Any thoughts on Frecciargento vs. Frecciarossa? If you have a choice between the two do you have a preference?
One has 2nd class and 1st class, the other has standard and premium. Are they comparable?
Do both have baggage areas at both ends of the cars?
One big difference I noticed is Frecciarossa has WiFi, the Frecciargento doesn't. :(
Thanks!
What route are you traveling?
The different freccie use regular or dedicated rail tracks; you won't always have a choice of which one to take. The Trenitalia website has an explanation of services, or we may hear from Roberto who recently posted about this.
Same difference. Freccia Rossa are high speed trains traveling only on high speed tracks. Freccia Argento travel on both high speed tracks and traditional tracks. The high speed tracks are only from Naples to Milan and from Milan to Turin. So if you travel from Florence to Milan, it will be a Frecciarossa, because it's 100% on high speed rail tracks. If you go from Florence (or Rome) to Venice it will be a Freccia Argento, because the train travels in part on high speed rail track (up to Bologna) and then it switches to a traditional non high speed track (from Bologna to Venice).
George,
To answer a couple of your other questions, all of Le Frecce trains have luggage racks, but these may only be on one end of the cars (memory is a bit foggy on that point). There are also racks above the seats for smaller items.
AFAIK, 2nd class / standard are about the same. I rarely (if ever) pay for 1st class, but I'm assuming that 1st class / premium is the same.
Trenitalia may only offer Wi-Fi for clients of a particular cell network (TIM?) or they may charge for the service. If you want free Wi-Fi, you might consider travelling via Italo (depending on which route you're using).
Cheers!
Thanks, all, for your responses.
@Sasha - We're traveling Rome - Florence, Florence - Venice, Venice - Naples, Naples - Rome (yes, we're doubling back but we can't do open jaw this time)
@Zoe - Yes, I noticed that if I specify non-stop trips I have fewer choices that include Frecciarossa.
@Roberto - Thanks for the usual great, information-filled response.
@Ken - We may splurge on Italo for Florence - Venice just for the experience of riding on that train. They aren't convenient for our other trips, though.
Follow up question - When buying tickets from the U.S. through the Trenitalia web site do you opt for ticketless and use the PNR code on board the train or do you opt for the printed ticket? If opting for the printed ticket do you get a copy back via email or do you have to pick it up at the train station? For either choice do you get back a receipt for your purchase? Thanks!
You will have the option to receive an SMS message - the pdf ticket will be sent to your email address. On the same page, a little further down, you have the option to print the ticket. I always do both.
Thanks Zoe!
