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New Trenitalia Pass: Is my math right?

So with the new, updated version of the Trenitalia Pass, booking fees are no longer required and date/time/train changes are free as they would be if purchasing the most expensive Base fare.

https://www.trenitalia.com/en/offers/trenitalia-pass.html

We're planning 4 train journeys in 7 days, and it appears this new version of the Trenitalia Pass would save us a good bit of money. Their "4 trips in 7 days" pass is 157 Euros in 2nd class. Here are the fares if bought individually:

Super Economy

  • Rome > Naples: 50 Euros
  • Naples > Rome: 50 Euros
  • Rome > Florence: 60 Euros
  • Florence > Venice: 75 Euros

Total: 235 Euros

Economy

  • Rome > Naples: 70 Euros
  • Naples > Rome: 70 Euros
  • Rome > Florence: 80 Euros
  • Florence > Venice: 85 Euros

Total: 305 Euros

Unless I'm missing something, it looks like the new version of the pass at 157 Euros would be considerably less expensive, even compared to Super Economy fares, and gives us a lot more flexibility as well.

Am I looking at this correctly?

Posted by
1206 posts

Have you looked at schedules at least 6-8 weeks ahead? Those prices are likely to be MUCH cheaper than the prices you are noting above. For example: on Nov. 26, 2019, I booked round trip (for a day trip) on January 4, 2020, from Roma Termini to Napoli Centrale, on the "freccia" fast trains. Prices paid on-line were 26.90 euros pp from Roma Termini to Napoli Centrale, and 31.90 return (so 58.80 euros total, instead of the 100 or 140 euros you show). Schedule was 8:00 - 9:13 am to Napoli and 17:25 - 18:35 return to Roma. Based on this example alone, if you are traveling at least 6 weeks from now, and are willing to commit to a certain schedule, you may want to revisit the trenitalia website and put in dates at least 6 weeks from now. You may find much cheaper fares (as long as you aren't traveling on a holiday, when the cheap fare are already sold).

Posted by
10 posts

Ah, I see that in checking prices for individual fares I used 2 adults, whereas the pass price was just for 1 adult!

Doubling the pass prices means 2 adults would pay 314 Euros.

Still cheaper than the Base fare with its flexibility, but considerably more expensive than Super Economy and slightly more expensive than Economy.

I guess now it's just a question of personal preference whether the time/date/train change flexibility of the pass outweighs it cost compared to booking more restrictive Super Economy or Economy fares.

Really appreciate your sanity checking my math!

Posted by
3812 posts

As a side note, You are missing that Italotreno.it/en runs high speed trains between Venice and Naples via Bologna, Florence and Rome, too.
The new Trenitalia pass is a compromise between Base's flexibility and Economy Fare's savings.

Posted by
7209 posts

Travel passes are generally a bad idea for Italy because point to point tix bought early are absolutely dirt cheap.

Posted by
3064 posts

I agree that if you are able to book your tickets well in advance, you will really save a lot of money.
This past September, my friend and I were able to get a two for one deal on the fastest train from Rome to Naples for under E10 each! Just by keeping an eye for advance deals.