Trenitalia and Italo: Italian high-speed trains

In Italy, there are two main train companies that allow passengers to travel throughout the Country. One is Trenitalia (Gruppo Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane) and the other one is Italo (Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori). The two companies are more or less equivalent as far as quality and number of services go. Their ticket prices and offers are similar. Tickets are not very cheap, so an early bird booking could save you up to half of the price.

Trenitalia and Italo: Italian high-speed trains

In recent years, more and more passengers have decided to travel by train, instead of by plane, especially because of their high-speed and convenience to the center of the cities (almost all Italian airports are either in the suburbs or outside of the cities. For example, Linate or Malpensa airports for Milan, Fiumicino or Ciampino airports for Rome, Caselle airport for Turin, etc.). As a matter of fact, passengers can leave the center of Milan and reach the center of Rome in exactly three hours.

In Italy, there are two main train companies that allow passengers to travel throughout the Country. One is Trenitalia (Gruppo Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane) and the other one is Italo (Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori).

Italo has high-speed trains that connect major Italian cities, while Trenitalia, in addition to high-speed trains, also has regional/interregional trains that connect smaller towns.

The two (high-speed trains) companies are more or less equivalent as far as quality and number of services go. They both offer online services (including e-tickets, hotel and car rental offers), quite comfortable seats and little tables, sockets, air conditioning, wi-fi (you can also watch movies on board), etc., and acceptable customer services. It is usually possible to eat and drink sandwiches, salads, snacks, chips, coffee, water, wine, etc. on board, either at the vending machines or at the bars. Otherwise, it is possible to order “à la carte” hot or cold dishes from the restaurants (Trenitalia – Italo).

Pets are allowed on board provided some specific rules are respected (Trenitalia – Italo).

Most of the time you will see that their ticket prices and offers are similar, or at least not very different one from the other (this can be considered a little suspicious, if we might say so). Tickets are not very cheap, nevertheless there are always offers on, so an early bird booking could save you up to half of the price of the ticket.

We can say that they are both two good train companies and, therefore, are quite interchangeable.

Railroad transportation has become very efficient recently. However, it is useful to know what your rights are and how to ask compensation in case of Trenitalia or Italo train delays.