October 2022. As we wanted to test Trenitalia‘s Frecciarossa 1000 service from Paris to Milan, we planned a rail trip around it. From Antwerp to Paris with Thalys, the ‘Red Arrow’ to Milan and once in Italy continuing to Trieste and Bologna. The return trip took us to Basel in Switzerland to enjoy SBB‘s panoramic coach and Germany‘s Rhine route to Cologne. From there we got back to Belgium. 

Italy is a big country with 301,230 km2 or 116,310 sq mi. It has 24,227 km (15,054 mi) of which 16,723 km are active lines. It has a few train operators such as Italo and Trenord. The main operator is Trenitalia, part of the Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (FS). We sampled a few of Trenitalia’s product.

• Frecciarossa operates on High-Speed lines. Makes a few stops in major cities.
• Frecciargento operates on High-Speed lines. Makes some stops in big cities.
• Frecciabianca operates on main lines by Trenitalia. Stops in big cities.
• Intercity operates on main lines. Stops in big cities. 
• EuroCity, formerly Cisalpino, operates on international main lines within the European Union. Stops in big cities.
• RegionaleVeloce operates on regional lines in a region or in adjacent regions. Stops in the main stations of the local service.
• RegionaleVeloce operates on regional lines in a region or in adjacent regions. Stops in the main stations of the local service.
• Regionale operates on regional lines by Trenitalia. Stops in every station of the local service.

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Regionale

To travel from Trieste to Bologna and for our excursion to Modena travelled on double-decker regional trains. Although far from brand new, their interiors had been refurbished. Toilets had a major 90s vibe.

For these regional trains, you don’t need a seat reservation. There’s also no first class. Seats are okay comfort wise. Legroom is not huge but also quite okay.

The trains we took were popular so train travel is certainly popular. 

But be aware, trains do not necessarily have a cadenced schedule as you have in Belgium, Switzerland or the Netherlands. So you don’t have necessarily a train every hour, half hour or so. 

Listen to announcements

A final note. Except at the beginning of the station, there are barely to no station signs. So you have to be aware where you are.

Paris – Italy – Basel 2022

1. REVIEW | Restaurant Le Train Blue at Paris-Gare-de-Lyon.
2. REVIEW | Trenitalia Frecciarossa 1000 Paris – Milan in Business Executive.
3. REVIEW | Just Hotel Milano.
4. FYRA NOSTALGIA | Trenitalia Frecciargento Milan to Trieste on the ETR 700 ex-Fyra.
5. REVIEW | Grand Hotel Duchi d’Aosta.
6. TRIESTE | Miramare Castle.
7. History of Trieste at Diego de Henriquez War for Peace Museum / Museo de la Guerra per Pace.
8. ITALY | 1.5 day in Trieste.
9. EMILIA-ROMAGNA | Sights and churches in Bologna.
10. History of Bologna Museum at Palazzo Pepoli.
11. REVIEW | The Social Hub Bologna.
12. BOLOGNA | University Museums of Palazzo Poggi ft. Obstetrics, Military Architecture, Geographical Maps and Human Anatomy.
13. REVIEW | Enzo Ferrari Museum in Modena.
14. EMILIA-ROMAGNA | A walk in Modena.
15. EMILIA-ROMAGNA | Bologna & Modena 2022.