Train, Rome

Instead of waiting IN the station, go THROUGH the station cafeteria and over the road. There's a place there, just on the other side of the street, called "SFIZIO PIZZA", where you can get a beer or a coffee or something to eat and sit and wait for as long as you like. It costs less than the station cafeteria too. Address Via Gioberti, 1.

The Eurail pass is the biggest scam going, imo. Its so much cheaper and easier to just buy you're tickets for the next city the day you arrive. I mean you're in the train station anyways so might as well.

17.85 Euros, 2nd Class Regional Train is dead cheap for more than 200 miles of journey. So, if you want to save some good pennies than this is the right option for you. First class of this train costs 26.90 Euros but then there is not much difference between the two, so why not pay less.

The train takes 4 hours, which shows that it is among the slowest options but even than it offers a good trade off when money comes into play.

The first such train leaves Pisa 05:45 in the morning and it is the first train to reach Rome from Pisa, so save money and be there in Rome the earliest. Subsequent such trains leave Pisa on regular intervals: 07:45, 11:45, 13:45, 15:45, 17:45, and 19:56.

No advanced booking, no seat reservation, and no need to buy the ticket until you are in Italy. Tickets can be purchased via easy-to-use vending machines installed in abundance at Italian Train Stations via cash, credit card, or debit card. These tickets remain valid for one months; just buy one and whenever you wish to embark, go to the relevant platform, validate the tcikets from the yellow machine, and board-on. With Regional Trains, it is easier than it sounds, so nothing to worry about.

And if money is not such a big concern for you then see if one of the below options suits you (for 2nd Class):
Intercity Trains, IC; 29 E; 3 1/2 h; 3 per day
Intercity Night Trains, ICN; 26.50 E; 3 1/2 h; 1 per night
Euro Star City, ES*City; 39.50 E; 3 h; 5 per day
Euro Star Fast, ES*Fast; 42 E; 2 1/2 h; 1 per day

Above trains, in general, offer various discounts on advanced booking and require reservations. And trenitalia website is notorious for accepting Credit Cards, so its your luck.

Now, rest assured, this part of your journey is sorted-out, say a big NO to Eurail/Rail Europe, and have a great trip...

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I paid 185 Euro for a Excelsior sleeper single cabin from Siracusa to Roma. The webiste indicated that it was a Excelsior Single with services comparable with those of a high-class hotel with shower. Also, there would be a welcome drink, to enjoy at the reception or in cabin.

The carriage ended up to be, I believe, Tourist sleeper carriage with 17-18 cabins per carriage, which is the 3rd rank category of the sleeper, whereby the 2nd rank is classic sleeper carriage with 12 cabin carriage.

There was a wash basin, but there was no toilet or shower inside the cabin. The cabin is narrow and once I am inside, I need to sit on the bed. The breakfast was served as promised.

http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=d616b602ba19a110VgnVCM1000003f16f90aRCRD

I understand that the solo classic or touristic carriage were charged 125 Euro and less for touristic carriage respectively. So I decided, on 11 Jan 2010, to lodge compliant for misrepresentation and overcharge of 3rd rank sleeper for first rank price.

See pics for the cabin and breakfast. What you see is what you get.

If you are on a real tight budget, or even if you are not on a tight budget and just want it to be cheap for the sake of being cheap without much downside then there is no option but to go for the Regional Train. 2nd Class of Regional Train costs 16 Euros, takes less than 4 hours, and runs frequently between these two cities.

On a typical day, the train leaves Florence at 07:09, 09:13, 11:13, 13:13, 15:13, 17:13, 19:13, and 21:13. Further, there is no need to reserve a seat in advance, as you will find one quite easily. You may buy the open ticket, valid for one month, from the vending machine of any Italian train station or from other sources, and whenever you are like going to Florence, just go to the relevant platform, validate the ticket, and get aboard. This is simpler than it sounds. This train touches two stations in both of the cities: Roma Termini & Tiburtina in Rome and Santa Maria Novella & Campo di Marte, making it more flexible.

