Italy Launches New Overnight Trains Which Won't Burn A Hole In Your Pocket

Trains are having a moment with European travellers as they look to roam the continent on rails. However, the high cost of tickets has turned many away from availing of this option. Now, Italy’s state operator Trenitalia has announced cost-effective and high-speed “Frecciarossa” services starting from June 21.

The Milano Centrale to Lecce overnight train will take just over nine hours with stops at Milano Rogoredo, Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena, Bologna Centrale, Foggia, Barletta, Bari Centrale, Monopoli, Fasano, Ostuni and Brindisi. It will depart at 10:45PM and arrive at 7:57AM the next day. The return journey leaves Lecce at 9:05PM and arrives at Milano Centrale at 7:35AM.

Another overnight service will run from Milano Centrale to Reggio di Calabria in the southwestern region of Calabria. This will take nearly 11 hours, departing at 9:20PM and arriving at 8:11AM. The train will stop in Milano Rogoredo, Reggio Emilia, Bologna Centrale, Firenze S. M. Novella, Paola, Lamezia Terme Centrale, Rosarno and Villa S. Giovanni.

Both services will start on June 21 and run on Fridays and Saturdays. The new “Frecciarossa” trains are faster and costs half the price of the Intercity Notte sleeper trains which run on the same route. Tickets start from INR 2,669 one way.

While the fare is more affordable, the trains do not have cabins so travellers will be sitting upright for the duration of the journey. There is also no dining car but snacks, sandwiches and drinks can be found at the bar. The business class section offers comfier and bigger seats with free Wi-Fi and free snacks. A seat in this section costs INR 4,009 on the Milan-Lecce route and INR 4,902 on the Milan-Reggio di Calabria route.