Italy’s state-owned rail operator, Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (FS), will launch a new tourism rail operation, FS Treni Turistici Italiani, in 2024. The different products show that the rail authorities are awakening to the possibilities of various types of tourist-friendly rail travel.
According to travelpulse.com, its tourism-centric itineraries will incorporate Luxury (Lusso), Express (Expressi) and Historic (Storici) trains, as well as Regional (Omnibus-Regionali) trains.
The luxury trains will include the Belmond Hotel-owned Venice Simplon-Orient Express, its luxurious 1920s-style carriages having been restored to their glamorous best. Also in the luxury category is the La Dolce Vita Train, whose launch was delayed from 2023 to 2024. These will debut in 2024.
Express trains will be have restored 1980s and 1990s carriages and those trains will feature sleeping cabins, restaurant cars and storage areas for bikes and skis. These trains will link major cities with favourite tourism hotspots.
Historic trains will be drawn by engines selected from the FS Italiane Foundation’s fleet of 400 historic locomotives. They will visit historic sites and will also offer programmes combining train journeys with stops for guided tours, walking routes and food and wine tastings.
The regional trains will be taken from the commercial fleet and upgraded. These will cross areas rich in history, as well as villages and destinations popular for their agriculture, food and wine traditions.
