Transport

At Easter the Sicilia Express returns, from Piedmont to Sicily by tourist train. And there is also the ship+train solution

Departure on 17 April from Turin and return on 26 April; tickets from 5 April on www.fstrenituristici.it and on Trenitalia purchase channels. Gnv launches intermodal train+ship service in collaboration with Italo and Regione Siciliana

by Marco Morino

2 April 2025

3' min read

3' min read

The Sicilia Express, the direct, low-cost train dedicated to Sicilians living in the Centre and North who want to return home for the holidays, returns at Easter. After the success recorded at Christmas, when tickets sold out in just a few hours, the Region is relaunching the initiative and doubling the service. For the Easter holidays, in fact, it will be possible to reach Sicily by train from Turin, thanks to the collaboration with Treni turistici italiani (Fs Group), or choose to arrive by train as far as Naples and then continue by ship. A total of more than a thousand seats are available: 560 for the Sicilia Express; 472 tickets are instead available for the intermodal solution. But let's go in order.

The Sicily Express

Back on the rails is the Sicilia Express, the connection between Piedmont and Sicily designed to offer a travel opportunity to Sicilians living in northern Italy for work or study purposes.

On the occasion of the long Easter long weekend, this service, realised thanks to the collaboration between Fs Treni Turistici Italiani and the Regional Department of Infrastructure and Mobility of the Sicilian Region, will connect Turin, Milan, Parma, Bologna, Florence and Rome to Palermo and Syracuse on 17 April, with the return journey scheduled for 26 April.

The Sicilia Express, which made its debut last December, is not just a train journey, but an immersive experience capable of transforming the journey into an event to remember. On board the Fs Treni Turistici Italiani tourist express, passengers will be able to attend artistic performances and participate in tastings, all with a Sicilian theme. Those who choose to travel with the Sicilia Express will be able to opt for the couchette service or for seats in the compartments. Two restaurant carriages complete the offer.

Hours

The train will depart on 17 April from Torino Porta Nuova at 12:30 and will make stops at Milano Porta Garibaldi (14:10), Parma (15:42), Modena (16:20), Bologna Centrale (16:55), Firenze Santa Maria Novella (18:13), Roma Tiburtina (22:32), Salerno (1:26), Villa San Giovanni (5:33).

After crossing the Strait of Messina the train will split into two sections: one direct to Palermo, with stops in Messina (7:55), Milazzo (8:57), Capo d'Orlando (9:38), S.Stefano di Camastra (10:20), Cefalù (10:49), Termini Imerese (11:07), Bagheria (11:23), and arrival at Palermo Centrale at 11:36, and the other direct to Syracuse, with stops at Taormina (9:15), Giarre Riposto (9:37), Acireale (9:50), Catania Centrale (10:09), Lentini (10:30), Augusta (11:00) with arrival at Syracuse at 11:23.

Prices for the Turin-Palermo/Siracusa route start at EUR 29.90 for a seat in a six-seat compartment or couchette.

Tickets for travelling on board the Sicilia Express will be available from 5 April on www.fstrenituristici.it and through all Trenitalia sales channels, including the Trenitalia App, station ticket offices, self-service distributors and travel agencies.

The ship+train solution

For the return to Sicily in the run-up to Easter there is also the intermodal ship+train solution. Gnv activates a new intermodal connection linking Northern Italy to Sicily, combining high-speed rail transport with maritime service. Gnv's initiative complements the framework of measures promoted by the Sicilian Region to offer a dedicated service for Sicilian residents and natives, further facilitating their return for the Easter festivities and responding to their mobility needs in a period characterised by heavy transport congestion.

Gnv will manage the operation and will collaborate with Italo for the train service linking the main cities from Northern Italy to Naples, allowing passengers to reach Palermo from Naples by sea on board a Gnv ferry. The service will be available on Thursday 17 April 2025 on the outward journey and on Monday 21 April 2025 on the return journey.

Here are the schedules.

Thursday 17 April (outward journey): departure from Turin at 11:30 am on Italo train 9935 with stops in Milan, Reggio Emilia, Bologna, Florence and Rome. Arrival at Napoli Centrale at 17:43. Independent transfer to the port of Naples to board the Gnv ferry leaving at 20:00. Expected arrival in Palermo the following day at 7:30 am.

Monday 21 April/Tuesday 22 April (return): departure of the Gnv ship from the port of Palermo at 19:30. Arrival in Naples on Tuesday 22 April at approximately 7:00 am. Independent transfer to Naples Centrale station to board Italo train 9924, departing at 9:20 am, with stops in Rome, Florence, Bologna, Reggio Emilia, Milan and arrival in Turin.

Sales will open on Tuesday 8 April at 11am, exclusively via the Italo contact centre on 06 07 08.

Marco Morinovicecaporedattore
- @marcomorino
Luogo: Milano
Lingue parlate: Italiano, francese
Argomenti: Infrastrutture, trasporti, logistica
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