There is a choice of two express services when taking a train from Bologna to Bari:
1 - The more frequent Frecce services are also faster, despite the lack of a high speed line; but that speed tends to come at a higher price.
2 - There also InterCity services, which are slower because they make more station calls.
Final Destination: Lecce (or Taranto or Bari)
The trains also call at: Ancona and Pescara
There is no high speed line between Bologna and Bari but these Frecce trains are faster than the alternative Intercity trains for Bologna to Bari journeys, because they make fewer station calls.
10 x trains per day
The first departure of the day is around 30 mins slower than the norm as it takes a different, partially high-speed route, via Roma.
*Save by booking in advance: Yes, for more details on how to obtain the cheapest prices for Frecce trains see the guide to Italian rail tickets.
Online bookings usually open: up to 6 months ahead of the travel date; though the booking period will be typically be shorter when looking up journeys for travel after the second Sunday in December.
The faster (AV) train services between and The AV train service between Bologna and Bari is provided by:
(1) these Frecce trains operated by Trenitalia and
(2) alternative Italo trains
Tickets for the Trenitalia Frecce trains are placed up to 6 months in advance, but the Italo train tickets are typically made available around 3 to 4 months ahead.
Trenitalia does not sell tickets for the Italo trains - and Italo does not sell tickets for the Trenitalia trains.
Trains departing at different times can be cheaper than others leaving on the same day, so you may need to look through the day's departures to find the cheapest fares.
If you're booking no more than 4 months ahead and have no particular preference for the train that you will be taking, the price and departure times of the Frecce and Italo trains can be directly compared with Trainline or Omio, though look out for the fact that both of these services will charge a booking fee.
Rail Pass Users:
If you will be travelling with a valid Eurail or InterRail pass, you will need to reserve prior to boarding these trains, either at the station (using a Trenitalia ticket machine or ticket desk) OR by booking them online.
How to book the rail pass reservations online is included on our guide to using rail passes in Italy.
If you will be travelling with a rail pass, it's worth targeting the faster trains, as the reservation fees are the same regardless of which Frecce service you travel by.
Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
---|---|---|
Italia rail | from €30 | |
Trenitalia | from €29.90 | |
Trainline | from €29.90 | |
Omio | from €30 | |
Save A Train | from €29.90 |
These trains DON'T depart from the AV station at Bologna Centrale, instead they depart from the main part of station in the open air.
If your reserved seat is on the left the train (when facing the direction of travel) you'll be able to fully appreciate the highlights of the journey - which kick in after the train has departed from Rimini.
(If your seat isn't on the left, temporarily move over to one which is).
Once the train has travelled around 20 mins south of Rimini, you'll be able to revel in one of the best coastal train journeys in all of Europe.
For much of this part of the trip, the beach is all that separates The Adriatic from the train - a particular highlight is the part of the journey to the north of Ancona.
The sea views then continue, with the train travelling by the coast for around an hour in total either side of Pescara.
Final Destination: Taranto or Bari
The trains also call at: Ancona and Pescara
These Intercity train are slower, but generally cheaper than the alternative faster Frecce trains.
They can be much cheaper when the most heavily discounted 'Super Economy' tickets on those Frecce trains have sold out.
Rail pass users should take these IC trains, do so and you will save €10.
Sunday to Friday = 5 x trains per day
Saturday = 6 x trains
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: 3 months* ahead of the travel date
*Not all departures may be available when looking 3 months ahead, but all trains should be visiible around 11 weeks ahead.
Take care when choosing departures on this Bologna to Bari train journey, these Intercity trains are nearly always cheaper than the alternative Frecce trains.
Rail Pass Users:
If the timings of the alternative Intercity trains suit, then target these trains and not the alternative Frecce trains.
Target these IC trains if you want to save €10 on rail pass reservation fees.
Though in the summer and at weekends, if you'll want the peace of mind of being able to remain in the same seat for the entire journey, paying the optional €3 reservation fee is virtually essential.
Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
---|---|---|
Trenitalia | from €12.90 | |
Italia rail | from €12.90 |
These trains DON'T depart from the AV station at Bologna Centrale - instead they depart from the main station.
These trains take the same route as the Frecce trains.
Final Destination: Bari
2 x trains per day
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open:: around 3 months ahead of the travel date
The high speed (AV) train service between Bologna and Napoli is provided by:
(1) these Italo trains
(2) alternative Frecce trains operated by Trenitalia
Tickets for the Trenitalia Frecce trains are placed on sale around 6 months in advance, but the Italo train tickets are made available around 3 to 4 months ahead.
However, Trenitalia does not sell tickets for the Italo trains - and Italo does not sell tickets for the Trenitalia trains.
If you're booking no more than 4 months ahead and have no particular preference for the train that you will be taking, the price and departure times of the Frecce and Italo trains can be directly compared on with Trainline or Omio, though look out for the fact that both of these services will charge a booking fee.
Trains departing at different times can be cheaper than others leaving on the same day, so you may need to look through the day's departures to find the cheapest fares.
Eurail and InterRail passes can't be used on Italo trains.
Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
---|---|---|
Italo | * | |
Trenitalia | * | |
Omio | * |
These trains take a different route to most of the Frecce services operated by Trenitalia
This trains travel on the high speed speed to the outskirts of Roma.
After reversing direction in Roma Termini station they then travel on another high speed line until Caserta, with the final 3hr 30mins on a conventional railway
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