Frecciarossa and Frecciarossa 1000 trains operated by Trenitalia share the high-speed line between Torino/Turin and Milano, with Italo trains.
They have similar speeds, so the differences between them are to do with the on-board experiences, check out the 'Trains' guides below. and the fact that tickets for the Italo trains and Frecce trains can be purchased from different online booking agents - it's a route on which you can save by booking in advance.
In addition to those trains which rush down the high speed line, there area also Regionale (RV) trains which still travel along the older 'classic' route
So they're much slower, but if you want to save when booking tickets, particularly at the last minute, they'll be much cheaper
Eurail and InterRail pass users can also use them to avoid the rail pass reservation fees payable on the 'Frecce' trains.
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.
50 min (approx)
Daily
Monday to Friday 15 x trains per day
Saturday and Sunday 12 x trains per day
ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on Trainline ticket sales. It can be a particularly good option for: Comparing different train services; Booking international journeys with connections; Travelling between the UK to destinations beyond Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris - and for international travellers who don't reside in western Europe.
First time bookers using the Omio mobile apps (Find them at www.omio.com/apps) can save 10% on purchasers of up to €100 by using the promo code SEP24 Valid for bookings by September 30th, 2024 (11:59 pm CET).
Omio is an online ticket agency which offers tickets for rail journeys in France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy and Spain.
The three key advantages of using Omio are
The disadvantage of booking with Omio is that it often adds a booking fee to the final price; therefore when it does so without offering a price advantage, SMTJ doesn't tend to offer Omio as a booking option.
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, Napoli, Salerno or Reggio di Calabria
These trains to Milano on this high speed route commence their journeys at Torino Porta Nuova station.
They depart from there around 10 mins before they depart from Torino Porta Susa.
If you will be commencing your journey on the Torino Metro, it can make sense to head to Porta Susa in order to take these trains.
As all seats are reserved, including yours, you won't have to worry about no spare seats being available if you board at Torino Porta Susa.
The city centre Metro stations are Re:Umberto and Vinzaglio.
Though if you will be travelling with luggage, it can be a better idea to board these trains at Porta Nuova, you'll increase your chances of being able to find an optimum space in which to store your bags.
Though whether you travel from Porta Susa or Porta Nuova stations makes no difference to the ticket price.
The final Frecce train of the day departs comparatively early from Torino Porta Nuova at 19:00 and from Torino Porta Susa at 19:10.
Arriving at Milano Porta Garibaldi station:
Three Frecce trains per day from Torino call at Milano Porta Garibaldi station instead of at Milano Centrale.
If your final destination can be easily accessed by Line M2 or Line M5 of the Milano Metro you can connect into these lines at Porta Garibaldi station.
Connections are also available into trains to Malpensa Airport at Milano Porta Garibaldi.
Though Metro Line M2 and the Malpensa Airport trains are also available at Milano Centrale and connection to Metro Line M3 is also available at Centrale station.
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 faster (AV) train services between and Milano and Bologna is provided by
(1) these Frecce trains operated by Trenitalia and
(2) alternative Italo trains
Tickets for the Trenitalia Frecce trains are placed 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.
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.
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 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.
Or you can avoid the rail pass reservation fees charged on these trains by taking the alternative Regionale trains.
50 min (approx)
Daily
Monday to Saturday 13 x trains per day
Sunday 11 x trains
First time bookers using the Omio mobile apps (Find them at www.omio.com/apps) can save 10% on purchasers of up to €100 by using the promo code SEP24 Valid for bookings by September 30th, 2024 (11:59 pm CET).
Omio is an online ticket agency which offers tickets for rail journeys in France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy and Spain.
The three key advantages of using Omio are
The disadvantage of booking with Omio is that it often adds a booking fee to the final price; therefore when it does so without offering a price advantage, SMTJ doesn't tend to offer Omio as a booking option.
ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on Trainline ticket sales. It can be a particularly good option for: Comparing different train services; Booking international journeys with connections; Travelling between the UK to destinations beyond Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris - and for international travellers who don't reside in western Europe.
Italo trains compete with the Frecce services, provided by the national rail operator, Trenitalia, on the high speed routes which link major cities in Italy.
The Italo booking site only sells tickets for journeys by its trains.
Happy Rail is a Netherlands rail ticket agency which sells tickets for both national and international journeys within a range of countries including Belgium France, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland.
HappyRail doesn't charge booking fees in the conventional sense, but if you're not Dutch you can expect to pay additional transaction fees, which will be added to the total cost.
That's because the most common form of online payment used in The Netherlands is 'iDEAL' and HappyRail doesn't charge a transaction fee for 'iDEAL' payments, but only Dutch residents can sign up to 'iDEAL'.
Other forms of payment include Visa debit cards will incur a fee.
Final Destination: Roma or Napoli or Salerno
These trains to Milano on this high speed route commence their journeys at Torino Porta Nuova station.
They depart from there around 10 mins before they depart from Torino Porta Susa.
If you will be commencing your journey on the Torino Metro, it can make sense to head to Porta Susa in order to take these trains.
As all seats are reserved, including yours, you won't have to worry about no spare seats being available if you board at Torino Porta Susa.
Though if you will be travelling with luggage, it can be a better idea to board these trains at Porta Nuova, you'll increase your chances of being able to find an optimum space in which to store your bags.
Those Frecce trains operated by Trenitalia and these Italo trains also now depart at similar frequencies, but these Italo trains tend to be cheaper.
The departure times and prices of both services can be compared on the Omio and Trainline booking websites, see the 'Ticket Information' above
These Italo trains from Torino to Milano do NOT call at Milano Porta Garibaldi station - though some of those Frecce trains from Torino do call there.
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open:: around 3 months ahead of the travel date
The high speed (AV) train service between Torino/Turin and Milano Centrale 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 with 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.
1hr 52 min
Daily
16 x trains per day
(Departures are typically hourly, but there are usually no trains between 09:00 and 11:00).
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: Milano Centrale
These trains also call at: Novara
The trains on this route commence their journeys at Torino Porta Nuova station.
They depart from there around 10 mins before they depart from Torino Porta Susa.
If you will be commencing your journey on the Torino Metro, it can make sense to head to Porta Nuova in order to take these trains.
As seats can't be reserved on these trains, you'll be more likely to board into your first choice of seat(s) at that station.
The final departure of the day is typically at 20:54 from Porta Nuova and from 21:05 from Porta Susa.
Book early and save: No (not on these trains)
Tickets will cost the same price if purchased at the station immediately before departure.
These Regionale Veloce (RGV) trains are cheaper than the Frecce*trains.
If you'll be booking 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 rail reservation fees that are charged on the Frecce trains.
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