Content
Italo (Italy)
This guide will tell you all you the key things worth knowing when travelling on Italo train services, from boarding, to making the most of the journey experience.
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At a Glance
Travel Pass Supplement
Rail Pass Reservation Fees
Reservations
Compulsory
Time of Day
Day
Catering
Food services available
Vending machines
Accessibility
Accessing the train
Wheelchair Spaces
Train Specification
Attributes of the train
Has a Conductor
High Speed (partial journey)
Country
Which country these trains operate in.
Italy
Travel Passes
On Board
Executive Club:
Perks
WiFi
A complimentary WiFi portal is available throughout this train.
Power Socket
The power sockets on this train are compatible with standard E.U. two point plugs.
Trolley Service:
A catering trolley with hot and cold drinks and snacks should be taken through the train at some point during its journey.
The seats are superior to those in Prima class and the seating saloon is much more spacious.
Some seats are arranged into lounges - so up to 4 people can have business meetings on the move.
Complimentary drinks, snacks and pastries are provided.
Free access to the Italo lounges, which are available at these stations - Firenze S.M. Novella, Milano Centrale, Napoli Centrale, Roma Termini, Torino Porta Susa and Venezia S. Lucia.
Prima:
Perks
WiFi
A complimentary WiFi portal is available throughout this train.
Power Socket
The power sockets on this train are compatible with standard E.U. two point plugs.
Welcome drinks:
Complimentary drinks and snacks will be served, choices will include coffee, orange juice and prosecco.
Has superior seats to Comfort class - and complimentary drinks and snacks are provided.
(Trenitalia has evidently risen to the challenge of the Italo trains - the Business Class on its new Frecciarossa 1000 trains is in a different league to the Prima class on these Italo trains).
Smart:
Perks
WiFi
A complimentary WiFi portal is available throughout this train.
Smart Class is the equivalent of 2nd class (Standard class on Trenitalia's AV 'Frecce' trains).
Good to know info
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How fast does the train travel?
On the high speed lines, on which these trains spend most of their journeys, these trains travel at up to 300 kmh / 190mph. On the non-high speed lines they typically travel at up to 175kmh / 110mph.
Are seats allocated when booking tickets?
Seats are automatically allocated when booking any type of ticket online and at stations.
Can specific seats be selected from a seating plan?
Yes, but a seat selection fee will be charged, with additional costs for choosing Premium seats, which have particularly advantageous locations.
However, if you purchase a Flex fare ticket or if you are an Italo Più Privilege or Platinum customer, the choice of the Standard seat is free.
Can I choose forward facing seats?
It isn't possible to select forward facing seats, primarily because these trains reverse direction when making intermediate calls at the main stations in Florence, Rome, Naples and Milan.
Do Eurail / InterRail Pass users need to make reservations?
Eurail and InterRail passes are not valid on these trains.
What catering is available on the train?
Italo trains have no bar/bistro counters at which food/drink can be ordered from catering staff.
Instead vending machines are provided in two coaches of each train.
Those travelling Prima Class receive a welcome service complimentary snacks along with a hot or cold drink, while those travelling in Club Executive Class can access an on demand complimentary service of drinks and pastries.
Are power sockets available?
Yes individual sockets are available at all seats
Is Wi-Fi available?
Yes free connectivity is available.
Is a Quiet Coach available?
Italo trains do not offer this service.
What is the luggage policy?
There is no restrictions on the number of items, but each individual must be able to carry their own bags. No luggage larger than 75x53x30 cm is allowed in the Smart coaches
Are wheelchair spaces available?
Yes - aboard Italo trains there are priority seats dedicated to travelers with reduced mobility, located near the mobility-impaired toilet. In addition, on Italo AGV carriage 8 is equipped withtwo seats dedicated to travelers in wheelchairs, while for Italo EVO trains you will find two equipped seats in carriage 3.
More info is available on the Italo website
Can non-folding bicycles be taken on board?
This is not possible. only folding bicycles are permitted.
Can dogs be taken on board?
Yes - dogs under 5kg can be transported free of charge if they travel in a pet carrier.
If you have a larger dog, or don't want to place a smaller dog in a carrier, you can buy a ticket regardless of whether you want to travel in Smart or Prima - dogs cannot travel in Club Excellence.
You can add as a Dog as a passenger before looking up the journey - though dog tickets are more than 50% of the Adult rate.
