Travelling to Italy by Train
Travelling by rail from Britain to Italy has the advantage of giving you the opportunity to stop by at other destinations in Europe . Tickets issued in Britain are valid for up to two months and have no restrictions on the number of times you break your journey. If you intend to meander your way to Italy you will find the Thomas Cook European Timetable invaluable. It is published monthly, so make sure you get an up to date version, and is available from any Thomas Cook branch.
If you purchase an inter-rail card, available for young people up to 26 years old, you will be given a 50 per cent discount on railways in Italy until its expiry date. The under 26s can also obtain discounts with a BIJE card. This is a personal international second class ticket, valid for two months, which entitles the holder to a discount on a chosen route. The discount varies according to the railway network used, but is generally 30 per cent. The card is available from tour operators and Transalpino, Wasteels and Eurotrain/CTS.
Senior Citizen cards are also valid in Italy and give you considerable reductions.
A normal return ticket from London to Rome costs in the region of £200. You can expect to pay a supplement on top of this for a sleeping berth. A direct trip from London to Rome takes about 26 hours, the four commonest routes from London being as follows:
- London, Calais, Paris, Modena, Turin
- London, Calais, Switzerland, Chiassio, Milan
- London, Calais, Paris, French Riviera, Ventimiglia
- London, Ostend, Karlsruhe, Munich, Brenner.
The Orient Express
If you want to arrive in Italy in style there is always the Orient Express which runs from London to Venice via Paris and Milan. You can expect to pay from £1235 upwards for a single journey, inclusive of meals. For further details contact www.orient-expresstrains.com
Italian State Railway
Tickets can be booked online for the Italian State Railway at www.trenitalia.com with secure credit card facility and received at your home address or collected from self service machines at main railway stations.
