time between gate and train station

cathy, There's really no accurate way to predict how much time you'll need to get from the gate to the FCO rail station, as there are several "variables" to consider. The flight could be delayed, there could be problems in getting your checked luggage to the carousel, checked luggage may be sent to a carousel in another terminal (I've had that happen), number of flights arriving at that time may overwhelm the number of Immigration officers on duty, etc. This is Rome - anything is possible! I'd suggest allowing at least an hour (and possibly more). You can buy your tickets for the entire trip at the FCO station, either using the Kiosks or the staffed ticket office. In the same situation, I'd pack along a printout of the Roma - Firenze departures, so that you can determine which trip will work best for you at that time. As the trip on the Leonardo Express from FCO to Termini is a Regionale, DON'T forget to validate! When you arrive at Termini, you'll need to allow about 10 minutes to walk from Binario 24 to the front of the station, where you'll be able to find the train to Florence. Happy travels!

Thanks. I'm not planning on checking a bag. I have my handy Rick Steve's backpack...unless British Air thinks its too big as a carry on :). I understand the possibilities of delay but I can't remember how far it is from gate to trains. It's been a few years. I guess I should not try to prepurchase a ticket...

Hope for the best but plan for the worst. Even if BA is often/usually on time, any number of problems could be met upon arrival in Rome: no gate ready, some other sort of runway congestion, not enough immigration officers working (or, they might actually be looking at the passports that day...), etc. etc. Let's say best case scenario, flight touches down on time and goes straight to gate, you are able to get right off (i.e. you're not way in the back of the plane), and things go quickly at passport control. You can probably get to the train station comfortably by 2:50 or 2:55ish, I would think. But let's say the plane does arrive late, or there is some other Rome-related delay and it has to circle for a while before landing, or a gate is not ready, or any number of other possibilities. Or passport control is woefully understaffed during a high-traffic time. Or none of the escalators are working and you have to get in the slow-moving mob trudging up stairs. Or, etc..... Well, then who knows. Here's another possible scenario: you don't get to the airport train station until 3:10, but maybe the train left at 3:05. And you have a 4:00 train to Florence (I am making up all these times). What would I do in that case? I would take a cab from Fiumicino to Termini (cost: €48) so that I could get there in time for my train.

Thanks, that all makes sense. I've had the misfortune of a train from Milan to Florence being booked when I got there to purchase last minute tickets...I was trying to avoid that. But it seems like a better gamble to purchase at the last minute and take a chance of being sold out then purchasing in advance and missing the train...I don't know. The schedule that I'm looking at gives me a tad over an hour from scheduled flight arrival to train leaving. Didn't know if it was worth risking it.

If would have to be an unusual situation (peak holiday, Christmas,etc.) for a train to be sold out. In all of our travels we have never encountered a sold out train with one exception - the day after Christmas in Munich. We had bought tickets in advance. I think the probability/risk of the train being sold out is much lower than the probability of you missing the train.

Just today (which is a national holiday/religious feast), in fact, I encountered a train that was sold out and my travel plans were rather ruined. But it's the first time, and I agree, quite unusual. It wasn't even possible to get on this train: there were people standing in the aisles and even sitting on the floors. About 20 of us were left on the platform.

Cathy, don't forget about the new alternative to TrenItalia, ItaloTreno. Although they only depart from Roma Ostiense and Roma Tiburtina, yet perhaps it would give you an added layer of flexibility if your air travel doesn't go as smoothly as is hoped.

With 55 high-speed trains between Rome and Florence per day (3 per hour during the day), it is most unlikely that you will miss any opportunity to get on a train to Florence. Most are non-stops. You can easily buy your ticket at terminal 3 at FCO. I doubt very much if the agent would sell you a ticket on a Regionale train. To be sure, hand him a piece of paper with the word "Frecciargento" on it. That's the type of high-speed train that runs between Rome and Florence. Secondly, the Leonardo Express takes 32 minutes to get to the Rome Termini train station. In selecting a departure time form Termini for you high-speed, I suggest that you give yourself about 20 minutes between trains. The reason is that the Leonardo Express comes in on Track 25 and the high-speeds depart several tracks away. I'm just suggesting a comfortable cushion so that you don't have to run between trains.