florence to rome one way

Raj, The easiest and quickest option would be to travel via the Freccia (fast) trains, which reach speeds of about 300 kmH when they get going. Note that reservations are compulsory. You can save considerably if you pre-purchase Super Economy or Economy tickets, however those usually sell out quickly so can be hard to get at times. Also, some here have reported "issues" with the Trenitalia website when buying tickets. You can find further information on buying tickets on the excellent Ron In Rome website. As both cities have more than one station, it's important to choose the correct stations when you're buying tickets. For the trip above with Trenitalia, you'll be departing from Firenze SMN and arriving at Roma Termini (which is the main station in Rome). You could also consider the new Italo high speed trains, which also operate on that route. However, they don't use the same stations in all cases, so your departure station would be Firenze SMN and your arrival station would be Roma Tiburtina. You can easily get from Tiburtina to Termini via the Metro. Happy travels!

Raj, "Shockingly, super economy fares not available for the date and approximate time I want" That's not really "shocking". The cheapest tickets usually sell out very quickly, and as Nigel mentioned they've been available for awhile. Regarding the "quality of seats", you may want to have a look at the excellent Ron In Rome website, as that provides a fantastic description of the trains in Italy. Most trains have both first class and second class cars, and I find that the cheaper second class are perfectly adequate. Some of the Regionale trains are only second class, so you won't have a choice. One point to mention is that the Freccia trains all have compulsory reservations, which are specific to a particular train and departure time. If you miss that train, the tickets are worthless and you'll have to buy more at full price. DO NOT be caught on a train without valid reservations where these are compulsory, or you may be fined on the spot, with fines starting at €50 PP. The same fines apply for those caught on Regionale trains with un-validated tickets. Have you checked prices on the Italo website??? Cheers!

For me the high speed trains are cost effective and also time wise. If you are looking for the cheapest options you can buy regional train tickets for very little money. The one thing with these tickets is the trip usually takes at least an hour more than the high speed train, sometimes more than an hour more. You can also see if there is bus service between the two cities. This would probably be the cheapest option although not the quickest. Basically, you'll need to choose between speed and cost. If you're looking to spend as little money as possible you'll spend more time on the trip. If you're looking to spend as little time as possible in transit you'll spend more money on the trip. Donna

Thanks Ken - one other option, in addition to those mentioned by Ken and Donna is to look at the Trenitalia Family Offer Tickets. These offer substantial discounts IF one member of your family is within the age restrictions. Good Luck!

Thank you all very much for your replies. Is there a difference in quality of the seats/trains between the regional or express trains?

The Super Economy fare (€19.00) on high-speed trains is about the same as the everyday fare (€19.25) on regional trains. Book today on trenitalia.com to get the lowest available fare. Discount fare tickets are for a specific departure date and time and are non-exchangeable and non-refundable. Be sure you can commit before booking.

Shockingly, super economy fares not available for the date and approximate time I want, other than in Inter City trains

Two things, Raj - You say you are shocked that your tickets at the super cheap price are not available in February. I'm not - the beginning of February is only just over 30 days away - the end is only about 60 - and these tickets will have been on sale for at least 90 days. The cheapest ones go quickly. Sorry. Nothing wrong with an InterCity train, they just make a few more stops and go a little slower. You ask about the seating in the Freccia trains versus the Regionale ones. Not a huge lot of difference to the Freccia Bianca - they are refurbished and speeded up ex-InterCity stock, 2x2 in 2nd class, 1+2 in First. The seats on the Biancas are ok, pretty much the same as the current InterCity. The Regionale will normally be 2x2 in 2nd with only small First Class areas which may be 1+2 or 2x2. Not as cushy as faster trains nut perfectly comfortable for a couple or three hours.

Thank you all so much for your responses. I am leaning towards the italio trains. They are newer, but cheaper. I am researching how much out of the way I will be if I have to get off at the other station and not Termini in Rome. I know I can take the Metro, but since we are just coming into the city of Rome for the first time, we may splurge on a cab!

Raj, Getting from Roma Tiburtina to Roma Termini is very easy on the Metro, but you'll have to weigh that against the cost of a Taxi. Keep in mind that Taxis in Italy tend to be a bit more "compact" than in this part of the world so whether they'll be able to hold four plus luggage may be an issue. Tiburtina is only a few stops from Termini on the Metro. You'll be travelling on the "B" line, direction Laurentina. Disembark at the fourth stop. One other question. Which part of Rome are you staying in?