Train or bus from Rome to Matera

Woo! That's going to be a long day. As far as I know, you have two options. Fast train to Bari (four hours) and then FAL (funky) train to Matera (one hour). If you can make the 14:00 train to Bari, arriving there at 18:15, you can train on to Matera at 19:15, arriving 20:44. The 16:00 train to Bari arrives at 20:20, and the last train to Matera leaves at 21:57, arriving 23:24.
Marozzi has a bus, leaving from the Autostazione Tiburtina in Roma at 15:30 and arriving Matera at 22:05. The only later one is at 23:59, arriving Matera at 06:25.
Disclaimer: It's Italy. Schedules can change on a dime. Never count on any schedule!

Thanks Janet in Colorado so much for your information.
It will indeed be a long day as we will travel that morning on a series of flights from Paris, then the passage from Rome to Matera.
Some friends have suggested we drive from Rome Fumincino Airport, keeping the car while there but we are uncertain of the roads south, how long the driving trip would be, and we don't want to mess up. We don't think we can get to a 2 PM train at Termini, but if we could it would all unfold easily.
Any further comment?

We stayed in the Sassi in Matera; I would NOT have wanted to be hassling a car there. And yes, one other comment. If you train in, there are three stations in Matera. Undoubtedly, you'll want the central station, and it's underground. (We hadn't been expecting this and weren't paying attention. We ended up at the south station and had to walk back. It wasn't horrible, but we wished we'd known.)

We too will stay in the Sassi, ours is an 8 room boutiique hotel,L'hotel in pietra in the reworked S. Giovanni Battista church, is it possible you were there two, or are there lots of these
we are offered parking a 10 minute walk away. If you do not have a car how do you see the surrounding sights and cities, example Lecce, decetn busses and trains?
Is it ever nice to be talking to someone who has been there. Marilyn

Walking around Matera will certainly excercise the achilles Marilyn! You won't need a car here, but to visit other places (Lecce, as you suggested), a car would be convenient, as there is less public transport. There is bus transport to/from Taranto which also connects to more southern cities. There is a town near Matera (sorry, can't remember the name) which wins prizes for its bread. In Matera, I loved the pane di pescatore - it was lunch to go. Matera by night is quite magical.

No, we stayed in an apartment near the Duomo. We were there four nights and then went on to Alberobello for four nights and Lecce for four nights, so that made our day trips by public transportation doable. Altamura is the town that's famous for its bread, and we went there by train from Matera. It's true you'll need a car if you want to travel as far as Lecce.
There is one other option from Roma to Matera: Eurostar train to Ferrandina and then private shuttle to Matera (see ShuttleMatera.com). There's a train at 15:45, arriving Ferrandina at 20:44. The shuttle would have to be arranged in advance. It's 30-35 euros for up to three people. You can also arrange the shuttle from Bari to Matera for 65 euros (or, for that matter, Roma to Matera for 500 euros!).

Thanks Pat so much for the info. We make our own bread for our B and b operation here so will be looking for new (to us) concepts and ideas. Thanks, and we will certainly do our best to enjoy Matera and surrounds, day time and night. Marilyn and Glenn
PS. Now where is Madonga in Australia?

Marilyn - I have no idea when you're going to Italy, but just for fun I checked a flight from Fumicino to Bari for October 6. EasyJet has one at 16:00, it arrives at 17:00, and the price is 11.49 euro! A checked bag adds 11.00 euro.

We are arriving on the 28th mid day at Fumincino and will look into that high speed train. Couldbe perfect. Thank you Thank youso much. Information makes travel not only possible but also easier. Glenn

Marilyn, Wodonga is 3 hours north east of Melbourne. Many, many wineries close by and the mountains not far.

We have been to Melbourne twice, and up the Yarra valley to many wineries in the past. We have several friends in Melbourne. Wonderful city. Marilyn