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(Last Updated On: 03/02/2023)

You have loads of options when you decide how to travel. Like the name of the famous movie, you can go via planes, trains, and automobiles. When it comes to taking a tour of Italy, however – there are some definite perks to going by train ride.

 

TRAIN RIDE COMFORT

kid enjoying a train ride

 

Airline seats are notoriously short on legroom, and you aren’t permitted to use electronic devices during takeoff and landing. This means for shorter flights, you’re confined to your small seat for the majority of the flight without the distractions offered by smartphones and technology, this is really different from a train ride.

Cars often provide a little more space, but the ride can be bumpy and some people suffer from car sickness – especially on a long trip when you may want to read or play games. a train ride, on the other hand, provides comfortable seats and a smooth ride – uninterrupted by long takeoff and landing times, again a different experience from a train ride.

When traveling by train ride in Italy, you can try the extremely comfortable ergonomic seats and sound-proofed cabins of the new high-speed Frecciarossa 1000 train.

Naples to Genoa Trains

Turin to Genoa Trains

Rimini to Genoa Trains

Siena to Genoa Trains

 

TRAIN RIDE VIEWS

Air travel offers spectacular aerial views, but only for a short time until the plane ascends far above the countryside. While freeways aren’t usually picturesque, roads between cities can offer gorgeous views. However, the driver has to concentrate on the road, so only the other passengers can marvel at the rolling hills or beautiful ocean. Train ride allows all travelers to enjoy the natural beauty outside the windows.

One of the things you hear from people who traveled to Italy by rail is how gorgeous it is to train travel during sunset.

Train journeys in Italy are particularly beautiful so make sure you travel along the Cinque Terra between Levanto and La Spezia or take a trip down the east coast from Rimini to Catania.

Messina to Palermo Trains

Syracuse to Palermo Trains

Sicily to Palermo Trains

Catania to Palermo Trains

 

 

COST

Train ride travel is much more affordable than flying. Car rental can be cost-effective, but when you add insurance, gas, and time (more time driving means more nights of accommodation) your trip can get expensive fast. You can also take an overnight train ride, that way you pay for accommodation and transport in one.

Rome to Levanto Trains

Siena to La Spezia Trains

Rimini to La Spezia Trains

La Spezia to Levanto Trains

 

THE ENVIRONMENT

sunset time over the mountains

 

Trains emit far fewer carbon emissions than planes or cars. According to a study, cars emit double the amount of CO2 that trains do.

Planes cause the most environmental impact. When choosing between flying or taking a train, consider this: planes use the majority of their fuel for takeoff and landing. While this evens out over the length of long-haul flights, it means a lot more fuel per kilometer is used for shorter flights, such as traveling within Italy.

In addition to that, most people travel to the airport by car or taxi, adding more carbon emissions to their total. This means it makes more environmental sense to take an intercity train ride than a short flight or a drive.

Aside from petrol and diesel use, there is also noise and air pollution, as well as the need for parking cars in cities that already lack green spaces.

Milan to Turin Trains

Lake Como to Turin Trains

Genoa to Turin Trains

Parma to Turin Trains

 

TRAIN RIDE SAFELY

When measuring fatalities per passenger mile, flying is much safer than driving. Here’s why: there’s less chance of human error, and it’s much more difficult to become a pilot than to obtain a driver’s license. Taking into account road conditions and tiredness on long drives, it’s easy to see why choosing a plane is safer than a car.

Compared to trains, however, planes aren’t quite as safe. Trains travel along the track at slower speeds, meaning there is less chance of crashing compared to planes. In the case of a derailment, the slower speeds mean less risk.

Florence to Rimini Trains

Rome to Rimini Trains

Milan to Rimini Trains

Venice to Rimini Trains

 

TRAVEL TIME 

An average freeway lane moves about 2,500 people per hour – while a typical train line can carry 50,000 people per hour. This makes train ride travel substantially quicker than driving, especially when you factor in slow-moving traffic, stop streets, traffic lights and the inevitable wrong turns. On top of that, the driver has to focus on the road, so they’ll be unable to read, study, sleep, or work.

Flying long distances may be faster than traveling by train, but for short distances, air travel doesn’t save time. First, you need to get to the airport – often situated far from residential areas. You also need to be there at least an hour before your takeoff time to check in and go through security. If you check your luggage, you’ll need to wait for it at the carousel. And that’s all before any flight delays or the walk or bus between airport terminals and gates.

Genoa to Venice Trains

Turin to Venice Trains

Parma to Venice Trains

La Spezia to Venice Trains

 

ACCESSIBILITY

sun and train station

 

Airports are often situated outside of the city, meaning once you land, you’ll still need to take a car, bus, or train into the city. When it comes to seeing the sights, roads in city centers can be congested and difficult to access by car, so taking a train makes a lot of sense in metropolitan areas.

 

Are you looking to buy train ride tickets with no booking fees? Visit SaveATrain.com to access the cheapest train rates.

 

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