Milan to Sicily on Italy’s UNIQUE sleeper train!

This is Italy's UNIQUE overnight train, the Trenitalia InterCity Notte! I'll be taking this sleeper train for a ride from Milan to Siracusa on Sicily, travelling in the InterCity Notte Excelsior suite for the journey to the island that even features one of the world's last train ferry crossings! This trip is just as amazing as it sounds, so join me as I take the most exciting of all trains in Italy.

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Journey Details:
Origin: Milano Centrale
Destination: Siracusa
Company: Trenitalia (TI)
Train: FS E.403/E.464 + WLABm T3S
Accommodation: Excelsior Luxury Sleeper (L4)
Distance: 1387 kilometres / 862 miles
Price: €104.90 (£92.40 / $114.30)
Time: 19 hours 38 minutes, arrived 4 minutes early

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Find me elsewhere:

[Martin_Trainspotter]

When I found out that Italy has ferries that load trains, I was a bit surprised, because I've never seen something like that. It's really interesting in my opinion.

[ogjk]

Any passenger train fan with thier salt needs to ride this train with the stunning scenery and boat ride it's one of the best journeys by rail I have ever taken. We'll done sir.

[thomasloos]

I did the train ferry trip on a daytime train earlier this year, and because I actually missed the connection at Villa San Giovanni due to a previous train's delay (but still arrived before the train was loaded onto the ferry), together with a handful of other connecting passengers I got to wait inside the ferry and watch the train as it arrived. It was very exciting and such a fun coincidence!

[SteveLego]

11:40 well not always there will be a diesel shunter: some of the e464 locomotives have been fitted with batteries that recharge using the pantograph, so some trains are actually shunted on the boat using the actual locomotive used for the journey from milan. Same thing happens in messina. But just a very few locs have been fitted like this. For example, the e402-b still need a diesel shunter

[enricomonti]

I have used Intercity Notte night trains in the rest of Italy and have to say that I love the fact that the sleeping compartments are comfy and the trains are regularly patrolled by police officers which make them safe.

I am planning to do this journey someday since I live 60 miles south of Sicily, but will make sure not to book tight connections

[mrkid]

As an Italian myself I can say that you explained the train, the journey and the places amazingly! I've never tried this train and never experienced to see the train loaded on a boat but it is very interesting to watch and I should definitely try it!

[houseclearance]

Fond memories of the Puttgarden to Rodby and Helsingor to Helsingborg train ferries now withdrawn. I will show my age now and reminisce over the Dover to dunkerque night ferry sleeper service and the Danish great belt train ferries.

[ADuck]

I think the double decker looks cool 2:52

[technoita]

as a local resident i'm devasted by your opinion of the Caravaggio at 2:46 (called Rock in the Trenitalia version)
but still great video, always enjoyable

[pfbueoj]

Grazie. Mi hai fatto ricordare tutti i viaggi in treno che facevo da piccolo negli anni 70 quando andavo a trovare le mie nonne in Sicilia. Partivi da Milano stazione Centrale per arrivare a Catania. Ho dei Bellissimi ricordi di quei lunghi viaggi in cuccetta.

[mdhazeldine]

Surprisingly well featured train. It doesn't look much, but it seems to have everything you'd need. Can't complain at that. And such nice views, unique experience and decent price. Tempting!

[Petboch]

2:53 i've been to milano Centrale on one of these trains and they look lovely to me😊 also the interiors are nice on these in my opinion.

[dreamershavemorefun]

This is on my bucket list, I’ve taken the High Speed trains in Italy but I want to try this before the bridge is built. Hopefully the next time I’m in Italy and I have the time, I’ll go see my family roots in Sicily and ride this epic train journey

[usacountryball]

That's an incredible video. Stunning landscape, many unique sights, but also a great value for money, in my opinion. A really good idea for the next train ride abroad!

[elisabethj.v.beardsell]

I so would love to experience this journey❤ I can imagine a James Bond using this train for adventure! !!!

[turipgn]

omg you are a hero. I'm Sicilian and I've never even thought about doing something like this

[phoenixwyllow]

I haven't used the Intercity Notte in a good few years and I'm quite glad they've refurbished and updated the carriages since then. In my experience it's not just the delays that gave it a certain reputation but also the quality of the journey - I'm glad you had a decent experience (aside from the coffee, train coffee is terrible regardless of what train you get).
Btw, the double-decker train you mentioned is a great train! As a Milan-local, they are SOO much better than the old double-deckers that felt dated even when new - the older stock also varies greatly in configuration based on which company originally owned it before Trenord became operator and unified the northern-owned and state-owned lines. They are also very comfortable - virtually no rocking, spacious, brightly lit, and don't leave you tired after a 30 minute journey.

[TravelSoGood]

I took the train ferry between Copenhagen and Hamburg just before they closed it in 2019. It was quite the experience. The loading was much more efficient because the train was the same length as the ferry. There was no need to split it into sections. Roll-on, roll-off. No messing.

[VRavTech]

Ive been hearing about the bridge ever since i remember existing, around 20 years ago, there's ZERO chance it will be completed by 2032

[franceskinskij]

I'm Italian and I've taken this train many times. Half of my family is from Calabria and I go on holiday there every summer. Now I prefer taking the Frecciarossa (this train route was extended to Reggio Calabria in 2020 because the governor of Calabria at the time wanted tourism). Usually I get off in Rosarno and take a bus to the Ionian coast but I've also gotten off in Lamezia and rented a car. Until I think 2009 there existed a service called "auto al seguito" (Autozug) on which you could load your car and take it with you to your destination. Plus, the train used to run from Milano to Siracusa or Palermo but it would be split in two in Lamezia and some carriages would be sent to Reggio via Catanzaro (on the Ionian railway which they're electrifying this year and it was about time). That meant I could just get on this train and get off at my holiday place. Unfortunately, mostly due to financial but also safety reasons (these trains now completely skip Napoli because most robberies occurred there), the service was suppressed. There is still one Autozug that I've heard of but it runs from Livorno to Vienna I think. While I doubt Trenitalia is going to bring back the Autozug service, maybe when they're done electrifying the Ionian railway they will bring back sleeper trains to Reggio via Catanzaro