Train travel : First or second class?

On Italian trains, there are 3 seats to a row instead of 4. Thus, you get more arm room and bit more leg room. However, you will find that 2nd class is quite comfortable and not worth the cost of stepping up to 1st class.

Even less difference. On Italian trains, I haven't seen a compelling reason to purchase first class. Especially now that the trains are a lot faster, there's even less time to enjoy whatever extra benefits you may get! It's certainly not like the difference between economy and business/first on the airlines.

Denny, it also depends on what time of year you are travelling and how comfortable you want to be. If it's during the hot, humid summer months in Italy, and you are travelling more than a 1/2 hour and you are on a regional train (not a modern high speed IC or eurostar train), I would buy 1st class tickets because of the A/C. Yes, there is a/c in some second class coaches, however, it doesn't always work. Also, more people travel 2nd class in Italy, therefore, those coaches are crowded and, because of that, the small a/c vent in a full compartment isn't very effective. In my opinion, in Italy, yes, there is a big difference between 1st & 2nd class--in Germany, no there isn't.

Hmmm...I thought the vast majority of regional trains were only second-class in Italy?

Last year, on the train from Orvietto to Rome, and its return, I had a choice of 1st or 2nd class. Thinking it was no big deal and that it was only for 1 hour, I chose 2nd class, much to my husband's dismay. On the full train back to Orvieto, and a whole year later, I often hear about that hot train ride.

In Italy, most 2nd class carriages on the regional trains are not air-conditioned. I believe that the 1st class carriages are. As you step up to the ICPlus and Eurostar trains, everything is air-conditioned.

There are a couple of IC and IC plus trains that make that run...that's probably where you got the first and second class cars. If that's the case, then it should have had air conditioning.....probably wasn't working :( . The rest are regional trains.

Eurostar and IC Plus have AC in all classes - just depends on if it is working in your coach! Regional trains are more hit and miss. There is NO 1st class on a local or regional train because it is open seating. Many regionals DO NOT have AC... or if they do it may not work.

1st class seating is slightly "bigger" than the seats in 2nd class and you usually have features like a footrest in 1st. The biggest advantage is that 1st class is USUALLY empty and you may have an entire coach to yourself! On holidays, 2nd class may sell out and only 1st class tickets are available.

For the price, and length of time we are on the trains, if we travel IC Plus or Eurostar,we travel 2nd class...

Ciao,
Ron

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