Thread by @Ogilvie_CJ

🇮🇹 Italy’s railway excelled itself, I’m on the most incredible train from Rome to Naples😍
Launch of Treni Turistici Italiani, a new TOC aimed at tourists. #FSTTI
• Dining car
• Cycle van
• Press car
• Couchette & sleeper cars
• Bar car
• Trans Europ Express cars
1/..🧵⬇️

Now that’s what I call a @_DiningCar.
There’s a beautiful 1960s Trans Europ Ecpress dining carriage, complete with kitchen car & bar.
The quality of the refurbishment is superb, like new.
It will be incredible to enjoy a meal here. It’s not clear what they plan for the train!

@_DiningCar Primi? Secondi? Chianti? 🍷

Italian food and wines in this superbly presented dining car is going to be an amazing experience.

@_DiningCar 🚲 They’ve got every niche covered.
There’s a dedicated cycle carriage in the train, ready for the Giro d'Italia.

@_DiningCar Our 10 carriage Treni Touristici Italiani train in Roma Termini earlier.
The blue livery is inspired by ‘Il Treno Azzurro’ - The Blue Train, which Milan - Naples in the 50s & 60s.

@_DiningCar Here’s the a 6 berth compartment in the couchette carriage.
A heritage 1960s carriage, but restored with the best of modern design.

@_DiningCar ⚽️ Italia ‘90 lives on.

A special Press & Conference carriage was built for the football tournament (sorry don’t follow ⚽️).
It’s wonderful 1990s marshmallow sofas, complete with bar, part of the #FSTTI train.

@_DiningCar There’s another bar car, it’s it’s blue seating inspired by It Treni Azzurro?
A lovely view from the panoramic windows.

Another of the train’s well presented sleeper cars.
So presumably there will be some long distance trips on this train.
Unfortunately this is one part of Italian rail travel I’ll never get used to!

Here’s the guy responsible for Italy’s heritage rail renaissance, Luigi Cantamessa.
He reminds me of an Italian @MrTimDunn - passionate & enthusiastic about his country’s rail heritage.
But Luigi’s reopened lines, rebuilt bonkers trains #ETR252 & now a runs this heritage train co

@MrTimDunn Ok, I’ve got it, there are 3 trains aimed at tourists.

1. La Dolce Vita. 11 car Pullman operated by Orient Express & Acor hotels from 2024.

2. Today’s train, in various combinations of carriages suited to trips from Rome-alps. No dates/website obvs 🤯..orient-express.com/la-dolce-vita

3. Omnibus Regional.
Local heritage trains aimed at families on weekends, cheap fares.
There’s no ‘book now’ after all this, but that’s Italy!
Follow for info on bookings.

I’ll play you out with a concert at sunset NRM Pietrarsa, with sunset over Bay of Naples.
Viva Italia 🇮🇹

@paul_winginit After all this, no dates or routes were announced!

They were explaining there will be 3 new tourist trains;

I’ll try and find out more info this week, I’ve got some contacts in FS now.
I’ll let you know.