I have train reservations to take the daytime train from Naples to Palermo in March. In the process of making the reservations I was assigned seats. Is one side of train more preferable than other? Better views etc? I have tried to find answer on Man in Seat in 61 and Rome to Rio with no luck. Thank you.
Posted by
San Mateo, CA, USA
257 posts
I took the train back from Catania to Rome after a RS Sicily tour. Don't remember the scenery being that vastly different from one side to the other. Most scenic part of the trip will be when you cross the Straits of Messina and they load the passenger cars on the ferry for the crossing. You can get out, go up on deck, use the bar on board the ferry. The views are gorgeous on the crossing.
Posted by
Monterey County, CA (formerly Verbania Italy-Lago Maggiore)
1626 posts
I was researching train seats yesterday and discovered that since most trains are bi-directional, and cars are close to mirror images from one end to the other, it’s not possible to know if your seats face forward on the right side of train, or face backwards on left side of train.
Bummer for my husband as he hates facing backwards.
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
I was about to make the same point as Karen. even if you have a preferred side, you cannot be certain which way the train is going. Trains are bidirectional. If it is pointing in one direction from Rome to Naples, going back from Naples to Rome it is going in the other. Seats which were on the left going forwards are now on the right going backwards, and vice-versa.
Some trains change direction en route. Roma Termina is a dead end station, so a train Florence - Rome - Naples is travelling in one direction Florence - Rome. and the other direction after Rome.
That, plus you cannot predict which way it came out of the depot in the morning means you often cannot say which side and direction seat x will be going.