Getting from Sorrento to Train for Reggio Calabria

You can catch (almost all) direct/fast trains to the south in Salerno. You should book ahead to save on discounted fares.

The only advantage with several disadvantages to booking ahead is the availability of discount ticket and sometimes deep discount ticket. However, that does lock you into a fixed with limited change option for those tickets. And no options if you miss the train. Selling out is not the problem.

I would travel to Salerno and transit to Reggio Calabria. Buon viaggio,

I don't know where you're getting a 1:42 (13:42) departure time. IC 551 leaves Naples at 11:58, leaves Salerno at 12:33, and arrives at Reggio di Calabria Centrale at 17:00. You also could take IC 723 from Salerno to Villa S. Giovanni, departing at 10:33 and arriving at 14:05. Take R 3669 from Villa S. Giovanni to Reggio di Calabria Centrale, departing at 14:30 and arriving at 14:50. You'll need to take either a bus or a hydrofoil from Sorrento to Salerno. Be sure you get there in plenty of time to buy your tickets at the train station.

I have never travelled from Sorrento to Salerno but wouldn't it be much easier and faster to go to Napoli and catch the train?

I have never travelled from Sorrento to Salerno but wouldn't it be much easier and faster to go to Napoli and catch the train?

That is just backtracking too much. The fast railway link to the south (Ferrovia Tirrenica) passes through Salerno.

There are three best options between Salerno and Reggio Calabria: Frecciargento (ES) trains departing from Salerno at 10:15, 13:15, 19:29 - taking less than 3h50 to complete the trip, far less than other options.

Neither the Trenitalia site nor the German Rail site shows a direct ES train from Salerno to Reggio Calabria departing Salerno at 10:15.