We booked tickets on an express train from Firenze (SMN station) direct to Roma Fiumucino on 5/15 for a flight to Catania. I received an email from Trenitalia today that due to work on the line (4/28-12/13) our train had been cancelled and we are advised to rebook or request a refund. The flight we are taking from Roma has been rescheduled to later in the afternoon so we no longer need a fast train, so we have flexibility. Since we will arrive Tuscany on 4/28 we can wait until then to figure it out, but I just did a search on the Trenitalia site and see lots of express trains on the same route for that day so I'm a bit puzzled. Any insight into what's going on with the schedule interruptions?
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
7845 posts
Pretty sure there is only one direct to FCO ever so what you see probably go to Termini then LE
I would be in Rome night before flight
Posted by
Citizen of the World
2679 posts
If your original train is canceled and the flight was delayed by 3 hours or more, you can just get a refund for both and book an ITA or Volotea flight from Florence to Catania for $70-$90.
No messing with the trains from Florence to Rome and no need to take the train from central Rome out to FCO Airport which will take even more time and cost another €28 for two.
Florence’s airport is small and it’s a 15-minute bus ride from the SMN train station.
www.Skyscanner.com has available flights and schedules.
Posted by
OP
7 posts
Thanks for the replies - we have flown from Florence to Catania before (and I have flown into and out of Florence), but after a subsequent bad experience at the Florence airport my husband won't fly into/out of there any more, and I can't change his mind!
It's not possible for us to spend the night in Rome. Our flight out leaves at 16:00 and that gives us enough time to get there...somehow.
I didn't see comments related to my question specifically - cancellation of (all?) service on that line. Hard to believe there will be NO train service between Firenze and Roma for 8 months, but who knows?
Posted by
Citizen of the World
2679 posts
There has not been cancellation of all high-speed trains from FSM to Rome. In fact, there are 3-4 running each hour on May 15. It’s likely to be the case that the one train you booked was cancelled and others will be running.
www.TheTrainline.com
Posted by
OP
7 posts
Thank you! I'll reschedule when we pass through SM Novella next week.
Posted by
Citizen of the World
2679 posts
If your husband’s not adamant about flying out of FCO. there also are a couple nonstop 90-minute flights under $50 from Pisa (PSA) to Catania. Buses from Florence to Pisa’s airport take less than one hour.
Good luck!
Posted by
74 posts
I think it's just disruption to the Firenze-FCO service. They likely need the trains or the paths for other services. There's a bunch of FR trains from SMN to Roma Termini on the 15th, then you just take the Leonardo Express to the airport.
Posted by
Citizen of the World
2679 posts
The unfortunate part of this is that— for less than the price of the Florence to Rome train ticket— they could pay for a flight from Florence to Catania and save some euros and hours and hours of time.
C’est la vie!
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
17057 posts
Echoing Jeff: while Trenitalia (this is the website you should be using) shows no "direct" (meaning no changes) trains from SMN to Fiumicino airport, there are any number of them which involve just a change at Roma Termini to the Leonardo Express> airport.
(if you haven't experienced this yet, be sure that you're looking at the correct date on the Trenitalia site. My search for May 15 ended up on May 14. Just click the correct date at the top of the page.)
Posted by
Firenze, Italy
1855 posts
As far as I know, in spite of the works, the Trenitalia administration has promised to intensify services to Rome from this week as much larger crowds are expected both for the papal funeral service and for the conclave week. Also services between the city and the airport will be intensified. Personally, I suspect that the direct service to FCO is not compatible with more intense timetable.
Posted by
OP
7 posts
Thanks to all for the suggestions and info. We've got a direct train to Roma TerminI and will take the express to the airport. So all good to go.
I also requested a refund for our cancelled train - will see if/when that shows up! And I had the same thing happen with the date changing from May 15 to 14 on the Trenitalia site.