When travelling from Milano to Bari by train during the day, travellers have a choice of three different train services:
(1) There are the Frecce services operated by Trenitalia and
(2) the competing service operated by Italo, which both spend the first part of their journeys rushing down the high speed line between Roma and Caserta.
(3) There is also the slower Intercity train which takes the non high-speed 'classic route' and also makes more station calls.
On Mondays to Saturdays this Intercity train and the second Frecce and Italo departures of the day, will all arrive in Bari in time to connect for the ferry departure to Patras; from where onward connections are available to Athens/Athina; but the ferry typically departs too early on Sundays for connections to be available.
On Fridays only, another option is to take the overnight train.
Final Destination: Lecce or Bari
All but one of the departures is by Frecciargento trains which commence the journey in Roma, but the train which is typically scheduled to depart from Roma Termini at 10:00 is a Frecciarossa 1000 train that will be calling in Roma while on route from Torino to Bari.
Monday to Friday: 6 x trains per day
Saturday: 5 x trains
Sunday: 6 x trains
*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 high speed (AV) train service between and Roma/Roma Termini and Bari is provided by
(1) these Frecce trains operated by Trenitalia and
(2) alternative Italo 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.
Tickets for the Trenitalia Frecce trains are placed on sale 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.
So, 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.
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.
Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
---|---|---|
Trenitalia | from €23.90 | |
Italia Rail | from €23.90 | |
Omio | * | |
Trainline | * | |
Save A Train | * |
Connecting to the ferries to Grecce in Bari:
Monday to Saturday:
If you will be connecting into the ferry to Patras, that departs from Bari at 19:30, you can take the the Freece train which is usually scheduled to depart from Roma at 10:00, as it is usually scheduled to arrive in Bari at 14:10.
You'll need to be at the ferry terminal at 17:30 to check-in for the crossing, but the time between the train arrival and when you'll need to be at the port, will allow contingency for a delay to the train.
If all is on time you can have a late lunch in Bari before heading to the port.
However, if you want to save money and don't mind setting off from Roma/Rome more than two hours earlier, you can take the InterCity train and still be in Bari in time to make the ferry.
More info on how to make the transfer to the ferry port in Bari is available if you click the Bari Centrale station guide.
Sundays:
On most Sundays the ferry to Patras typically departs Bari at 13:30, but even if the first train of the day from Roma arrives on time at around 12:00, you won't have time to check-in for the ferry departure.
We confess we have yet to take a train all the way from Rome to Bari; hence the lack of images (it's on the agenda in 2022).
But what we do know is that travelling from Rome to Bari, by these Frecce trains, is a journey of three distinct phases:
(1) From Rome to Caserta the train will be travelling at more than 270 km/h on the high speed line.
(2) The train will then cross central Italy on a twisting route to Foggia; hence the tilting version of the Frecciagento trains are used on this route.
There are some very nice views to be enjoyed from the right as the train ascends into the hills on departure from Caserta.
(3) The train will then speed up as its head south to Bari, though views of the Adriatic are sporadic and distant, the railway line here is inland from the coast.
Final Destination: Bari Cle.
These trains are typically scheduled to depart from Roma Termini at 07:45; 11:45 and 17:43.
3 x trains per day
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: around 4 months ahead of the travel date
The high speed (AV) train service between Roma Termini and Bari 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 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 | * | |
Omio | * | |
Trainline | * | |
Happy rail | * |
If you will be connecting into the ferry to Patras, that departs from Bari at 19:30 on Monday to Saturday, you will need to be checking in at the ferry terminal at 17:30.
The 11:45 Italo train departure from Roma gets into Bari at 16:10, so this should make for a particularly good connection.
We confess we have yet to take a train all the way from Rome to Bari; hence the lack of images (it's on the agenda in 2022).
But what we do know is that travelling from Rome to Bari, by these Frecce trains, is a journey of three distinct phases:
(1) From Rome to Caserta the train will be travelling at more than 270 km/h on the high speed line.
(2) The train will then cross central Italy on a twisting route to Foggia; hence the tilting version of the Frecciagento trains are used on this route.
There are some very nice views to be enjoyed from the right as the train ascends into the hills on departure from Caserta.
(3) The train will then speed up as its head south to Bari, though views of the Adriatic are sporadic and distant, the railway line here is inland from the coast.
Final Destination: Lecce (or Taranto)
The daily Intercity (IC) train is usually scheduled to depart from Roma Termini at 07:28, with an additional Friday only departure at 16:01.
The Frecce train which usually departs Rome at 08:01 overtakes the daily Intercity train and gets to Bari around 1hr 25 mins before the IC train is due to arrive.
Mon to Thurs: 1 x train per day
Fri: 2 x trains
Saty/Sun: 1 x train per day
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: 3 months ahead of the travel date
If you don't book more than 3 months ahead, you can compare the prices and journey times of the InterCity train and the faster Frecce trains.
Those Frecce trains are more frequent, but their speed comes at a price, as they're more expensive than the Intercity train..
Rail pass users
Target this IC train f you want to save €10 on rail pass reservation fees.
Though if you'll want the peace of mind of remaining in the same seat for the entire journey, paying the optional €3 fee is virtually essential.
Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
---|---|---|
Italia Rail | from €14.90 | |
Trenitalia | from €14.90 |
Connecting to the ferries to Greece:
If you will be connecting into the ferry from Bari to Patras on Monday - Saturday, taking this IC train will bring you to Bari at around 14:00, more than three hours before you need to be at the ferry port to check-in for the crossing,
More info on how to make the transfer to the ferry port in Bari is available if you click the Bari Centrale rail station guide.
Final Destination: Lecce
The Intercity Notte train is usually scheduled to depart from Roma Termini on Friday evenings only at 23:48 and it arrives in Bari on Saturday morning shortly before 06:30.
Departs on Fridays only
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: 3 months ahead of the travel date - usually
See the 'Train Guide' below for info on the type of accommodation available and the how tickets can be booked.
Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
---|---|---|
Trenitalia | * |
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