Roma / Rome to Ancona by train

How to travel from Rome to Ancona by train

In common with many Italian rail routes there is a choice of services when making a journey by train from Rome/Roma to Ancona:

  1. If the timings suit and you want the peace of mind of a reserved seat, take the Intercity (IC) trains.
    Also because limited numbers of the cheaper 'Super Economy' tickets will be made available for the IC trains, if you book ahead, they can be money savers.

  2. The RV trains are more frequent and you can book last minute at the station with the peace of mind that you won't have saved by booking in advance.
    So if you buy tickets on the travel date, these RV trains become the cheapest option.

Though this isn't a high speed route, so the Intercity trains are only marginally faster.

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Routes

Option 1: taking the Regionale Veloce trains

Journey Summary

Travel Time
3hr 46min - 4hr 9min
Frequency
Daily
Travel Information

As seats can't be reserved on these trains, aim to be waiting on the concourse at Roma Termini, ticket(s) in hand, when the binari (track/platform) that the train will be departing from is confirmed.

You won't save money if you book tickets for a journey by these RV trains in advance (you will when booking tickets for those IC trains), but it's worth confirming the departure times on Trenitalia, even if you will be buying tickets at the station

If you want to buy tickets at Roma Termini then it's a good idea to be at the station a minimum of 40 mins before the train departs.
Buying tickets from a Trenitalia ticket machine is usually quicker than purchasing at the ticket office, but at busy times there can be lengthy queues for the machines.

On particularly busy trains, finding a spare seat at Roma Tiburtina can be a lottery, so this is a journey on which boarding at Roma Termini is recommended.

Final Destination: Ancona

All trains also call at: Roma Tiburtina and Foligno (connect in Foligno for Assisi and Perugia; an alternative to the direct trains to these destinations)

5 x trains per day

Tickets

Book early and save: No - not if you travel by these Regionale Veloce (RV) trains from Rome to Ancona, though you can save by booking in advance for the alternative IC trains.

Tickets will cost the same price if purchased at the same station immediately before departure if you travel by these RV trains.

If you will be buying tickets at the station just before departure, tickets for  these Regionale Veloce (RGV/RV) trains will be much cheaper than the price of those IC trains.

However, if you are booking in advance the price difference with the faster IC trains will be more marginal; and the IC train tickets will include an assigned seat.

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

Scenic - YesLandscape (Hills / Mountains)Coastal viewsNot High Speed

Good to Know

Don't forget to stamp your ticket before boarding these trains.

Between Foligno and Ancona Between Foligno and Ancona
Between Foligno and Ancona Between Foligno and Ancona
Between Foligno and Ancona Between Foligno and Ancona
The Adriatic coast near Ancona The Adriatic coast near Ancona
The Adriatic coast near Ancona The Adriatic coast near Ancona

The European Rail Timetable map marks which routes are scenic, but this route from Rome to Ancona isn't singled out, despite the fact that it has to thread a path through the Apennine Mountains.
SMTJ is a big fan of the timetables list of Most Scenic Routes and having made this journey we're a tad surprised it hasn't been included.

The highlight of the journey comes when the train threads through the Appenine foothills hills after Foligno, and then it runs along the coast for the final 10 mins the journey - the sea is on the left!

Option 2: taking the Intercity trains

Journey Summary

Travel Time
3hr 24min - 3hr 33min (Intercity train)
Frequency
Daily
Travel Information

These two Intercity (IC) trains which are usually scheduled to depart from Roma Termini station at around 07:50 and around 15:25.
If you want the peace of mind of travelling from to Ancona in a reserved seat, you'll need to take these trains.

Final Destination: Ancona

All trains also call at: Foligno (connect in Foligno for Assisi and Perugia - an alternative to the direct trains to these destinations)

Note that these Intercity trains from Rome to Ancona don't call at Roma Tiburtina station - but the alternative Regionale Veloce trains do call there.

2 x trains per day

Tickets

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings open: 3 months ahead of the travel date

The cheapest 'Super Econony' tickets for these journeys tend to still be available, even when booking only a couple of days ahead.
Though if you will be booking at the station on your day of travel, the alternative Regionale Veloce trains will be cheaper.

Italo trains do not operate on this route between Rome and Ancona.

Where to book
Ticket Provider Approximate Cost
Italia rail from €12.90

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.

Trenitalia from €12.90

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.

On this journey

Journey Features

Scenic - YesNot High SpeedLandscape (Hills / Mountains)Coastal views
Between Foligno and Ancona Between Foligno and Ancona
Between Foligno and Ancona Between Foligno and Ancona
Between Foligno and Ancona Between Foligno and Ancona
Between Foligno and Ancona Between Foligno and Ancona
Approaching Ancona #1 Approaching Ancona #1

The IC trains take the same route as the RV trains.

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