From: roberto@tut.fi (Castagno Roberto)
Newsgroups: rec.travel,rec.railroad
Subject: Re: Italian railways--is 1st class worth it?
Date: 15 Dec 1992 07:46:59 GMT
Organization: Technical University of Tampere, Dep. of Computer Science ,Finland 
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: ruskosotka.cs.tut.fi


In article <lipqk5INN8c0@news.bbn.com>, rnewman@bbn.com (Ron Newman) writes:
|> I will be travelling to Italy in a few days and expect
|> to ride one or more of these routes: Milan-Rome,
|> Rome-Florence, Florence-Venice, Venice-Milan.
|> 
|> Is it worthwhile to buy a 1st class ticket on any
|> of these?    What would I get that I would not get
|> in 2nd class?

In my opinion, there is no big difference between 1st
and 2nd class accomodation, expecially if you travel on Inter-City
trains (little extra charge due!).
1st class has more room for leg-stretching and might be less crowded,
but I don't think the service difference is worth the price difference.

Seat reservation might be compulsory only on some IC trains, but I strongly 
recomend it, expecially if you travel during X-mas holidays.
(By the way: be prepared to "fight" to get your place, even if you have 
reserved it. Conductors or policemen are there to help, if necessary).

If you are in a hurry, or you are simply interested in hi-tech trains, 
I suggest to try a trip on "Pendolino". It is an unique tilting-body train, 
that can reach 250 km/h on the high speed line between Rome and Florence, 
and increase average speed by 30% on traditional lines. It runs between
Rome and Milan/Turin, Rome and Venice, Rome and Bari.
The most impressive trip is Rome-Milan (4hrs.)
Between Rome and Florence you can enjoy the speed, between Florence and
Bologna the tilting is very nice. If you want you can ask the conductor 
to allow you into the driving cabine and you'll probably get there; I found
it quite impressive.
If you're interested, I can give you more technical information about it.

There's only 1st class service on this train and an extra charge is due;
a one way trip from Milan to Rome might cost 150.000 Lit., but in this case
it's good value for money.


|> 
|> Also, are there any particularly interesting views from
|> any of these trains?
|> 
The lines you mention are not the most impressive you can think of, expecially
in winter time (lots of fog!).
The only very nice landscapes are those between Florence and Bologna: be sure 
to be there with daylight :-)

If you have time to waste, it might be an idea to make a detour and use the
"Porrettana" line, between Pistoia and Bologna. It's a signle track mountain
line. The trip might be longer (check connections!!), but the places are of 
incomparable beauty. Autumn and spring are the best seasons, but winter is 
nice, too.

I hope this information will help: when you come back, please let me know if you've
had a nice time there.
For the time being, season's greeting and have a nice trip!!

CIAO

Roberto


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Roberto Castagno			# E-Mail : roberto@cs.tut.fi
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