This guide will tell you all you the key things worth knowing when travelling on Italo train services, from boarding, to making the most of the journey experience.
Accessing the train
Attributes of the train
A complimentary WiFi portal is available throughout this train.
The power sockets on this train are compatible with standard E.U. two point plugs.
A catering trolley with hot and cold drinks and snacks should be taken through the train at some point during its journey.
The seats are superior to those in Prima class and the seating saloon is much more spacious.
Some seats are arranged into lounges - so up to 4 people can have business meetings on the move.
Complimentary drinks, snacks and pastries are provided.
A complimentary WiFi portal is available throughout this train.
The power sockets on this train are compatible with standard E.U. two point plugs.
Complimentary drinks and snacks will be served, choices will include coffee, orange juice and prosecco.
Has superior seats to Comfort class - and complimentary drinks and snacks are provided.
(Trenitalia has evidently risen to the challenge of the Italo trains - the Business Class on its new Frecciarossa 1000 trains is in a different league to the Prima class on these Italo trains).
A complimentary WiFi portal is available throughout this train.
Comfort is Italo's most basic superior services, the seats are wider than those in Smart Class.
It compares favorably to the intermediate 'Premium' Class on Trenitalia's Frecciarossa and Freciarossa 100' trains.
(the seating is 2 x 1 in Comfort class on Italo, compared to 2 x 2 in 'Premium class on the Frecce trains).
A complimentary WiFi portal is available throughout this train.
Smart Class is the equivalent of 2nd class (Standard class on Trenitalia's AV 'Frecce' trains).
These privately operated Italo AV trains share the Italian high speed rail network with Trenitalia’s AV trains (Frecciarossa 1000, Frecciarossa and Frecciargento).
They use the same stations as the Trenitalia trains, but have separate ticket machines and lounges.
Italo train services have been recently been reorganised and they now take these seven core routes in both directions:
(1) Milano Centrale > Milano Rogoredo > Roma Termini - Napoli Centrale
(2) Milano Centrale > Bologna Centrale > Roma Tiburtina > Roma Termini
(3) Napoli Centrale > Roma Termini > Bologna Centrale > Milano Centrale
(4) (Salerno) - Napoli Centrale - Napoli Afragola - Roma Termini - Roma Tiburtina - Firenze S.M.Novella - Bologna Centrale - Reggio Emilia A.V. - Milano Rogoredo - Milano Centrale - Torino Porta Susa - Torino Porta Nuova
(5) (Napoli Centrale) - Roma Termini - Roma Tiburtina - Firenze S.M.Novella - Bologna Centrale - Ferrara OR Rovigo - Padova - Venezia Mestre - Venezia S. Lucia
(6) (Napoli Centrale) - Roma Termini - Firenze S.M.Novella - Bologna Centrale - Verona Porta Nuova - (stations to Bolzano or Brescia)
(7) Milano Centrale - Brescia - Desenzano del Garda OR Perschiera del Garda - Verona Porta Nuova - Vicenza - Padova - Venezia Mestre - Venezia S. Lucia
If you will be traveling between destinations served by Italo train services, it’s worth comparing the cost of taking an Italo train with the costs of taking one of Trenitalia’s Frecce train services.
The Trainline and Omio online booking services include both Trenitlia's Frecce AND these Italo trains.
Italo trains can be cheaper - and may also be departing at a time that suits you better than a Trenitalia train.
Italo trains match the Frecce trains for speed so have similar journey times.
Seniors:
If you're aged 60 over, you can obtain a 40% discount on 'Flex' tickets if you opt to travel in 'Prima' class.
More info here.
Eurail & InterRail:
Eurail and InterRail passes are not valid on Italo trains.
Italo trains have no bar/bistro counters at which food/drink can be ordered from catering staff.
Instead vending machines are provided throughout the train.
This is one of more than 150 train 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.