The 'Frecce' trains operated by Trenitalia share the high-speed section of the route between Roma and Bologna, with Italo trains.
They have similar speeds, so the differences between the two services 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 Venice/Venezia take an entirely different and much longer cross-country route.
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.
Final Destination: Venezia S.L.
All of these trains (except one) also call at: Roma Tiburtina
All of these trains also call at: Padova/Padua and Venezia Mestre*
*Take care not to leave the train at this station if you will be heading to the historical heart of Venice.
A variety of 'Frecce' trains are now used on this route, but the majority of departures are now by the Frecciarossa 100 trains; they are typically scheduled to be used on all departures after midday.
Mon - Thurs = 13 x trains per day
Friday = 14 x trains
Saturday = 11 x trains
Sunday = 15 x trains
Book early and save:** Yes
Online bookings open: 4 months ahead of the travel date
The high speed train (AV) service between Roma and Venice/Venezia 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 Trainline or Omio, though look out for the fact that both of these services will charge a booking fee.
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.
Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
---|---|---|
Italiarail | from €39.90 | |
Trenitalia | from €39.90 | |
Trainline | from €39.90 | |
Omio | from €39.90 | |
SaveATrain | from €39.90 |
Pre pandemic there was a daily train at 17:30 which was around 25 mins faster, because it was non-stop between Roma and Padova, but it is been (temporarily) removed from the timetables.
Hence there is now a two hour gap in the departures of these Frecce trains between 16:35 and 18:35.
It seems as though the direct trains to Venezia S. Lucia from Roma Fiumicino Airport* have also been (temporarily) withdrawn.
*this is the name of the station at Leonardo Da Vinci airport.
The high speed train journey from Rome to Venice has four distinct phases:
(1) The high speed line between Rome and Florence is more scenic than most, it's not a beautiful journey, but there is a wow factor of travelling across the rolling landscape at more than 240 km/h*.
The direttissima between Rome and Florence was the first high speed railway line to be built in Italy, so it has a slower maximum speed than the other Italian high speed lines.
This video, taken from a train travelling in the opposite direction, gives an idea of the journey experience on this part of the trip.
These Frecce trains also divert off the direct route in Florence so that they can call at Firenze S.M.Novella station, where they will reverse direction.
(2) Once the train has departed from Florence it will travel at up to 290 km/h, but nearly of the high speed line between Florence and Bologna is within tunnels.
(3) There is no high speed line between Bologna and Padua/Padova, but the trains follow a comparatively fast and straight route, over a flat landscape.
(4) The highlight of the journey is the final five minutes as the train heads out over the lagoon between the mainland and historical Venezia; don't leave your seat too soon!
Final Destination: Venezia S. Lucia
All of these trains also call at: Roma Tiburtina; Padova and Venezia Mestre*
*If you're heading to the historical heart of Venice/Venezia, take care not to leave the train at Venezia Mestre.
3 x trains per day
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: 5 months ahead of the travel date
The high speed (AV) train service between Roma and Venice/Venezia 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 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
Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
---|---|---|
Italo | from €34 | |
Omio | from €34 | |
Trainline | from €34 | |
Happyrail | from €34 |
These Italo trains take the same route as the Frecce trains.
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 Venice/Venezia 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 Venice/Venezia rail journey.
However, they also take a much more beautiful route, which includes coastal views.
These trains are usually scheduled to depart from Roma Termini at 09:35 and 12:40.
2 x trains per day
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
However, if you'll be heading to Venezia S. Lucia, enter that as the 'to station' and book the journey which include a connection into a Regionale train at Venezia Mestre.
You cannot book to Venezia Mestre and then hop on the train to Venezia S.Lucia.
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.
Rail pass users can hop on the Regionale trains to Venzia S.Lucia if that is your ultimate destination.
Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
---|---|---|
Trenitalia | from €24.90 | |
Italiarail | from €24.90 | |
SaveATrain | from €24.90 |
Note that these trains arrive at Venezia Mestre and not at Venezia S.Lucia, which is the station in the Venetian lagoon, located on the banks of the Grand Canal.
The easiest option for accessing Venezia S. Lucia from these trains is to take a Regionale train on from Venezia Mestre.
Take food and drink with you on this journey, there are no on-board catering facilities available on Intercity trains.
These Intercity trains take an entirely different route to that followed by the high speed trains, they head east through the Appenine Hills to the coast and then turn north to follow the Adriatic coastline.
South of Rimini the train will travel right by the shoreline for more than 30 minutes
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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.