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Trenitalia - Salerno to Taormina - Changes?

Hi all--

In the past 3-4 years, when planning out the logistics of a couple trips by train to Southern Italy & Sicily that ended up being scrapped due to COVID and other family matters, I remember that the Salerno to Taormina stretch had at least one and possibly two changes of train.

Even though I realize I can't technically book until six months out from the day of travel, for our April 2025 trip I'm seeing this (for November dates):

Trenitalia #723 - LV Salerno 1039A; AR Taormina 424P.

I'm assuming that does include the train/ferry from Villa San Giovanni in Calabria to Messina in Sicily, which I'm very much looking forward to. But I'm seeing absolutely no changes of train on this leg, where you'd normally see it on the Trenitalia site. Now, I'm not complaining at all if this is the case, but I'd like to know for sure. Did Trenitalia actually make improvements to their service?! I know a Rome to Salerno nonstop has been introduced since we last traveled in 2017, so that's nice too!

Any insight from a Trenitalia vet on this forum? Thanks in advance!

Posted by
17562 posts

If you look at the details on Trenitalia, they show that train going from Villa San Giovanni to Messina Centrale and then ending at Taormina-Giardini at 16:24. So they must put the train on the ferry?

At Taormina-Giardini you have 56 minutes to wait for Autobus TA130 from there to Taormina Centrale in the city.

Posted by
2100 posts

Yes they do, the train car goes on the ferry. Actually, it's reportedly the last train/ferry left in Europe. The videos on YouTube look fascinating.

If I'd have to wait 56 minutes, I'll have the transport people (Sicily Life) pick us up at Taormina/Giardini.

Thanks!

Posted by
17562 posts

I rode one of those trains-on-the-ferry over 50 years ago, taking a night train from Paris to London. The train cars went on the ferry from Calais to Dover.