What are InterCity trains like, and why are they so much cheaper? I am looking at a trip from Orvieto to Naples on Sept. 28th. The InterCity train (direct)--leaving at 12:10, arrives at 3:29 PM (3hr 19min)--costs $11. The trips going to Rome via Regionale Veloce and then transferring to a Frecciargeto or Frecciarossa start at $61. They can be a little faster in some cases 11:23 to 2:15 (2hr 52min), but no faster in others 3:23 to 6:43 (3hr 20min)
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23266 posts
The faster you go, the more you pay. Simple. The cheapest trains are the Regionale trains. No seat reservation, buy a ticket, validate, get on on go. As you move up the line, the trains make few stops, so they are faster, seat reservations are required so you pay a little more. The Regionale trains will be older equipments, seats a little more worn, more crowded because the locals are riding, but the comfort is about the same as far as seats and leg room. The InterCity train is the next level and it will be about the same. For rides of a couple, three hours are fine.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15156 posts
More crowded because the locals are riding?
That's not the real reason. Plenty of locals ride high speed trains too, not just tourists. Actually I'm sure that locals outnumber foreign tourists on high speed trains, except for maybe during peak season on the high speed line most used by tourists (Rome-Florence-Venice).
Regionali are more crowded because they are cheap commuter trains that cost a fraction of what high speed trains cost. If one has to commute to work every day, high speed trains would be expensive. Also high speed trains are not designed for short commuting distances. They connect primarily the Regional capitals.
The cost of the regionali ticket doesn't cover the operational costs, in fact the various Regions' governments heavily subsidize Trenitalia to run them. Since public tax money available for those subsidies isn't infinite, the service is not as frequent as it could be and the rolling equipment not as great. Like with everything else, you get what you pay for. The subway in NYC is more crowded and worn out than the Acela train.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32201 posts
mal,
The reason the InterCity train is so much cheaper is that there are still Super Economy tickets available for 28 September. If you were to buy a ticket for that same train on the day of travel, Base Fare would be €36 PP. The InterCity trains are faster than Regionale (fewer stops), and are in a medium price range between Regionale and Freccia. These have compulsory seat reservations, which will be provided with the tickets.
If you want to save money, advance purchase tickets are a good deal but you MUST be willing to commit to a particular departure as tickets will be specific to one train, date and departure time and can NOT be used on any other train. If you're caught without a valid reservation for the train you're riding on, you'll face hefty fines which will be collected on the spot!. Also note that Super Economy tickets are non-refundable and non-changeable, so choose carefully.