Train travellers in Europe looking to take the international night service between France and Italy can now book on the new Thello service between the two countries.
The new Thello train service replaces the old Artesia train service on the overnight routes between France and Italy.
Thello operates between Paris Gare de Lyon and Venice (Mestre and Santa Lucia) with additional stops in France’s Dijon, and Italy’s Milano Centrale, Brescia, Verona Porta Nuova, Vicenze and Padova.
At the moment the Italian night trains will operate a daily return between France and Italy on the Pairs-Milan route, leaving Paris’s Gare de Lyon at 19:45 and arriving in Venice the following morning at 09:34, while trains will leave Venice at 19:57 and arrive in the French capital at 09:29. A second night service between the two countries will operate on a southern route of Paris- Florence-Rome by June this year.
Although the Thello trains are using the same stock as the old Artesia brand, Thello trains will have a branded exterior and the interior remains the same high standard as the Artesia trains before. The Thello service, which will take the same overnight route as the Artesia service took, through Switzerland, is operated by Trenitalia in partnership with another transport company called Veolia
Transdev.
Passengers can expect a high quality and comfortable night train experience with three different classes to choose from.
The sleeping accommodation includes two and three-berth compartments with private toilets and showers as well as four berth couchettes and 6 berth couchettes.
Thello trains also offer on-board catering with a restaurant car and a buffet bar with hot and cold choices from both French and Italian cuisine provided by LSG Sky Chefs the airline caterers. Prices for the Thello night trains start from €80 for the Paris-Milan route and €100 for the Paris- Venice route.
Train travellers enjoying an extended stay in Europe will also be able to connect to the rest of the French and Italian train networks once they have arrived in each country. While the TGV takes passengers all over France, the Trenitalia domestic network, can connect travellers to an extensive range of wonderful places throughout the country, from the vineyards of Tuscany to the Leaning
Tower of Pisa, Rome, Naples, the Amalfi coast with its pretty towns of Sorrento and Rivoli, as well as many more must-see sights all over Italy.