Italo High Speed Train | European Rail Journeys (2023)

FAQs

Where does the high-speed train go in Europe? ›

Thalys (France, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands) The Thalys high-speed train connects 17 cities across Western Europe, including Brussels, Amsterdam and Paris.

Trenitalia and Italo Treno services are equivalent in standard and efficiency and operate similarly. In most cases, choosing one over the other comes down to cost and availability of tickets and the most convenient schedule.

Frecciarossa trains are the fastest of these, reaching speeds of up to 190 MPH (300 km/h). Italo's high-speed trains are even faster, operating at speeds up to 220 MPH (360 km/h). The AV train network connects Turin, Milan, Bologna, Florence, Rome, Naples, and Salerno.

High-speed trains in Europe can reach speeds of up to 198 mph (320 km/h). Some of the fastest trains in Europe travelling at these speeds include AVE, TGV and Frecciarossa 1000.

FRECCIAROSSA trains travel throughout Italy, reaching the maximum speed of 300 km/h; they run straight into the heart of the most important cities, shortening your travel time.

Luggage is included in the ticket price. There is no limit on the number and size of the items of luggage you take on board, but Italo asks you to keep in mind the limited space available on a train. The luggage areas in the vestibule of each coach are under video surveillance.

You can choose and buy your seat on board the train on the website, the Italo Treno app, ticket offices in the station or by calling Pronto Italo 06.07. 08.

Eurail and InterRail passes are NOT valid on Italo trains - the red trains pictured below, but Trenitalia services are available on all routes taken by Italo trains.

There is typically one bathroom per train car on Italian trains. On newer trains, and especially high-speed trains, they are more spacious than what you might find on an airplane and offer the same basic features as those of a plane lavatory - a flushable toilet, sink with running water, soap, and paper towels.

It is much more spacious and comfortable than the usual first-class in Intra-Europe trains. Prima Class passengers also come with various benefits, reclining leather seats, fast track entrance and queue, a welcome drink as well as individual power sockets. Here are some pictures of the train cabin.

What is the best Italian train company? ›

Best Italy trains

Trenitalia is the major Italy trains company which is responsible for operating both regular and high-speed trains. The high-speed Italian rail network connects cities like Rome, Florence, Naples, Bologna, Milan, and Venice (among many others) by modern Italy bullet trains.

1. Antwerpen-Centraal Station. Antwerpen-Centraal Station is the main train station in Antwerp, Belgium and features Art Nouveau architecture, drawing on the aesthetics of curved lines from the natural forms of plants and flowers.

How much does a Eurail Pass cost? In 2022, the cost of a Eurail Global Pass purchased directly through Eurail starts at $280 for second-class fares and $374 for first-class seats for the four-days-in-one-month pass for adults. A 15-day unlimited pass for adults currently ranges from $505 to $673.

A ride on the Bernina Express is a 4-hour, 144 km (90 mile) journey between icy Switzerland and sunny Italy, through 55 tunnels and 196 bridges, with Alpine gradients as steep as 1 in 7, on a railway built in 1896-1904 and now declared a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Train travel in Europe is generally far more comfortable than flying. At the end of the day, traveling Europe by train is immensely more comfortable than flying. There's less hassle, more comfortable seats, more ease of moving around, often better views, and more control over your environment.

Long-distance trains, yes.

All seats on Frecciarossa, Frecciargento, Frecciabianca & InterCity trains are reserved, so they can in theory sell out. However, as there are so many trains each with hundreds of seats there are almost always places available on most trains even just before departure.

Perhaps the most popular scenic train route in Italy is the Bernina Express, which connects Tirano in Italy to St. Moritz in the Swiss Alps. Along the way you'll see mountain peaks covered in snow, alpine lakes, and gorgeous valleys.

Prima = 1st class

Italo's Prima ambience features Poltrona Frau Leather reclining seats and air-conditioning with extra legroom & elbowroom compared to Smart class.

On the newer high-speed trains, there are storage areas at one end of each train car, often across from the bathroom, which are available for anyone in that car to use for their larger bags. On the older trains, the only real storage areas are overhead shelves above the seats.

How many bags can you bring on Italo train? ›

What Luggage Can I Bring on an Italo Train? You can bring up to 2 items of luggage measuring 30cm x 70cm x 90cm as well as a bag that fits on your lap. You can store suitcases safely in the luggage compartment as you enter the carriage.

It is not necessary to have a printed version of your tickets. You can simply show the PDF ticket on your mobile device. For assistance at the station, Italo requests that you contact Pronto Italo, even if the ticket you booked was through Omio.

You can buy your train tickets roughly 2 months ahead of when you'll need them, and can even book them the day before your train trip. Once you're in Italy, you can buy tickets just before you get on a train.

* Most trains are air-conditioned (note that Italians don't like windows being opened leading to dreaded draughts). Blinds are generally provided, and can be pulled down to keep out the hot sun - you might not see the view but you'll be much more comfortable.

The Lounges are dedicated to Club Executive passengers and Italo Più Privilege and Platinum card holders. In addition, Italo Più Corporate Privilege and Corporate Platinum card holders can access it.

Many European high-speed trains are included in the Eurail passes, but the reservations for these trains are not included in your Pass. Reservations for high-speed trains are often mandatory and need to be booked in advance.

Eurail passes do not cover local transport like trams or metros, only intercity trains. Rail Europe is another company that offers similar European train passes. But Eurail is the most popular and for the sake of this article, we'll just be focusing on Eurail Passes.

