Related Content
Content
Roma / Rome to Ferrara by train
How to travel from Rome to Ferrara by trai
The Frecciarossa and Frecciarossa 1000 trains operated by Trenitalia share the high-speed route between Roma and Bologna used by these trains to Ferrara, with Italo trains.
They have similar speeds, so the differences between them are to do with the on-board experiences, check out the 'Trains' guides below; and the fact that tickets for the Italo trains and Frecce trains can be purchased from different online booking agents - it's a route on which you can save by booking in advance.
However, some trains from Roma to Ferrara still take the older 'classic' route, so they're slower, because they don't travel at high speed and also make more station calls
If ticket price and not speed is your key criteria, you can usually save money by taking these trains and they're a cheaper option for rail pass users, but they are not as frequent as the high speed services.
Share
Routes
Option 1: taking the high speed Frecce trains operated by Trenitalia
Journey Summary
2hr 40min - 2hr 42min
Daily
Travel Information
Final Destination: Venezia S.L.
All trains also call at: Bologna
Most trains also call at: Roma Tiburtina
Beautiful Ferrara is located on the main railway line between Bologna and Venice, so it is on the route taken by the trains from Rome to Venice.
However, most of the Frecce trains between Roma and Venezia pass through Ferrara station without calling there.
Therefore when looking up this Rome to Ferrara journey on the ticket agent websites, most of the journey options will involve:
(1)Taking a Frecce train from Rome to Bologna, and connecting there, into
(2) a train from Bologna to Ferrara.
See the Ticket Information below, as to why this can be worth considering, even if you are usually averse to having to change trains.
5 x trains per day
Tickets
Book early and save:** Yes
Online bookings open: 4 months ahead of the travel date
The high speed train (AV) service between Roma and Ferrara is provided by:
(1) these Frecce trains operated by Trenitalia
(2) alternative Italo trains
Tickets for the Trenitalia Frecce trains are placed on sale around 4 months in advance, but the Italo train tickets are made available around 5 months ahead.
Trenitalia does not sell tickets for the Italo trains - and Italo does not sell tickets for these Trenitalia trains.
Trains departing at different times can be cheaper than others leaving on the same day, so you may need to look through the day's departures to find the cheapest fares.
If you're booking no more than 4 months ahead and have no particular preference for the train that you will be taking, the price and departure times of the Frecce and Italo trains can be directly compared on with Trainline or Omio, though look out for the fact that both of these services will charge a booking fee.
If you will be buying tickets last minute at the station, you will save by taking the alternative Intercity trains.
Booking tickets for the indirect trains:
When looking up this journey most of the options for taking a train from Rome to Ferrara will involve changing trains in Bologna.
If the connection on from Bologna to Ferrara is by a Regionale or Regionale Veloce train, the tickets(s) will be valid on any of these trains, so you won't have to rush against the clock in Bologna to make the connection.
OR If you use the 'other search options' link on the Trenitalia home page, you can access the 'solutions without changing' facility, which will make THESE direct trains easier to find.
Rail Pass Users:
If you will be travelling with a valid Eurail or InterRail pass, you will need to reserve prior to boarding these trains, either at the station (using a Trenitalia ticket machine or ticket desk) OR by booking them online.
How to book the rail pass reservations online is included on our guide to using rail passes in Italy.
Though rail pass users can save money by taking the Intercity trains.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Trenitalia | * | |
| Italiarail | * | |
| Trainline | * |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
This is a journey of three distinct phases:
(1) (1) The high speed line between Rome and Florence is more scenic than most other high speed routes, it's not a beautiful journey, but there is a wow factor of travelling across the rolling landscape at more than 240 km/h*.
This video taken from a travelling in the opposite direction showcases the journey experience.
(2) Once the train has passed Florence it will speed up, but nearly of the high speed line between Florence and Bologna is within tunnels.
(3) The train will switch back to conventional tracks for the final part of the journey on to Ferrara.
Option 2: taking the high speed Italo trains
Journey Summary
2hr 42min
Daily
Travel Information
Final Destination: Venezia S.L.
All trains also call at: **Roma Tiburtina**and Bologna
1 x train per day
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: 5 months ahead of the travel date
The high speed (AV) train service between Milano Centrale and Ferrara is provided by
(1) these Italo trains
(2) Frecce trains operated by Trenitalia
Tickets for the Trenitalia Frecce trains are placed on sale around 4 months in advance, but the Italo train tickets are made available around 5 months ahead.
Trenitalia does not sell tickets for the Italo trains - and Italo does not sell tickets for the Trenitalia trains. ~
Trains departing at different times can be cheaper than others leaving on the same day - so you may need to look through the day's departures to find the cheapest fares.
If you're booking no more than 4 months ahead and have no particular preference for the train that you will be taking, the price and departure times of the Frecce and Italo trains can be directly compared on with Trainline or Omio, though look out for the fact that both of these services will charge a booking fee.
Rail passes are not valid on the Italo trains
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Italo | from €19 approx | |
| Trainline | from €19 approx | |
| Omio | from €19 approx | |
| Happyrail | from €19 approx |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
As a consequence of the supressed demand as a consequence of the pandemic, Italo has temporarily reduced its service from Roma to Ferrara.
The Italo trains take the same route as the Frecce trains.
Option 3: taking the Intercity trains
Journey Summary
4hr 46min
Daily
Travel Information
Final Destination: Trieste
These trains also call at: Roma Tiburtina
These Intercity trains are slower than taking a Frecce or Italo train from Rome to Ferrara because they don't use the high speed lines between Rome and Bologna.
But the higher speed of those alternative train services comes at a price, so these Intercity (IC) trains are a cheaper option for a Rome to Ferrara train journey.
These trains are usually schedule to depart from Roma Termini at 09:35 and 12:40.
2 x trains per day
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: 3 months ahead of the travel date
These trains are usually scheduled to depart from Roma Termini at around 09:35 and 12:40, so target those times when looking up this journey.
Tickets for these IC trains are always cheaper than the faster high speed trains.
Rail pass users
Target these IC trains if 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 reservation fee is virtually essential.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Trenitalia | * | |
| Trainline | * | |
| Italiarail | * |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
Newsletter
Sign up to receive the latest travel news stories and to hear about what we've been working on for you.
See if there’s a unique journey guide for your trip, featuring info on the trains, tickets & stations.
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.
