Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Train
Travelling by train is an option between Sicily's major towns. Services are limited and slow, although cheap and gener-
ally reliable. Trains are all operated by
Trenitalia
( 89 20 21;
www.trenitalia.com
)
, except for those that trundle
around the base of Etna, which are run by the private
Ferrovia Circumetnea
( 095 54 12 50;
www.circumetnea.it
)
There are several types of train: Intercity (IC) or Intercity Night (ICN) trains are the fastest, stopping only at major
stations;
espresso
trains stop at all but the most minor stations, while
regionale
trains are the slowest of all, halting at
every stop on the line.
Note that all tickets must be validated
before
you board your train. Simply insert them in the yellow machines in-
stalled at the entrance to all train platforms. If you don't validate them you risk a fine. This rule does not apply to tickets
purchased outside Italy.
Classes & Costs
There are 1st- and 2nd-class seats on Intercity trains but not on the slower
espresso
and
regionale
trains. Travel on Inter-
city trains means paying a supplement, included in the ticket, determined by the distance you are travelling. If you have
a
regionale
ticket and end up hopping on an Intercity train, you'll have to pay the difference on board.
Sample prices for one-way train fares are as follows (return fares are generally double).
FROM
TO
FARE
Catania
Agrigento
€11
Catania
Syracuse
€6.50
Catania
Messina
€7.10
Palermo
Agrigento
€8.30
Palermo
Catania
€15.30
Palermo
Messina
€12.50
Left Luggage
There are left-luggage facilities or lockers at most of the bigger train stations on the island. They are usually open 24
hours or close only for a few hours after midnight. Charges are typically about €4 per day per piece of luggage, although
at Palermo it costs €14 for 24 hours.
Reservations
There's no need to reserve tickets for travel within Sicily, but if you're heading up to the Italian mainland on weekends
or during holiday periods, it's probably a good idea. A booking fee of about €3 is generally applied. Tickets can be
booked at station ticket booths or at most travel agencies.
