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.
2hr 54 min
Daily
1 x train 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:
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.
Final Destination: Roma Termini
This train usually departs daily at 15:20, note that it departs from Torino Porta Nuova station and does not call at Torino Porta Susa station.
If that departure time doesn't suit there is also a daily direct InterCity train, which is usually scheduled to depart at 10:35 or 10:40.
Even though this Frecciabianca train passes through the Cinque Terre, it doesn't make any station calls at the stations in the five spectacular coastal villages.
Nor does it stop at any station before the Cinque Terre, which has good connections to the trains which do call there.
So if you're final destination is in the Cinque Terre and you take this train, the best option is to make connections in La Spezia; despite the fact that you'll ultimately be travelling back in the same direction.
The tilting types of Frecciabianca train are used on this route.
The spectacular sea views can be seen on the right south of Genova, when facing the direction of travel.
The railway line also passes through the Cinque Terre towns after Monterroso; where there are fleeting glimpses of the coast between the frequent tunnels.
Those tunnels made it tricky to film this journey when ShowMeTheJourney spent an afternoon travelling back and forth by train between Genova and La Spezia, hence the attempt at a video montage.
Also as can be seen the weather wasn't the best either, but the video does showcase that it can be worth taking in these sea views, even on a grey day!
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings usually open: 4 months ahead of the travel date
This daily Frecciabianca train usually departs from Torino Porta Nuova at 15:20, so if you want to travel by it, target that departure time when looking up this journey.
Though when you look up this journey, you will also see the other option which involves taking the InterCity train from Torino to La Spezia
Rail pass users will need to pay a reservation fee prior to boarding this train, so can save money by taking that IC train.
3hr 10min
Daily
1 x train 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:
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.
Final Destination: Salerno
This train usually departs daily at 10:40 note that it departs from Torino Porta Nuova station and does not call at Torino Porta Susa station.
This train calls at Sestri Levante, if you're heading to the Cinque Terre towns, you'll have a faster journey if you change trains there and not in La Spezia.
If this morning departure time doesn't suit there is a daily direct Frecciabianca train, which is usually scheduled to depart from Torino/Turin at 15:20, though that train does not call in Sestri Levante.
This train takes the same route as the Frecciabianca train.
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings usually open: 4 months ahead of the travel date
This daily InterCity train usually departs from Torino Porta Nuova at 10:40, so if you want to travel by it, target that departure time when looking up this journey.
Travelling with Eurail or InterRail
Target this IC train if you want to save €10 on rail pass reservation fees.
Though if you'll want the peace of mind of being able to remain in the same seat for the entire journey, paying the optional €3 reservation fee is virtually essential.
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