Italy Launches First Direct High-Speed North-South Rail Route

| Wed, 05/27/2020 - 03:00
Frecciarossa in Italian train station

Italy’s Frecciarossa train service, the ‘star’ of high-speed, is set to begin a new direct route that will connect Turin in Italy’s north to Reggio Calabria in Italy’s south, without having to change trains in Rome. 

Tickets will be available for sale on ItaliaRail's website, the service will begin on June 3 for trains departing until August 8th according to Mike Fuller the President & CEO of ItaliaRail.com.

Until now, only Frecciargento and Frecciabianca trains (slower versions of the Frecciarossa trains) have provided service to Reggio Calabria; however, they have only been departing from Rome, so for anyone coming from the north, it is necessary to make a stop and change trains in Rome.

The new daily Frecciarossa will depart Torino Porta Nuova at 8 am and arrive in Reggio di Calabria Centrale at 6:50 pm. From Reggio Calabria departure is at 10:10 am with arrival in Turin at 9 pm.

The following intermediate stops are scheduled along the route: Torino Porta Susa, Milano Centrale, Milano Rogoredo, Reggio Emilia AV, Bologna Centrale, Firenze Santa Maria Novella, Roma Tiburtina, Roma Termini, Napoli Afragola, Napoli Centrale, Salerno, Paola, Lamezia Terme Centrale, Rosarno, Villa San Giovanni.

Train # 9523 leaves Torino P. NUOVO at 08:00 and Arrives in REGGIO CALABRIA at 18:50 with the following stops:

TORINO P. SUSA (8.08/10) - MILANO CENTRALE (9.00/10) - MILANO ROGOREDO (9.18/20) - Reggio E. AV MP. (9.54/56) - BOLOGNA C. LE (10.22/25) FIRENZE S.M.N. (11.04/14) - ROMA TIBURTINA (12.40/43) - ROMA TERMINI (12.49/13.00) - NAPOLI AFRAGOLA (13.56/58) 9525: NAPOLI CENTRALE (14.13/25) - SALERNO (15.04/07) - PAOLA (17.00/02) - LAMEZIA T. C.LE (17.28/30) - ROSARNO (18.00/02) - VILLA S.GIOVANNI (18.32/34)

Train # 9542 connecting to # 9548 leaves REGGIO CALABRIA at 10:10 and Arrives in Torino P. NUOVO at 21:00 with the following stops:

Train # 9542: VILLA S.GIOVANNI (10.25/28) - ROSARNO (10.54/56) - LAMEZIA T. C.LE (11.27/30) - PAOLA (11.59/12.02) - SALERNO (13.51/54)

TRANSFER to Train # 9548: NAPOLI CENTRALE (14.28/40) - NAPOLI AFRAGOLA (14.56/58) - ROMA TERMINI (15.55/16.10) ROMA TIBURTINA (16.17/20) - FIRENZE S.M.N. (17.46/55) - BOLOGNA C. LE (18.35/38) - Reggio E. AV MP. (18.58/19.00) - MILANO ROGOREDO (19.39/41) MILANO CENTRALE (19.50/20.00) - TORINO P. SUSA (20.49/51)

In addition, in an effort to better connect Sicily to the cities served by high-speed service, train travelers will soon be able to buy, along with the train ticket on the ItaliaRail.com website, the fast ferry ticket (BluJet -FS Italiane Group) between Villa San Giovanni in Calabria and Messina in Sicily. Ferry and train timetables have been integrated to ensure a smooth connection for those needing to reach the island from the mainland using train and ferry rather than flying. 

“It’s a new service that brings people together now that the country is reopening,” says Gianfranco Battisti, CEO and general manager of the FS Italiane Group. “The arrival of the Frecciarossa will help restart and revitalize the economy and tourism sector of Calabria and the whole of Southern Italy.” 

As part of the new safety precautions due to Covid-19, on Frecciarossa and Frecciargento trains a free safety kit is distributed to all passengers, consisting of a mask, hand sanitizing gel, latex gloves and disposable headrests, together with a can of water. 

Make sure to book your next train travel ticket in Italy on Italiarail.com offering 24/7 customer support in English.