The Est departure concourse at Bologna Centrale towards the end of binario 3

Bologna to Prato by train

How to take a rail journey from Bologna to Prato

Despite Prato being a relatively short distance from Bologna, there is a choice of train service options when taking a journey between these two cities.
If you can book ahead and the departure times suit, you may as well travel in the comparative comfort of the IC trains, they're a few euros more expensive, but you will have assigned seats.
Though if you want to buy walk-up tickets at the station for a last-minute journey those IC trains become a more expensive option, so you can save money by taking the more frequent Regioanale trains.

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Routes

Option 1: taking the Regionale trains

Journey Summary

Travel Time
1hr 14min
Frequency
Daily
Travel Information

Final Destination: Prato

Most of these trains to Prato depart from the Est departure hall at Bologna Centrale.

This Est concourse, pictured above, is a 3-5 min walk from the main departure hall.

Mon-Fri= 18 x trains per day
Saturday = 15 x trains per day
Sunday = 9 x trains per day

Tickets

Book early and save: No

Tickets will cost the same price if purchased at the  station immediately before departure.

If you will be booking at the station, these trains will be around €5 cheaper than the faster InterCity trains.

Though if you can book ahead online, and the timings of those IC trains suit, they will cost only a couple of €s more than paying on the travel date for these Regionale trains.

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Where to book
Ticket Provider Approximate Cost
Trenitalia *

Trenitalia Guide

Trenitlalia is the national rail operator in Italy and in addition to its cheaper types of ticket; it also typically offers other discounts available to non-Italians, which include:

  • Group Offers, provides for a discount of up to 50% when 3-5 Adults travel together.
  • Family Offer for when groups of 2 - 5 people are travelling together and at least one of the party is a aged 11 and under.
  • The Children Free Offer is available for journeys by Frecce trains, when groups of 2 - 5 people are travelling together and at least one of the party is a aged 15 and under.
    Those aged 15 and under travel for free, but the Adults will need to purchase full price 'Base' tickets.

On this journey

Journey Features

Not High Speed

Good to Know

If you have a rail pass and want to avoid paying any reservation fees on the trains between Bologna and the city centre station in Firenze/Florence; Firenze S.M.Novella - you can take these trains and make connections in Prato.
There are at least 3 x trains per hour on from Prato to Firenze S.M.Novella.

Option 2: taking the Intercity trains

Journey Summary

Travel Time
42min - 48min
Frequency
Daily
Travel Information

Final Destination: Napoli or Roma or Terni

There is no high speed line between Bologna and Prato but these IC trains trains are faster and more comfortable than the alternative Regionale trains..

5 x trains per day

Tickets

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings open: 3 months ahead of the travel date

If you can book ahead, the cheapest tickets for these faster Intercity trains will cost less than €2 more than the slower Regionale trains; and you will have a complimentary seat reservation(s).

Where to book
Ticket Provider Approximate Cost
Trenitalia from €9.90

Trenitalia Guide

Trenitlalia is the national rail operator in Italy and in addition to its cheaper types of ticket; it also typically offers other discounts available to non-Italians, which include:

  • Group Offers, provides for a discount of up to 50% when 3-5 Adults travel together.
  • Family Offer for when groups of 2 - 5 people are travelling together and at least one of the party is a aged 11 and under.
  • The Children Free Offer is available for journeys by Frecce trains, when groups of 2 - 5 people are travelling together and at least one of the party is a aged 15 and under.
    Those aged 15 and under travel for free, but the Adults will need to purchase full price 'Base' tickets.
Trainline from €9.90

Trainline Guide

Italia Rail from €9.90

Italia Rail Guide

Italiarail lives up to its name by selling tickets for rail journeys within Italy and the core feature of its service is that it is primarily designed to be used by international visitors to Italy.
So the English translations of place names are used when looking up journeys and the terms and conditions for using each type of ticket are clearly explained.
It also clearly points out the additional costs of upgrading to other classes and types of tickets while spelling out the additional benefits of doing so.
Though Italiarail will charge a booking fee, typically of around €3.

The Early Bird service

Italiarail has launched an 'early bird' pre-booking service for journeys by Frecce trains.
Tickets can be booked up to a year ahead of travel at a flat-rate price per route, before the tickets have been released for sale by Trenitalia.
If when they are placed on sale, the price is cheaper than what you have already paid to Italiarail, it will automatically refund the price difference.
Conversely, if the price is more expensive, you won't be charged the price difference.
You can also have the peace of mind of securing your seat(s) on the Frecce train(s) when you are first planning a trip.
If before the tickets are placed on sale, you decide to change your plans, you can request a refund; but once the tickets are released for sale, you will then be bound by the terms and conditions of the ticket(s) you have booked.

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