Train from Milan to Rome?

Centrale in Milan and Termini in Rome. You are referencing minor stations. Use bahn.de for general schedule info. These private lines use smaller stations.

If you are coming from Verona on the high-speed, make sure that your end destination is either Milano-Porto Garibaldi or Milano-Rogoredo. You will most likely change trains at Milano Centrale to get to either of these stations. The new Italo train departs from Porto Garibaldi or Rogoredo. Your best station in Rome will be Roma-Tiburtina. If you are heading to the airport from Tiburtina, there is a frequent train run.

Janet, Given the fact that your ultimate destination is FCO, I'd suggest using the Trenitalia trains rather than Italo, as the process will be somewhat simpler and easier. Rather than travel from Verona to Milan and then change trains, I'd suggest travelling directly from Verona Porta Nuova to Roma Termini on a FrecciaArgento (time 2H:55M if you choose a direct train with no changes - a departure from Verona at 07:55 will get you to Rome at 10:50). When you arrive at Termini, transfer to the Leonardo Express for the trip to the airport (35M, departures about every 20 minutes from Track 24 as I recall, current fares ~€14 PP - DON'T forget to validate your ticket!). The Italo method will be somewhat longer with more changes. I usually like the simplest and easier solution. Happy travels!

Janet, Did you make a typo when you wrote "Verina" rather than "Verona" or do you mean the town of Verina near Chiuso? What time does your flight leave FCO?

Follow Ken's advice and you'll do well. No need to go to Milan if you are going from Verona to Rome. Go straight south with a non stop Trenitalia train. All railroads lead to Rome but some are shorter.

Thank you all so much for your help. The Trenitalia definately sounds like the way to go. Our flight isn't until the next day, so we can take the train at any time during the day. (PS I did mispell Verona). Janet

Oops, I just checked again and we're coming from Varenna (on Lake Como) not Verona. Big difference!! Do I still look for the Trenitalia train?

Your route will be Varenna-Esino to Milano Centrale on a Regionale train and Milano Centrale to Roma Termini on a Frecciarossa (high-speed) train. Both trains are operated by Trenitalia. See the timetables on trenitalia.com. When are you taking this ride? If you book Milano-Roma well in advance (up to 120 days allowed) on trenitalia.com, you can get a Super Economy fare of €29.00. The base (standard) 2nd class fare is €86.00. The 2nd class fare on a Regionale train from Varenna-Esino to Milano is €6.45. Buy your ticket at the station.

Italo offers, sometimes, much cheaper tickets. It is rather easy to get to stations served by Italo, both in Milano (Pta. Garibaldi) and Roma (R. Tiburtina). If those tickets are cheaper, I'd go for it. Italo trains are also much newer and, frankly, the state-of-the-art of high-speed trains in Europe.

When flying out of FCO, I hope you're flying closer to mid day. FCO takes security much more seriously than at most airports, and the airport's not easy to maneuver through. When you get off the Leonardo Express, you'll have find a bus stop to get over to Terminal 5. The signs are not marked clearly. Getting through their security process is also time consuming. Someone taking the 8:00 a.m. flights might have to get up in Rome @ 4:00 a.m. and take a car to the airport to be sure they'd be on time. And Leonardo Express security is really tough looking for the date/time stamps on the train tickets.

In reference to flying out of Rome FCO. Terminal 5 is only for US based airlines and for El Al (i.e. all the likely terrorist targets). It's not even a terminal, it's a "Passenger check in processing facility" conceived on the model of Ellis Island (just a little nicer). Once you are done with that checking in and security, in fact, you'll be transported back to the main terminals where everybody else is. If you are not flying on an airplane operated by a US airline, you will not go to Terminal 5.

You can get to Milano Porta Garibaldi from Varenna-Esino by changing at Lecco or Monza depending on which train you take. That will save navigating the Milan Subway to get from Centrale to Porta Garibaldi, not to mention the subway fare, buying a ticket, and navigating the huge Centrale station.

The cheapest advance discount fare on an Italo train from Milan to Rome is €35.00. As I said in a previous post, the cheapest advance discount fare on a Trenitalia train is €29.00. Therefore, I stick with my recommendation to take a Trenitalia Regionale train from Varenna-Esino to Milano Centrale and a Trenitalia Frecciarossa train from Milano Centrale to Roma Termini.

Janet, FWIW, I definitely agree with Tim on his suggested travel route from Varenna to Rome. It's the simplest solution (IMO), and the price won't be much different if you can get the discounted fares. The Freccia trains are very modern and VERY fast!