Skip to main content
Answer

Minor Italian railways

  • January 29, 2025
  • 5 replies
  • 135 views
David Haydock

I am very frustrated that Interrail does not cover many small railways in Italy despite comparable prices to other big countries. And I do not think Interrail is very clear about this.

 

My question is this. Several small railways have been taken over by Trenitalia - the latest is Sistemi Territoriali from Venice. Others include FSE which covers the WHOLE of the Italy boot and FCU in Umbria. As Trenitalia is now the operator, does Interrail now cover these lines. If IR is not valid, why not ? David Haydock  

Best answer by Angelo

Hello,

all smaller lines where the trains are run by Trenitalia, Trenitalia TPER or Trenord (except MXP) are included.

The small rest is officialy not included. In some cases the train staff will not accept Interrail, in other cases they will. But officialy it is not accepted. Companies are for example SAD, Trentino Trasporti, FSE, TUA, ....

On the Interrail Website it is never written, that all lines are included. 

In other countries we have similar rules, like in France the RER in Paris are not included or the trains in Corsica. In Switzerland SZU S-Bahn in Zürich is not included. 

5 replies

Angelo
Railmaster
Forum|alt.badge.img+11
  • Angelo
  • Railmaster
  • Answer
  • January 29, 2025

Hello,

all smaller lines where the trains are run by Trenitalia, Trenitalia TPER or Trenord (except MXP) are included.

The small rest is officialy not included. In some cases the train staff will not accept Interrail, in other cases they will. But officialy it is not accepted. Companies are for example SAD, Trentino Trasporti, FSE, TUA, ....

On the Interrail Website it is never written, that all lines are included. 

In other countries we have similar rules, like in France the RER in Paris are not included or the trains in Corsica. In Switzerland SZU S-Bahn in Zürich is not included. 

Do you have any questions? Feel free to ask in the community! Known languages: Deutsch, Italiano, English.
R
Railmaster
Forum|alt.badge.img+10
  • rvdborgt
  • Railmaster
  • January 29, 2025

As far as I can see, FSE (Ferrovie del Sud Est) are owned by FS (Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane), just like Trenitalia are also owned by FS, so they're still 2 separate companies. FSE is not Trenitalia and they can have separate fares. Passes are not valid on FSE.

Sistemi Territoriali are running a number of lines for Trenitalia, but since 1/9/2024, it looks like Trenitalia are now running 3 lines themselves. One these 3 lines, passes should be valid. I also checked some of the other lines Sistemi Territoriale run for Trenitalia, and the Rail planner app says passes are valid. The Trenitalia website doesn't mention any other operator, so Trenitalia themselves are the operator (regardless of whose trains appear on the tracks) and passes should be valid.

For the FCU (Ferrovia Centrale Umbra), it looks like Trenitalia are now operating the trains, so passes should be valid. The Trenitalia website again doesn't mention another operator for these trains.

Please ask questions in the community and not via a private message. That's the quickest way to get a response. I don't work for Eurail/Interrail.
A
David Haydock
  • David Haydock
  • Author
  • Rail rookie
  • January 30, 2025

As I say, it is time Interrail gave this some attention - talk to the people in Italy. I think that the Interrail website should make it very clear what is and is not included. Angelo says all Trenitalia managed lines are included then says FSE is not covered - it is managed by Trenitalia with the name FSE. This is a trend - Trenitalia is taking over lines. As it is, some areas of Italy are currently “out of bounds”. 

Compare this with the situation in Germany where trains run by Transdev, Keolis and so on under various brands are all included. The same in NL.

R
Railmaster
Forum|alt.badge.img+10
  • rvdborgt
  • Railmaster
  • January 30, 2025

As I say, it is time Interrail gave this some attention - talk to the people in Italy. I think that the Interrail website should make it very clear what is and is not included.

The page about Italy should be updated indeed I think, but the overview here looks quite clear to me:

https://www.interrail.eu/en/plan-your-trip/tips-and-tricks/trains-europe/railway-companies

FCU and Sistemi Territoriale are not mentioned, but if they don't operate any trains anymore, then that's OK.

I think it would be helpful if you could mention any concrete additions/corrections for that list. It looks like many small Italian railways are already on that list.

Angelo says all Trenitalia managed lines are included then says FSE is not covered - it is managed by Trenitalia with the name FSE.

As long as the operator is FSE, it's not Trenitalia. The Trenitalia website mentions FSE as the operator; FSE is excluded on the page with companies covered by the pass.

As soon as Trenitalia becomes the operator anywhere, passes are valid.

This is a trend - Trenitalia is taking over lines. As it is, some areas of Italy are currently “out of bounds”.

If operators don't want to participate in the pass, then there's not a lot anyone can do about it.

Please ask questions in the community and not via a private message. That's the quickest way to get a response. I don't work for Eurail/Interrail.
Angelo
cisalpino
Full steam ahead
  • cisalpino
  • Full steam ahead
  • February 3, 2025

We also should specify that FSE does in fact NOT cover the whole boot of Italy. It’s just a rather small portion of lines in Apulia. Most of the boot (Including Calabria) is covered by Trenitalia and Interrail is accepted on these trains.

With Interrail the journey is the destination.
Angelo
A
Terms and Conditions & Privacy PolicyAccessibility statement