Rail Europe is an official reseller of the tickets and passes that Eurail creates. Interrail is the same pass but for Europeans only; Eurail/Rail Europe is for non-Europeans. While Eurail also sells the same pass as Rail Europe, Rail Europe often sells these passes at a discounted price.

The catering service on board includes: a paid offer, Italo Selection, with a wide selection of sandwiches, focaccia and piadine and drinks; Snack Area with vending machines for coffee and drinks in each of our trains, for a pleasant break during your trip; a Welcome Service, free of charge, reserved for customers ...

Traveling by train in Europe is generally safe, provided you take the same precautions you would take when traveling through any unfamiliar place.

Do trains run on Sunday in Italy? ›

Train schedules tend to be fairly consistent from day to day. Sundays and holidays are the exceptions to that rule, however, when trains run less frequently. Note that on some public holidays trains can get booked up well in advance by locals who are traveling to visit family.

All the Italo comfort and services at an affordable price.

• Enjoy the ride on our comfortable reclining leather seats, with footrests, side tables and individual electrical outlets; • Free Wi-Fi network on board the train to navigate directly from your smartphone.

If you miss your train, you have 2 hours of “Extra Tempo” to find a seat on the next train asking to the in station Italo Staff or in Italo Ticket Office or calling Italo Assistenza at +39 06 89371892 (subject to availability).

The Bernina Express

Train buffs consider the legendary Unesco-listed Bernina Express route from Italian Tirano to St Moritz to be one of the most spectacular rail journeys in the world. The highest railway in Europe, it has spiral viaducts to get up the mountains.

ItaliaRail.com is the easiest and best site for booking Italy train tickets. It's cheaper then Trenitalia.com if there are 2 or more passengers. It's an online website that sells Trenitalia tickets in Euros, Pounds, and Dollars.

1. Grand Central Terminal, New York, USA. No other railway station in the world captures the romance of rail travel quite like Grand Central in New York.

1. Switzerland. Tucked inside the small but incredibly beautiful country of Switzerland is one of the most efficient and scenic rail networks in the world.

Rocky Mountaineer

Distinguishing features of the ride include glass-domed rail cars to enjoy the breathtaking views in panoramic beauty, a luxury dining experience and, for those who book the Silver Leaf Plus package, an outdoor observation deck and passenger lounge car.

Hudson River Rail Excursions

Dubbed "the most famous train in the world," New York Central's 20th Century Limited train takes passengers back to the 1940s and 1950s in a round-trip journey from New York City to Albany, taking the same route passengers took in decades past.

Reduces the Nation's Dependence on Foreign Oil:

According to the International Association of Railways (UIC), high-speed rail is eight times more energy efficient than airplanes and four times more efficient than automobile use. It will also decrease greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality.

Is it cheaper to fly in Europe or take the train? ›

Flying in Europe

Flying is often the cheapest option for medium- to long-distance travel. But don't forget to add in the extra cost and travel time of getting to the airport. This can add an extra 8€-25€ and 2+ hours to the journey. What is this?

Their high-speed train infrastructure is well developed, and the world's fastest trains operate regularly between major cities, like Shanghai and Beijing or Paris and Strasbourg. These trains don't max out at 100 or even 200 mph; they travel at speeds of up to 374 mph during testing.

The international TGV services connect France with Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Italy and Spain. There's also a service between France and Switzerland, operated by TGV Lyria.

It will run from Merced to Bakersfield, and is planned to begin operations in 2029.

Phase 1 will be about 520 miles (840 km) long, and is planned to be completed in 2033, connecting the downtowns of San Francisco, Los Angeles using high-speed rail through the Central Valley with feeder lines served at Merced and an extension to Anaheim.

1. Switzerland. Tucked inside the small but incredibly beautiful country of Switzerland is one of the most efficient and scenic rail networks in the world.

Amtrak's Acela, which reaches 150 mph (240 km/h) over 49.9 mi (80.3 km) of track, is the US's only high-speed rail service. Acela trains will reach top speeds of 165 mph (266 km/h) when new trains enter service, and 186 mph (299 km/h) in coming years.

Some popular trains like the Eurostar, Thalys, TGV, and AVE are included in the Eurail Pass, but require that you purchase a seat reservation. Check out the handy "Pass network only" feature in our Rail Planner App to see the trains that are included in the Pass.

The Eurostar can take up to 2hrs 37mins from Paris to London, however, most of our trains will take you to London in only 2hrs 17 mins.

Does the TGV go to Germany? ›

Take the fast track to Germany

We've got what you're looking for, with high-speed TGV INOUI and ICE trains serving 10 German cities every day.

Current US projects face challenges

The proposed Boston-NYC route highlights the logistical challenges and high cost of building high speed rail in densely populated areas. The route would require the construction of numerous tunnels, including one stretching 16 miles beneath the Long Island Sound.

Traveling by train from New York to Los Angeles usually takes around 77 hours and 40 minutes, but the fastest Amtrak train can make the trip in 66 hours and 20 minutes.

Population Density. The US simply does not have the density to have the need for high speed rail. There are a few regions where this is actually a viable thing, and one region in the US already has a high speed rail line, called the Acela Express. It runs from Boston, Massachusetts to Washington, DC.

21st Century Transportation for America

High speed rail carries enormous capacity! A single HSR line transports up to 20,000 people per hour (more than a 10-lane freeway + 2 airports), without delays or congestion.

High‐​speed trains, in particular, were rendered obsolete in 1958, when Boeing introduced the 707 jetliner, which was twice as fast as the fastest trains today. Slower than flying, less convenient than driving, and more expensive than either one. Aside from speed, what makes high‐​speed rail obsolete is its high cost.