FCO to Termini-2 hours?

You might make it in two hours but just plan on the noon train, You have a number of IFs, If you plane is on time, if luggage and immigrations go quickly, if you catch the train to Termini without having to wait 30 minutes for the next one and, of course, from which track does the CT train depart. The L Express comes in on the far right hand side (as you face the tracks) so it could take you 30 minutes or more just to walk to the front and find the next platform.

However, you can judge your time better when you are at the ticket window for the L Express tickets. Also buy your reserve seat tickets at the same time. Actually it would be better for you physically to walk in the sun for a couple hours prior to getting on the dark train.

There is a left luggage area on the lower level as you walk straight in from the LE platform. The area around the station is very commercial with lots of activity but not much to see. But could do a little loop in an hour or so. Exit the station facing the piazza, turn left (south) for about three or four blocks and stick you head in the Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore Head west on de Pretis (several blocks) to via Nazionale (the main NE/SW road through center of Rome). Walk north to the Piazza Republica (can see Termini to the east) and catch the Baths of Diocletian and from there a couple blocks back to Termini. There will be place eat all along the way and of course in side Termini. That would chew up you extra time and not go to far or run the risk of getting too lost.

You didn't say which CT town so I checked the DB site using La Spezia as your destination and found an alternative route that bypasses Termini. If your plane is on time and you get through immigration/passport control without delay, you can take a different regional train (not the Leonardo Express) from the airport to Roma Ostiense, departing at 09:12 and arriving at 09:42. Take an IC train from Ostiense to La Spezia, departing at 09:57 and arriving at 13:51.

Thanks for the advice! Yes there are a lot of IFs in this scenario, plane landing on time and luggage, etc. Frank, the tips for walking around the Termini area are helpful-and I agree that some fresh air and sunshine would be in order after our overnight flight! Tim, the first train we could catch for Riomaggiore leaves Termini at 9:57 am also. Would there be an advantage to taking the train from the other station you mentioned at 9:57, just curious. Thanks!

Karen,

I think you've misread the timetables. We're actually talking about the same train, IC 510. It leaves Termini at 09:46 and Ostiense at 09:57. It goes to La Spezia where you will connect to a regional train to Riomaggiore.

If you catch the 09:07 Leonardo Express to Termini, you will arrive at 09:39, only seven minutes before IC 510 departs. As Frank explained, you could have a long walk from where you get off the Leonardo Express to where you get on the IC train so you don't have time to make the connection that way.

There are two advantages to connecting at Ostiense: (1) It's a small station so 15 minutes is plenty of time to make the connection and (2) A ticket from the airport to Ostiense is a lot cheaper than a ticket on the Leonardo Express to Termini. (That's a moot point for you since you have a railpass.)

The Leonardo Express runs every 30 minutes (7 minutes and 37 minutes past the hour). If your plane is horrendously late, you could leave the airport as late as 11:07 and still have plenty of time to catch the 12:10 train at Termini. (The 12:10 train does not stop at Ostiense.)

the good news is that the staffed window at the FCO train station doesn't have a very long line compared to most train stations; I guess you only use it if you have a reason to be at the FCO station. But the result is you won't have to wait too long for the window, and they can book you on the train you need.

Thanks guys, this is really helpful. Our railpass is the Italy 4-day saver pass, so would that cover a train trip in Rome from FCO to Termini or Ostiense train station? If our trips are on the same day, I suppose it would. That would all fall under day 1 of train travel. And can we validate our pass at the ticket window at FCO, and then also get our reserved seats for the train to CT? That would save us some time in lines at Termini. If we can get away early enough it might make sense to go to Ostiense if we can make the 9:57 am train. Good advice-thanks!

All seats on the Leonardo Express are classified as 1st class so only 1st class passes will cover that ride. If you have 2nd class passes, they will be good for the ride from FCO to Ostiense.

Yes, you can validate your passes at FCO.