London to Sicily by train?

[AlbertBeale]

long tunnel under Etna.

It's not near Etna, actually.

 

[BayPaul]

Another vote here for considering the ferry for the final part of the journey. For me, it would be nice to have the chance to stand up, stretch your legs on the promenade deck, and have a choice of meal options. Also the cabin will be considerably bigger, and en-suite

 

[Cheshire Scot]

Another vote here for considering the ferry for the final part of the journey. For me, it would be nice to have the chance to stand up, stretch your legs on the promenade deck, and have a choice of meal options. Also the cabin will be considerably bigger, and en-suite

I'm with you on that although if going there and back I'd suggest routing via Messina and the train ferry in one direction. The coastal scenery north of Villa San Giovanni is superb so the timing of the journey would be important.

 

[urbophile]

The downside of a Turin connection, if you only have a limited time between trains, is that PS station is rather a cold, modernist station, without nice places for a meal.

Admittedly there's not much choice. But there is a very good pizzeria less than 5 minutes walk from the station. If you have a bit more time the city centre is only a short metro ride away (smart new metro too!) or not too far to walk.

 

[Iskra]

I'm with you on that although if going there and back I'd suggest routing via Messina and the train ferry in one direction. The coastal scenery north of Villa San Giovanni is superb so the timing of the journey would be important.

Indeed, the slightly inland mountain sections, through the ravines are interesting too. It is actually a real shame to travel this part of the journey on a night train when you can’t see it. The colour of the sea can be stunning too in this area.

 

[AlbertBeale]

Indeed, the slightly inland mountain sections, through the ravines are interesting too. It is actually a real shame to travel this part of the journey on a night train when you can’t see it. The colour of the sea can be stunning too in this area.

If you get the overnight train from Milan to Sicily, as I did, then for much of the year it's already daylight for most of the run down that lovely coastline south of Salerno to get to the train-ferry to the island. But if you get the sleeper starting in Rome, then yes, you're likely to miss much of that coastline - though you do then get to Syracuse (or Palermo) in the morning rather than the afternoon!

 

[Iskra]

If you get the overnight train from Milan to Sicily, as I did, then for much of the year it's already daylight for most of the run down that lovely coastline south of Salerno to get to the train-ferry to the island. But if you get the sleeper starting in Rome, then yes, you're likely to miss much of that coastline - though you do then get to Syracuse (or Palermo) in the morning rather than the afternoon!

Careful planning required I feel. I love sleeper trains, but the downside of them is missing great scenery so I choose my trips on them carefully to avoid routes where I miss the best scenery.

 

[30907]

Careful planning required I feel. I love sleeper trains, but the downside of them is missing great scenery so I choose my trips on them carefully to avoid routes where I miss the best scenery.

AIUI even better is ICN795 Torino-Reggio di C which uses the original coastal route at the southern end (and has about a 1hr connection at Villa SG into the Milan-Sicily service, not so convenient northbound). It takes a weird route involving the Cinque Terre and Florence!

 

[AlbertBeale]

AIUI even better is ICN795 Torino-Reggio di C which uses the original coastal route at the southern end (and has about a 1hr connection at Villa SG into the Milan-Sicily service, not so convenient northbound). It takes a weird route involving the Cinque Terre and Florence!

I hadn't realised that one of the night trains did that loop round the coast between Pizzo and Rosarno - I guess it's a sign that it serves more of an internal Italian market than the Sicily-bound sleepers, which cater at least in part for tourists and international travellers. However, in the north it runs (or at least did; I guess it still does) not via Cinque Terre but via Piacenza and Bologna between Milan and Florence.

There is a night train that runs through the Cinque Terre (though it doesn't stop at any of the Cinque Terre stations themselves): the Milan-Sicily one. From Milan, it runs down to the coast at Genoa, and along the Cinque Terre coast to La Spezia; then via Pisa, not Florence. I know because I've travelled on it, and I've seen it going through that stretch of Liguria of a night when staying in that part of the world.

 

[30907]

I hadn't realised that one of the night trains did that loop round the coast between Pizzo and Rosarno - I guess it's a sign that it serves more of an internal Italian market than the Sicily-bound sleepers, which cater at least in part for tourists and international travellers. However, in the north it runs (or at least did; I guess it still does) not via Cinque Terre but via Piacenza and Bologna between Milan and Florence.

According to DB (I haven't checked TI) it has been cut back to run south of Firenze only. It did seem an odd routing but it's in the summer ERT.

There is a night train that runs through the Cinque Terre (though it doesn't stop at any of the Cinque Terre stations themselves): the Milan-Sicily one. From Milan, it runs down to the coast at Genoa, and along the Cinque Terre coast to La Spezia; then via Pisa, not Florence. I know because I've travelled on it, and I've seen it going through that stretch of Liguria of a night when staying in that part of the world.

Yes, that understandably doesn't take the coast route south of Lamezia T though.