My girlfriend and I are looking into taking an overnight train in March 2011 from Rome to Bolzano, mostly for the experience. I found two trains on trenitalia's website that make the journey with no train changes. I cannot find the same trains on the user friendly DB Bahn and more costly eurorailways website. DB Bahn and eurorailways do list nearly the same trains from March 2010, which change little from year to year I am informed. I am really interested in and would feel much more comfortable reserving this particular leg of our trip if possible. Apart from the numerous issues I hear of trenitalia, I can't even make sense of the website. Is there another way to reserve tickets in Italy? Or, will these trains eventually make it to DB Bahn and eurorailways?
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32353 posts
Shawn, Is there a particular reason you wish to use a night train on that route? That trip is easily done during the day, with a travel time of about 4H:45M via EuroStar Italia / Alta Velocita trains (direct - no changes). Using a night train will be about twice as long, often with one change in Verona. It's very easy to buy tickets in Italy (which will include reservations). It shouldn't be too busy at that time of the year, but if you're concerned about that buy the tickets a few days before you'll be travelling. You can either use the automated Kiosks or stop at a staffed ticket window. BTW, are you located in the area where the Shark attacks have been occurring? Hopefully the situation has improved. Cheers!
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
Night trains: you probably want to avoid night trains with a train change in the middle of the night (if you want to sleep).
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19274 posts
I don't know where you are looking. For March 15, the "f Trenitalia" website shows only one connection from Rome to Bolzano between 18:05 and 8:05 the next morning. That's an Expresso to Bologna and two regional trains changing at Verona. The 8:05 train (ESAV) is direct, but that's a day train. There is also a direct ESAV at 16:05. The German Rail site (also known as the"DB" site or the "Bahn" site) show more trains, including an ICN (Intercity Night) to Padova with two other trains to Bolzano.
Posted by
OP
Stuttgart, Germany
7 posts
Lee, If I am reading trenitalia's site correctly, Espresso 1602 and Espresso 824 run from Rome Tiburtina to Bolzano on 12 March 2011. It appears as though neither train has change along the way. Are Espressos more like a regional train? Ken, We are looking into overnight trains mostly for the experience. I utilized them quite a bit when traveling through France, Germany and Austria a few years back. I suppose a day train in under 5 hours could be an option.
As an FYI, I am located where the numerous shark attacks have occured. Egypt has pretty much shut down all aquatic activity in the Red Sea around Sharm for the time being. I prefer dry land anyway, so no problem staying cafe. Thanks to both of you for the help as well. I am having a little more difficulty with trains in Italy than I did with other countries in the past.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19274 posts
OK, the 12th is a Saturday. I used a weekday in March. Schedules are different. European railroads update their schedule this time of the year and Italy always seems to do it later. Hopefully these trains don't show on the Bahn website because Trenitalia hasn't put them on the central database yet. However, if you select the "radio button" following either train, it say "Reservations must be made in Italy" The trains, if they do exist, should make it eventually to the Bahn schedule, but since they are Italian trains, you won't be able to reserve them there. RailEurope and Eurorailways might sell you reservations (? RailEurope doesn't show the trains yet), but in my experience they'll charge more.