There is another cheaper option available but with some downside: a train "Freccia del Sud" leaves Florence at 15:25 on a typical day, takes slightly more than 3 hours, and the 2nd Class fare is just 13.90 Euros (after incorporating 20% Amica discount). And what are the downsides. The train does not leave from Santa Maria Novella, the main train station of Florence, but from Campo de Marte and arrives at Roma Tiburtina and not at Roma Termini, the main train station of Rome. The fact that main train stations of both these cities are located in the city center makes this train less cheaper than it seems. Further, 20% Amica discount is only applicable when booked 24 hours in advance. But then this is the cheapest of all the options.

Fast trains also run between these two cities with journey time of as low as 1 hour and 31 minutes and the base fare going up to 39.90 Euros and 56.10 Euros for 2nd Class and 1st Class respectively. These trains offer various discounts on early booking.

26.5 Euro, 2nd class, Intercity trains also connect both the cities on regular intervals and takes less than 3 hours. One may avail 20% Amica discounts on intercity trains.

The left luggage and lost property facilities are located in the same premises and can be accessed via the moving walkway on the basement level of the Ala Termini wing.

Opening hours
7/7 days
06.00 - 24.00

Charges
4,00 € the first 5 hours
0,60 € /hour from 6th to 12th hour
0,20 € /hour from 13th hour on

People often wonder about the travel costs and times between cities in Italy. Here are some of the more common trips people make from Rome by train. Naples and pompeii- the high speed train will take about 1.5 hours to get into Naples and cost 51.30 for first class and 39.90 for second class . The cost on the IC train is 1rst class-25.50 and 2nd class- 19.50 OW. From the Naples station you must go downstairs to the circumvesuviana train. This train makes multiple stops, but the trip to pompeii (pompeii scavi) only takes about 30 minutes. This ticket is less than 5 euros RT. This is an all day trip so leave Rome early and return late.
Florence for the day will take about 1.5 hours on the high speed train. This ticket will cost 56.10 for 1rst class and 39.90 for second class. The IC train will take about 2.5 hours and cost 35.00 for 1rst class and 26.50 for second class. This is a very easy daytrip to make. Leaving early and making reservations at the museums will give you the opportunity to see to see the best Florence has to offer.
From Rome to Pisa is a 3 hour train trip. The cost is 64.70 for 1rst class and 45.60 for 2nd class. This is a trip you might want to consider being an overnight.
From Rome to Venice is a 4.5 hour trip. This is an overnight trip (meaning you should stay overnight in Venice since the train trip is so long). The 1rst class ticket is 89.30 and the 2nd class ticket is 61.80. I buy the first class ticket as it is such a long trip and the seats are larger and more comfortable.
All of these times are for the high speed trains and the cost were taken from the trenitalia website. As for reservations and availability these trains hardly ever sell out and the seat reservation fee is included with the ticket. If you book a few days before you travel you may qualify for discounts. Book your tickets as soon as you get to Rome. The ES trains have a coffee bar or a restaurant car where you can purchase food. On longer trips this can be a life saver. Take your ticket with you if you go to the restaurant car so if the conductor asks for it you can show him. They can fine you if you don't carry your ticket with you.

I was really nervous about the train system but once I was there I found it surprisingly easy. I actually bought my ticket from Rome to Florence at Roma Termini the day before we left with no problem. This was for travel midday on a wednesday. The 29 euro fare was for one way on the fast train for which you need a reservation. You make the reservation at the same time that you buy the ticket.

If you are traveling on a weekend I would recommend making reservations and buying a ticket online or buying from the machines earlier in the week. The cost is the same either way. The official website is www.trenitalia.com and there is a page in English if you click in the top right corner. One of the most important things to know is the name of the stations (i.e. Roma termini to Firenze S.M.N. (Rome to Florence)) as there could be more than one station for bigger cities.

The ticket machines are easy to use and there are a few kinds. I used the gray ones which accept credit cards and offer very easy instructions in several languages. They give you every option for travel on every type of train they have running. Believe me it seemed as if they had a train running every 1/2 hour all day so I don't imagine you'd have a problem or that they'd run out of reserved seating (unless it were a holiday).

If you want a cheaper fare there are slow trains (about 3hrs between Florence and Rome). For smaller stations these are sometimes your only option (I rode one between Florence and Pisa in 1 1/2 hrs). You do not need a reservation for these but if you opt for this fare get there early enough to grab a seat, otherwise you could end up standing. Just remember to stamp it in the yellow machine before you board. You will see them as you are walking to the train.