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Roma / Rome to Modena by train
How to take a rail journey from Roma/Rome to Modena
Modena was by-passed when the Bologna to Milano high speed line was constructed, so all but two of the Frecce trains between Roma and Milano inevitably take that line, so don't call in Modena.
Hence when looking up a Roma to Modena journey on the ticket booking websites, nearly all of the options you will see, involve connecting between two trains in Bologna.
However, if the timings suit there are two daily direct Frecce trains, plus two slower Intercity trains, which avoid the need to make connections.
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Routes
Option 1: taking the direct high speed Frecce train
Journey Summary
2hr 50min
Daily
Travel Information
Final Destination: Mantova
This is the only direct train from Roma Termini station to Modena and is it primarily aimed at business travellers, hence its evening departure time of 19:25.
It also calls at Roma Tiburtina station.
1 x train per day
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: up to 6 months ahead
This daily direct Frecce train from Roma Termini to Modena is usually scheduled to depart at 19:25.
Our step-by-step guide to booking train tickets on the Trenitalia (Italian national railways) website is available HERE.
Using Rail Passes:
If you will be travelling in Italy with a Eurail or InterRail pass, you can save €7 or €10 in rail pass reservation fees, by taking an Intercity train from Rome to Modena
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Trenitalia | from €24.90 | |
| Italia rail | from €24.90 |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
When looking up a Roma to Modena journey on the ticket booking websites, nearly all of the options you will see, involve connecting between two trains in Bologna.
Our advice is to pay attention to the time those connections will allow for changing trains in Bologna.
Bologna Centrale is a large station, so for a stress-free transfer choose a connection which allows a minimum of 25 mins to make the transfer; 10 mins to move through the station and 15 mins contingency in case the train from Rome to Bologna is delayed.
Though most of the connections will involve taking a Regionale train on from Bologna to Modena and because seats can't be reserved on these trains, it won't matter which of this type of train service you take on to Modena.
Though when booking journey options which involve taking a combination of Frecce + Regionale trains, you won't then be able to take an Intercity or Frecce train on from Bologna.
This is a journey of three distinct phases:
(1) The high speed line between Rome and Florence is more scenic than most other high speed routes, it's not a beautiful journey, but there is a wow factor of travelling across the rolling landscape at more than 240 km/h.
This video taken from a travelling in the opposite direction showcases the journey experience.
*The direttissima between Rome and Florence was the first high speed railway line to be built in Italy, so it has a slower maximum speed than the other Italian high speed lines.
(2) Once the train has passed Florence it will speed up, but nearly all of the high speed line between Florence and Bologna is within tunnels.
(3) Between Bologna and the Modena the train will be travelling along a conventional railway.
Option 2: taking the Intercity trains
Journey Summary
4 hr 25min (approx)
Daily
Travel Information
Final Destination: Milano
These trains also call at: Bologna
When looking up a Roma to Modena journey on the ticket booking websites, nearly all of the options you will see, involve connecting between two trains in Bologna.
However. taking these Intercity (IC) trains is cheaper than taking a Frecce train from Rome to Bologna and connecting there into another train on to Modena.
And these IC trains are always a (much) cheaper alternative to taking one of the two, much faster direct Frecce trains.
Mon to Thurs: 2 x trains per day
Friday: 3 x trains
Sat/Sun: 2 x trains per day
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: 3 months ahead of the travel date - usuallly
Take these Intercity trains from Roma to Modena and you can usually save at least €20 in comparison to taking the faster Frecce trains.
However, these IC trains don't depart from the main central station in Rome - Roma Termini.
Instead they are usually scheduled to depart from Roma Tiburtina station at around 12:40 and 16:39.
Therefore there are two options for booking tickets for these Intercity (IC) trains:
(1) If you will be travelling to Roma Tiburtina on the metro, search for 'Roma Tiburtina' as the departure station on the ticket booking websites - it will make these IC trains easier to find.
(2) Or book from Roma Termini as your departure station, your tickets(s) will then include both the train from Roma Termini to Roma Tiburtina AND the train on to Modena.
If you're new to booking tickets for train journeys in Italy, we also recommend taking a look at our guide to Italian train tickets - it should help you save time and money and confusion.
Using Rail passes:
If you will be travelling in Italy with a rail pass you can save €10 in rail pass reservation fees by taking these trains and not the Frecce trains from Rome to Modena; or by taking a Frecce train to Bologna and connecting there for Modena.
Though if you'll want the peace of mind of remaining in the same seat for the entire journey, paying the optional €3 reservation fee is virtually essential.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Trenitalia | from €12 approx | |
| Trainline | from €12 approx |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
That Frecce train departs from the main city centre station in Rome; Roma Terrmini.
However, these Intercity trains don't depart from there, instead they're usually scheduled to depart from Roma Tiburtina station daily at 12:40 and 16:35; as well as on Friday only at 17:12.
Accessing Tiburtina is particularly straightforward if the starting point of your journey is located along line B of the Roma Metro, take trains heading to Rebibbia.
This metro line also serves Termini, but it will typically be a time saver to make the transfer at Tiburtina, though the connection isn't step-free.
If you will be travelling with a Eurail or InterRail pass, you can hop on a Regionale train from Termini to Tiburtina station.
If you would:
(1) rather take a metro from central Rome to Tiburtina station, than make a connection between trains at Bologna Centrale station;
(2) prefer to arrive in Modena in the early evening;
then that 12:40 train from Roma Tiburtina can be a particularly good option when travelling on this route.
Take food and drink with you on this journey, there are no on-board catering facilities available on Intercity trains.
Between Roma and Firenze/Florence these Intercity trains travel through a similar landscape, the foothills of the Apennine Mountains, as the high speed trains, though their slower speeds allows more time to take in the scenery.
Though between Firenze and Bologna is the most scenic part of the journey by these Intercity trains; and the high speed trains travel between those two cities in a series of tunnels.
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