There is a choice of three train services on the Milano to Parma route:
Departure and arrival times and the comparative comfort of the trains will play a part in which type of train you choose to travel by, but the ticket prices and options will also be a factor; see the 'Ticketing Information' below.
When travelling between most cities by train there is only one logical option, though on other journeys there is a choice between different trains or alternative routes. If different options are available you can use the info to decide which is best for you.
1hr 9min (approx)
Daily
7 x trains per day
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.
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:
The high speed line from Milano to the south by-passes Parma, so high speed trains aren't an option on this route.
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings usually open: up to 6 months ahead of the travel date
These Frecce trains trains and the alternative Intercity (IC) trains tend to have similar prices on this route, but tickets for the Frecce trains can be placed on sale around two months in advance of the tickets for the IC trains.
The popularity of a particular departure has more of an impact on the availability of the cheapest tickets, rather than the type of train used for a specific departure
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.
Though when the discounted tickets for the express trains are no longer available, the slower Regionale Veloce trains will be the cheapest option; so if you'll be booking last minute at the station, you're likely to save if you target those trains instead.
Rail Pass Users:
If you will be travelling with a valid Eurail or InterRail pass, you can avoid the €10 rail pass reservation fee required to take these trains aby taking the Intercity trains, which aren't much slower, or the RGV trains.
1hr 24 min (approx)
Daily
Monday to Friday: = 5 x trains per day
Saturday: = 7 x trains per day
Sunday: = 5 x trains
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.
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:
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: up to 4 months ahead of the travel date
These IC trains are around 15 mins slower than the Frecce trains, but tickets tend to cost similar prices.
But as the difference in journey time is fairly marginal, book for which ever departure time suits you; and don't concern yourself with the specific type of train you will be travelling by.
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.
However, when the cheapest tickets have sold out for these IC trains the slower Regionale Veloce (RGV) trains become the cheapest option
If you'll be booking on the the day of travel, you can usually save around €10 by taking those alternative Regionale Veloce trains.
Rail pass users:
If you will be travelling with a valid Eurail or InterRail pass, take care when choosing which train to travel by on this route.
You can avoid paying any rail pass reservation fees at all, if you take these trains, but particularly during the summer, choosing to pay the optional €3 rail pass reservation fee, can ensure you can remain in the same seat when making this journey
You can 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.
1hr 34 min (approx)
Daily
7 x trains per day
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:
Final Destination: Bologna (or Parma)
All trains also call at: Piacenza and Modena
The alternative Frecce and Intercity trains are faster and more comfortable, so why would you choose to travel by these slower trains?
The answer is price, particularly if you'll be booking tickets last minute at the station, you can save more than €10 by taking these Regionale Veloce trains.
During the day these trains usually depart from Milano every other hour; in the hours with odd numbers.
A spontaneous day trip from Milan to gorgeous Parma by train is easily done, but ideally look up the departure times on Trenitalia before heading to the station.
When booking tickets last minute at the station, you can save money by taking these RGV trains, but there will be gaps of two hours between departures.
So look up the departure time of the train you want to take and then be at Milano Centrale thirty minutes before the train is due to leave.
Give yourself time to buy a ticket, there is always a long queue at the booking office in Milano Centrale, so give the ticket machines a try.
Also these RGV trains typically, but not always, depart from binari (platforms/tracks) 22-24, which are further back from the main departure concourse.
Book early and save: No (on these trains)
Tickets will cost the same price if purchased at the station immediately before departure.
When the discounted (Super Economy) tickets have sold out for the Frecce and IC trains, these Regionale Veloce (RGV) trains become the cheapest option.
If you'll be booking at station on the the day of travel, you can usually save around €10 by taking these trains.
Rail pass users should target these trains, you can avoid the €10 rail pass reservation fees that are charged on the Frecce trains.
This second version of ShowMeTheJourney is exciting and new, so we are genuinely thrilled that you are here and reading this, but we also need your help.
We’re striving not to let anything get in the way of providing the most useful service possible, hence a facility has been set up with DonorBox which can be used to support the running costs and make improvements.
Instead of advertising or paywalls, your financial support will make a positive difference to delivering an enhanced service, as there’s a lot of ideas which we want to make happen.
So if you have found the info provided here to be useful, please consider saying thank you.
This is one of more than 100 train travel guides available on ShowMeTheJourney, which will make it easier to take the train journeys you want or need to make. As always, all images were captured on trips taken by ShowMeTheJourney.
TOP