Train from Orvieto to Florence

Steve, Thanks for the info. By any chance do you know if there will be taxis at the Fifredi station? I'm thinking that may be the easiest. But would the taxi be able to drive all the way to the hotel? Gail

Many regional trains pass through Rifredi station on their way to Santa Maria Novella station. Trip on one of the frequent trains takes 5-6 minutes and costs 1.10 euro. You should be able buy that ticket at the same time you buy your IC ticket. Check Firenze Rifredi to Firenze S.M.Novella on Trenitalia website for schedules.

My advice would be to avoid the regional train if at all possible. I made the mistake once of taking it, instead of the IC, and it took forever! I feel sure that you can find a fast train that ends at the main station.

If you are willing to catch an early train, IC 582 leaves Orvieto at 7:44 and goes all the way to Firenze SMN, arriving 2 hours later. After that, it appears that all the IC trains end either at Campo Marte (some early ones) or Rifredi. So for those you would have to transfer by train to SMN. Rifredi is a small suburban station and there may not be taxis there, but you could call one if you wanted. People on Tripadvisor (who are locals) might know the cost. I asked the same question there---about taxis from Rifredi---and it turned out that our train actually did continue to SMN, so I didn't need the taxi information. I don't think that is the case with your trains from Orvieto (other than the 7:44 one).

The regionale train between Orvieto and Florence is MUCH IMPROVED: I would highly recommend it.

IMO, it's quite simply not worth spending the extra money to take the IC train into Firenze Rifredi, then need to connect to a regionale train to back track to Florence. Read my report, posted 6/06/2010:

http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/helpline/index.cfm/rurl/topic/50772/romeflorence-regionale-train-improvements.html

GAC, that is good to know. I hope Gail sees your message. I noticed the difference in time between the IC and regional train is 45 to 50 minutes, so by the time one makes the transfer from Rifredi to SMN, they probably come out about the same timewise---but the regional is less $$$ and it's always nice to avoid a transfer.

The "Familia" fare (as well as the "Familia Estate" fare) are NOT available on the regionale trains (these promotional fares are offered on the faster trains).

Nevertheless, any children under 12 years, one day, travel at 50% of the regular fare. Toddlers under 4 years, one day, travel FREE. These discounts are always available on ANY Trenitalia train.

Bear in mind that fares for the regionale trains are very, very low and reasonable. Consequently, the only discounts (for the most part) associated with these trains are for children and toddlers.

Locals almost always take the regionale train between Orvieto and Florence (and Orvieto and Rome), particularly after the IC trains stopped going into Santa Maria Novella. The regionale train service every two hours between Rome and Florence (which stops at Orvieto) is MUCH IMPROVED, as noted in my posting above. In fact, the railcars of these improved regionale trains are CONVERTED IC RAILCARS!!!!!!!

Not ALL regionale trains between Orvieto and Florence are necessarily of the "improved" type, just those which travel all the way between Rome and Florence (every two hours).

Thank you all for such valuable information. Can't wait to leave for Italy in 2 weeks.

In the interest full disclosure, here is more information about Trenitalia trains from Orvieto to Firenze:

1. There are eight daily regionale and seven daily intercity (IC) trains. There is also one daily Euronight (EN) and one evening Frecciarossa (AV) train.

2. All of the regionale trains, plus the EN, the AV, and TWO out of the seven intercity trains, go to Firenze SMN Station. Five IC trains go to Rifredi Station.

3. The fastest trains are the EN (which stops only at Chiusi) and the AV (which stops only at Chiusi and Arezzo). The IC trains stop at Chiusi, Terontola and Arezzo.

4. The slowest (and cheapest) are the regionale trains, which make 11 or 12 stops. Second class on the regionale costs only 11.20 Euros, versus 17.50 on the IC/EN and (a confiscatory) 30 Euros on the AV.

5. Travellers wishing to avoid making the inconvenient connection at Firenze Rifredi should either take one of the regionale trains, or the early morning IC, or the evening IC, EN or AV.

6. On the reverse trip (Firenze to Orvieto), there is a VERY early morning IC and EN train out of SMN, as well as a very late afternoon IC out of SMN. There is NO AV train on the southbound run to Orvieto. The fastest train on the southbound run is the early morning EN (stops only at Chiusi).

7. All trains have both first and second class railcars EXCEPT the EN, which has sleepers and second class seats.

8. While Trenitalia has, for the most part, substituted converted IC railcars as its "new and improved" regionale trains between Florence and Rome (all stopping at Orvieto), it is POSSIBLE that SOME railcars may still be the older (and less comfortable) types. Trenitalia always reserves the right to substitute different types of rolling stock. Therefore, if you HAPPEN to get on one of the older regionale railcars, don't say that GAC did not make an adequate disclosure!!!

9. It is POSSIBLE that the a/c COULD be malfunctioning on SOME railcars at some times (just switch railcars).

GAC, Thank you so much for your very full disclosure. No wonder I get confused trying to figure all this out. Gail