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.
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
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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Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
---|---|---|
Trenitalia | * |
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.
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
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).
Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
---|---|---|
Trenitalia | from €9.90 | |
Trainline | from €9.90 | |
Italia Rail | from €9.90 |
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