In the ongoing panorama of the human-induced climate predicament, a certain European nation is endeavoring to transform train voyage into not solely an ecologically conscious choice, but an exceedingly delightful one.
Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (FS), the state-owned railway corporation of Italy, has unveiled a fresh initiative centered around tourist-centric trains, employing classic locomotives on sought-after vacation routes.
Commencing in the year 2024, FS Treni Turistici Italiani (Italian Tourist Trains) shall proffer services tailored for tourism of “supreme quality, ecological integrity, and fixated on rediscovering the opulence of Italy,” the enterprise stated in a communique disseminated to CNN. They further indicated their aspiration for “a variant of tourism wherein the expedition by train forms an essential juncture of the vacation, and a component of eminence throughout the entire sojourn,” alongside the inclusion of offbeat destinations.
The innovative project materializes in three facets. The “Lusso” (opulence) trains shall be spearheaded by the long-haul, ultra-lavish Orient Express Dolce Vita train, which shall now inaugurate in 2024, as opposed to its earlier slated debut this year.
The fabled Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, presently owned by the hospitality entity Belmond, shall likewise fall within this category, given FS’s ongoing provision of rolling stock and personnel, in a similar manner as it does for other sumptuous charters such as Golden Eagle trains.
Subsequent to this, we encounter the “Espressi” (Swift) and “treni storici” – heritage trains – journeying across novel intermediate and extended routes from principal metropolises to tourist locales. Instances include voyages from Milan to the Ligurian and Tuscan shorelines, as well as a nocturnal expedition looping the southern reaches, departing from Rome and halting at Otranto in Puglia and Metaponto in Basilicata, prior to circumnavigating the Ionian coast (the tip of Italy’s geographical outline) towards Reggio Calabria. These recent itineraries shall encompass nocturnal routes.
Espresso trains shall adopt rolling stock from the 1980s and 1990s, retrofitted to incorporate 21st-century conveniences such as dining cars, sleeping compartments, conference chambers, and compartments for storing bicycles and skiing equipment. Services shall align with seasonal trends in tourism, bolstering existing Trenitalia routes.
Remarkably, “cruise trains” shall make an appearance – routes conceived with the intention of ferrying vacationers to and fro on brief escapes. For instance, a Friday night departure from Rome shall afford patrons the opportunity to dine and repose as the train progresses northwards toward the Dolomites, arriving at the Calalzo-Pieve station (for the renowned skiing haven Cortina d’Ampezzo) come morning.
Thence, bus transfers shall transport passengers to Cortina, a mere 45-minute jaunt away, and the train shall be poised to convey them back to Rome on the ensuing Sunday evening. Another proposed route shall span a five- or six-day journey from central to southern Italy, traversing five regions from Umbria to Puglia.
Concurrently, FS Treni Turistici Italiani shall take over the administration of the vintage trains that the Fondazione FS currently oversees throughout the nation. Their present assemblage encompasses a fleet of 400 trains.
Concludingly, the category of “omnibus-regionali” shall involve more leisurely weekend expeditions aboard regional trains at more economical tariffs. These trajectories shall be meticulously selected to incorporate captivating panoramas and locations imbued with robust culinary and potable traditions. The stopovers and schedules shall be calibrated to optimize the visitor’s encounter.
Addressing the audience beside a prototype train composition earmarked for utilization in the initiative, FS CEO Luigi Ferraris articulated in a statement that this fresh endeavor seeks to “rejuvenate and foster top-notch, sustainable tourism that is poised to savor the abundance of our nation, and explore less acknowledged domains.”
He appended that the objective was “to meld the train expedition into an integral fragment of the patron’s odyssey, forging synergies with other tourist enterprises, encompassing guided tours of archaeological sites, trekking, and samplings of characteristic produce, thereby concentrating on the customs and economies of the regions [the itineraries] shall encompass.”
Antonio Tajani, Italy’s deputy premier and minister of foreign affairs, conveyed in a discourse delivered at the launch that the new initiative was a constituent of a “contemporary tourism strategy” for the nation, which grapples with the repercussions of excessive tourism.
The emergent establishment shall acquire its fleet from Trenitalia’s customary rolling stock, and shall refurbish trains to render them “meticulously tailored to the requisites of tourists” – inclusive of dedicated trains for religious pilgrimages and secular ones to Italy’s artistic municipalities.
They also aspire to fabricate innovative state-of-the-art carriages, including Swiss-inspired panoramic decks, and establish a set of dining cars that showcase the apex of Italian gastronomy.
Italy is becoming progressively congested as sightseers from around the globe converge to savor la dolce vita. In the year 2022, the nation recorded approximately 56 million arrivals. This figure is prognosticated to ascend to 75 million for the year 2023.
Credit: CNN
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