Tourists to Italy will rejoice to hear that Italian railways have inaugurated the long-awaited rail service between Fiumicino Airport, Rome, and Venice, with stops at Florence, Bologna and Padua. Operated by the fast train Frecciargento (Silver Arrow), the new line offers air passengers direct connections with the above five major Italian cities. Hitherto, travellers had to change trains at Rome Termini station in order to proceed to any of the other destinations.

At the moment, the service operates only twice a day  at 11.08 and 15.08 from Fiumincino airport and at 5.40 and 9.25 from Venice. In future, Trenitalia (Italian Railways) plans to extend the service and to link up also with Milan Malpensa airport.  Italy's Transport Minister, Maurizio Elia, during the inauguration ceremony declared that the new fast train connection means that passengers from northern Italy will be able to choose Fiumicino as a more convenient hub in preference to Frankfurt or Amsterdam.

Info: www.trenitalia.com