Italo versus Trenitalia

[FrankNatoli]

The wife and I will be flying ITA from JFK to FCO this September, then a train to Venezia Santa Lucia.
Except I now discover that Trenitalia, someday in August, is no longer offering direct service from Roma Termini to Venezia Santa Lucia, and you have to change trains at Bologna.
For us, that would mean the hassle of loading and unloading luggage for three trains, airport to Roma Termini, Roma Termini to Bologna, Bologna to Venezia Santa Lucia, not to mention the race to make the connection in Bologna.
I further discover that Italo is offering direct service from Roma Termini to Venezia Santa Lucia, a four hour trip, much like the Trenitalia Frecciarossa.
Cheaper too.
Anybody have any experience with Italo?

 

[California Go Girl]

I used Italo round-trip Roma Termini to Florence in 2022, and it was a smooth experience. I bought the Prima class ticket.
- I had heard that their basic fare seats were rather crowded, but I don't have any personal experience. There is a Reddit thread from a year ago comparing Italo Treno and Trenitalia that you might want to look at.

 

[Penn251]

I believe there are non-stop Freccia trains from Roma Tiburtina to Venezia S. Lucia. See if they run on the day you are interested in. You can just take the train from FCO to Roma Tiburtino if your prefer Trenitalia.

 

[GailS]

The basic fare seats do seem more crowded and luggage storage quite a bit less the few times I took them on day trips (not with luggage).

 

[Andrew]

It appears that the fast Frecciarossa trains on Trenitalia haven't been loaded yet for your dates. Keep checking and the direct trains should show.

 

[FrankNatoli]

I believe there are non-stop Freccia trains from Roma Tiburtina to Venezia S. Lucia. See if they run on the day you are interested in. You can just take the train from FCO to Roma Tiburtino if your prefer Trenitalia.

There are now but not in September.
Tiburtina is on the same line from Roma Termini to Bologna and Venezia.
I just checked the schedule for September and, as I initially posted, one has to change trains in Bologna.

 

[FrankNatoli]

It appears that the fast Frecciarossa trains on Trenitalia haven't been loaded yet for your dates. Keep checking and the direct trains should show.

If you go to www.trenitalia.com, select a date in September, departing Roma Termini, arriving Venezia Santa Lucia, you see trains all day long, including Frecciarossas, but all require changing trains in Bologna, see attached screenshot.

 

[FrankNatoli]

Update to my original post:
In advance, seats on Italo trains from Roma Termini to Venezia Santa Lucia are available and slightly cheaper than Trenitalia.
But seats purchased on the day of departure are neither.
I looked at Italo trains from R-T to V-S-L for tomorrow and no seats on any trains were available until late afternoon and then quite expensive, i.e., 100 euros each, versus 30 euros when purchasing in advance.
I always buy tickets in advance except for airline arrival day, when arrival is totally unpredictable, and if you buy a "flexible" ticket, you lose all savings.

 

[Andrew]

If you go to www.trenitalia.com, select a date in September, departing Roma Termini, arriving Venezia Santa Lucia, you see trains all day long, including Frecciarossas, but all require changing trains in Bologna, see attached screenshot.

OK, they haven't loaded the Frecciarossa direct trains on the Rome-Venice route. It's perennially a problem that Trenitalia posts schedules without saying that they're incomplete. I guarantee that they are not discontinuing Rome-Venice direct trains.

 

[Sandrac]

I've lived in Italy for many years and often use Italo. Good service, comfortable seats (although the Prima class seats are a bit roomier.) But I also use Trenitalia too - it mostly depends on where I'm going.

For me, it would be a toss-up between the two.

As Andrew says, Trenitalia probably hasn't finished posting its schedules and it's very unlikely it would be discontinuing such a popular and lucrative route as Rome-Venice.

Best,
Sandra

 

[braindoc]

Another vote for Italo. If you’re concerned about luggage storage, upgrade.

 

[Lizth]

Given a choice between Italo and Trenitalia, I always choose Italo. The trains are on time, staffed well, seating is comfortable, and prices are generally a little lower. Bologna can be a very confusing train station, making connections precarious.
I do recommend adding the option to change the ticket just to be on the safe side - it’s only a couple euro. Buon viaggio.

 

[Allen]

Not a train expert here, but due to various factors we just yesterday traveled on an ITALO club car ticket from Venice S.L. to Florence S.M.N. and it was a pleasure - comfortable seats, good work space, free water, soda, and junk food, and helpful staff. Another perk, uncommon for us, was use of the ITALO lounge area at the Venice station which we made use of as a very clean, pleasant, small waiting room with free junk food/sodas, and very few other travelers. Our ‘outbound’ leg in a 1st class car on Frecciarossa had also been fine but, for better or worse, without the same feeling of elite and spacious. Price was about the same (bought online in advance),

 

[Andrew]

Today, for the Sept. 23 date shown in the screenshot in post 7, Trenitalia shows a direct Frecciarossa at 11.35, and other direct Intercity trains; one can expect that it's the beginning of loading hourly service comparable to current dates.

 

[FrankNatoli]

Today, for the Sept. 23 date shown in the screenshot in post 7, Trenitalia shows a direct Frecciarossa at 11.35, and other direct Intercity trains; one can expect that it's the beginning of loading hourly service comparable to current dates.

Yes, I've been checking every day, and this morning [6/13] it appears the entire Frecciarossa schedule has been loaded, trains every hour direct from Roma Termini to Venezia Santa Lucia.
You were right!