Italo trains travel guide:
These privately operated Italo AV trains share the Italian high speed rail network with Trenitalia’s AV trains (Frecciarossa 1000, Frecciarossa and Frecciargento).
They use the same stations as the Trenitalia trains, but have separate ticket machines and lounges.
Routes:
Italo train services have been recently been reorganised and they now take these seven core routes in both directions:
(1) Milano Centrale > Milano Rogoredo > Roma Termini - Napoli Centrale
(2) Milano Centrale > Bologna Centrale > Roma Tiburtina > Roma Termini
(3) Napoli Centrale > Roma Termini > Bologna Centrale > Milano Centrale
(4) (Salerno) - Napoli Centrale - Napoli Afragola - Roma Termini - Roma Tiburtina - Firenze S.M.Novella - Bologna Centrale - Reggio Emilia A.V. - Milano Rogoredo - Milano Centrale - Torino Porta Susa - Torino Porta Nuova
(5) (Napoli Centrale) - Roma Termini - Roma Tiburtina - Firenze S.M.Novella - Bologna Centrale - Ferrara OR Rovigo - Padova - Venezia Mestre - Venezia S. Lucia
(6) (Napoli Centrale) - Roma Termini - Firenze S.M.Novella - Bologna Centrale - Verona Porta Nuova - (stations to Bolzano or Brescia)
(7) Milano Centrale - Brescia - Desenzano del Garda OR Perschiera del Garda - Verona Porta Nuova - Vicenza - Padova - Venezia Mestre - Venezia S. Lucia
Other routes have a more limited service
The ticketing (and rail passes):
If you will be traveling between destinations served by Italo train services, it’s worth comparing the cost of taking an Italo train with the costs of taking one of Trenitalia’s Frecce train services.
The Trainline and Omio online booking services include both Trenitlia's Frecce AND these Italo trains.
Italo trains can be cheaper - and may also be departing at a time that suits you better than a Trenitalia train.
Italo trains match the Frecce trains for speed so have similar journey times.
The types of ticket
Up to four types of tickets are available for journeys by Italo trains - regardless of the type of ambience / travel class you wish to travel by.
The three types of ticket which are always available are:
(1) FLEX = most expensive:
- Change your ticket as many times as you like up to 3 minutes before the scheduled departure of your train.
- You can change the class, date and time of your trip without paying any price difference from the offer available at the time of booking.
- If you want to cancel you will receive 80% of the price paid
- Plus if you miss your train, you will have an hour to re-book by the next available departure - but this can only be arranged at an Italo booking desk at a station, or by telephone.
(2) ECONONY:
- Change your ticket as many times as you like up to 3 minutes before the scheduled departure of your train.
- You can change the class, date and time of your trip, but will be charged 20% of the price initially paid + plus any price difference with the original price
- If you want to cancel you will receive 60% of the price paid
- Plus if you miss your train, you will have an hour to re-book by the next available departure - but this can only be arranged at an Italo booking desk at a station, or by telephone - and this service can only be available when Italo is running 'a promotion' for Flex tickets.
(3) LOW COST:
- Change your ticket as many times as you like up to 72 hours before scheduled departure
- You can change the class, date and time of your trip, but will be charged 20% of the price initially paid + plus any price difference with the original price - Subject to availability
- You can purchase a Refund Option for an additional cost - and if you then want to cancel you will receive 80% of the price paid; Without it this type of ticket is not refundable
Promotional offers for all travellers
A fourth type of ticket, such as the Extra Summer Offer, may be available.
These will be the cheapest types of ticket, but they cannot be exchanged or refunded
Seniors:
If you're aged 60 over, you can obtain a 40 - 60% discount on 'Flex' tickets if you opt to travel in 'Prima' or 'Smart class.
More info here.
Children and Youths:
- Those aged 3 and under travel for free, but they cannot occupy their own seats
- Children aged 4 to 13 travel for free if they are in a travel party of 2 to 4 people in Smart Class only, with at least one of them being an adult (aged 15 and over). Though this Family Offer only applies when the Adult purchases tickets at the Flex fare price - though the Adult(s) will receive a 50% discount. Though this offer has terms, which are atypical of Flex tickets, including - must be purchased at least 3 days before the departure date + no changes or refunds.
- Otherwise children aged 4 to 13 will be charged Adult Rates
- Youths aged 14 to 29 at the time of travel, in Smart Class only, will receive a discount of 40-70% on Flex ticket prices.
Eurail & InterRail:
Eurail and InterRail passes are not valid on Italo trains.
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