Italian Train Types
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Latest page update: 3 November 2024
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By Dion Protani
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If planning a rail journey in Italy it's a good idea to gain an understanding of the various Italian train types first.
You can travel faster, slower, more cheaply, more expensively and of course with varying degrees of comfort depending on the train type. Although it might appear a little confusing at first, you'll find the choices presented are fairly clear when it comes to booking. Further down the page you'll find a hierarchy of train types in Italy along with their characteristics, pros and cons. This quick guide is intended to clear up any uncertainty for those about to make an online purchase of a train ticket before it's too late! |
Frecciarossa Train
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High-speed trains
- Fastest
- Most expensive
- Most comfortable
- Only available in major cities/hub stations
These are the Freccia services offered by Trenitalia and the Italo trains operated by the rival to the national train operator. The high-speed trains are the fastest trains you can take in Italy and cover a limited network of stations. This network mainly consists of the major cities and larger towns but also certain hub train stations which are located away from urban centres.
Intercity trains
- Not as fast as the high-speed trains
- Usually cheaper than high-speed trains
- Comfort levels can be hit and miss
- Network connects main cities, larger towns and some smaller locations
The Intercity trains are as the name suggests: trains that connect Italian cities and larger towns. They're generally a touch slower than the high-speed services but the journey times are shortened by having a limited number of stops along the way. The Intercity services flow through most train stations in Italy, making for a much wider network and choice of routes than the high-speed trains can offer.
Regionale Veloce trains
- A cross between high-speed and regional trains
- Not as fast as the high-speed trains
- Journey times shorter than the regional trains due to limited numbers of stops
- Occasionally offer the best value for money but depends on other available options
The Regionale Veloce or RV trains could be described as something of a hybrid service. They don't offer the same high-speeds as the Freccia or Italo trains but often run along the same routes with a limited number of stations helping to shorten the journey times. The RV services are generally cheaper than the high-speed trains and often represent the best value.
Regionale trains
- Biggest network of train stations
- Connect small villages, larger towns and major cities
- Smaller, slower trains
- More frequent stops but cheaper prices
The Regionale trains are those that operate along the majority of Italian train lines. They connect small villages, major cities and everything in between. As they tend to stop more frequently they are usually the slowest type of train available but often the only option. You can save money by taking these trains on longer journeys between cities but you will experience significantly longer journey times.
