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Never Ending Train ?????

I thought we had this all settled, but just found out that we don't. We arrive at Fiumincino airport in Rome on 07/06 at 7:50 AM local time. Our travel agent wants to book us on a train from Rome to Naples (Sorrento is ultimate destination)leaving the termini at 10:45AM. Do you think there is enough time to get through customs, collect our luggage and to get to the Rome termini in time to catch the train? We will take a cab from airport to the train station. Have done the part from airport to Rome before, but never with the need to connect for somewhere else.

Debby

Posted by
23268 posts

Personally, I would not get a ticket till I got there. I am sure it will be much more expensive through your travel agent. If everything is on time, you will do fine -- if not, who knows???

Posted by
8700 posts

There is frequent train service between Roma Termini and Napoli Centrale. I suggest that you take the Leonardo Express train from Fiumicino to Termini (a 35-minute non-stop ride). Buy those tickets plus your Rome-Naples tickets at the airport train station when you know exactly which will be the first Rome-Naples train you'll be able to catch. For example, if you take the Leonardo Express leaving at 09:36, you'll get to Termini in time to catch the 10:45 train to Naples. If your plane is late or there is a delay getting through immigration/passport control, then take either the 10:06 or 10:36 Leonardo Express to Termini and catch the 11:25 train to Naples. The ticket machines accept US credit cards and there is an English option.

Posted by
6898 posts

Absolutely forget the travel agent on this item. You are quite capable of handling this yourself. Frank and Tim are correct. Plus, trains from Rome to Naples will most likely require seat reservations. If you're plane is late, you have to go through the hassle of getting your tickets changed if you can't get there in time. If your plane is really late and you get to the train more than 3 hours after departure, you ticket is no good. I'm betting that your travel agent 1) doesn't know about the 3hr. rule after departure or 2) won't guarantee your timely arrival.

Follow Tim's advice. The Leonardo express is a non-stop train between the airport and the Rome Termini train station. It leaves twice an hour throughout the day. Also, as Tim recommends, buy your tickets from Rome to Naples at the airport train station. Again, don't fear missing the train. There are over 40 trains a day between Rome and Naples. It's nothing like you've ever seen in the U.S. In Italy, you're not late for a train, you're just early for the next one. Just be sure when making buying the tickets from Rome to Naples at the FCO train station that you 1) note the time that the next Leonardo express departs and 2) book your tickets from Rome to Naples for about 1 hr. from that time. The Leonardo takes about 22 minutes to get to the Rome termini train station.

When you get to the Naples Centrale train station, you go down to the lower level and buy a ticket on the private Circumvesuviana train to Sorrento. Very easy and very cheap. Again, frequent trains. Note that your travel agent can't buy a Circumvesuviana ticket from the U.S.

Just take your time getting there. You'll enjoy the whole experience.

Posted by
64 posts

Thanks for all of your advice. We have done a lot of traveling in Europe but it has always been on business/pleasure so itineraries were pre set,with all of our reservations made for us in advance. This is actually our first trip entirely on our own.

Debby

Posted by
18 posts

Larry & Tim gave good advice. One other thing, when I was there in April, there was construction going on at the Naples train station & I had problems finding the Circumvesuviana train to Sorrento. If things are still the same, go to the far left train platform (with trains behind you) & follow everyone heading around the corner. There is a TI window that can provide you a Circumvesuviana schedule/route map.