Italy Guide
Getting around
By train
Italian trains are run by Ferrovie dello Stato (FS), under the brand name Trenitalia ( 
89.20.21, 
www.trenitalia.com ), operating a comprehensive network across the country with numerous types of trains. The Eurostar Italia (ES) runs between major cities, slightly faster and usually with newer rolling stock than the Intercity (IC) options. Eurocity (EC) and Euronight (EN) trains connect the major Italian cities with centres such as Paris, Vienna, Hamburg and Barcelona. Milan and Turin and Naples and Rome have recently been linked by a new high-speed service, the Eurostar Alta Velocità, which will eventually connect the north with the south of the country in record time. Reservations are usually required before you board the train for all of these services.
Diretto and Interregionale trains are the common long-distance expresses, calling only at larger stations. Although reservations are not required for these trains, it's worth reserving seats if you're making a long journey, especially in summer, when they can get very crowded. Reservations can be made at any major train station or travel agent in Italy or via Italian State Railways agents. Lastly, there are the Regionale services, which stop at every place with a population higher than zero.
In addition to the routes operated by FS, there are a number of privately run lines, using separate stations though charging similar fares. Where they're worth using, these are detailed in the text.