Where to book
Ticket Provider Approximate Cost
Italiarail from €14.90

Italiarail Guide

ItaliaRail lives up to its name by selling tickets for rail journeys within Italy and the core feature of its service is that it is primarily designed to be used by international visitors to Italy.
So the English translations of place names are used when looking up journeys and the terms and conditions for using each type of ticket are clearly explained.
It also clearly points out the additional costs of upgrading to other classes and types of tickets while spelling out the additional benefits of doing so.

Users of InterRail and Eurail passes can also book seat reservations on the Frecce and InterCity trains without paying a booking fee,

Trenitalia from €14.90

Trenitalia Guide

Trenitlalia is the national rail operator in Italy and in addition to its cheaper types of ticket; it also typically offers other discounts available to non-Italians, which include:

  • Group Offers, provides for a discount of up to 50% when 3-5 Adults travel together.
  • Family Offer for when groups of 2 - 5 people are travelling together and at least one of the party is a aged 11 and under.
  • The Children Free Offer is available for journeys by Frecce trains, when groups of 2 - 5 people are travelling together and at least one of the party is a aged 15 and under.
    Those aged 15 and under travel for free, but the Adults will need to purchase full price 'Base' tickets.

On this journey

Journey Features

Not High Speed

Good to Know

Connecting to the ferries to Greece:

If you will be connecting into the ferry from Bari to Patras on Monday - Saturday, taking this IC train is arguably a better option than the alternative Frecciargento train; which usually leaves Rome at 08:01.
The train journey is longer, but you won't have to spend so long hanging around in Bari and you can save money!

However, on most Sundays during the year the ferry to Greece departs Bari at at 13:00, and this Intercity train is due to arrive in Bari at 14:00.

More info on how to make the transfer to the ferry port in Bari is available if you click the Bari Centrale rail station guide.

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