Currently, traveling from Rome to Pompeii is complicated, but this is set to change, thanks to a new high-speed train running between the destinations. In fact, with the new high-speed line, travelers will be able to visit the ancient city of Pompeii on an easy day trip. Read on to find out more about the upcoming service and how it will benefit visitors.
New high-speed train from Rome to Pompeii
Italy’s culture minister, Gennaro Sangiuliano has announced that the Italian government is adding a new, high-speed train link from Rome to Pompeii. The minister added that the €35 million ($38 million) project will provide a faster and more convenient way for visitors to reach the famous archaeological park near Naples.
Meanwhile, the new train route will also connect to Rome’s Fiumicino airport, used by most international flights.
Current route from Rome to Pompeii
Currently, the route from Italy’s capital to Pompeii is long and complicated. For those who arrive by train, they will first need to head to Naples, where they change onto a somewhat irritating scenic regional service dubbed the Circumvesuviana.
On this journey, the train stops in a number of small towns around the Gulf of Naples before finally heading to the station of Pompeii Scavi-Villa dei Misteri around two hours later.
About the new high-speed train
With the new high-speed rail link, passengers enjoy a direct link between Rome and Pompeii, while avoiding a large part of the Circumvesuviana’s coastal route. Meanwhile, the country’s cultural ministry said the new route will be part of the existing train line connecting Rome to Naples and Salerno. In fact, it is planned to add a new stop on the line for the Pompeii archaeological site.
The Smithsonian quotes Sangiuliano on the TV talk show Che Tempo Che Fa as saying: “We will take tourists directly from Rome to Pompeii.” Meanwhile, the new high-speed train route will not only increase access to the cultural heritage but would also provide a tourism boost.
A new railway station and transport hub will be built near the ancient city, which was buried in ash by a volcanic eruption in 70 AD. At this new hub, passengers will find connections to all nearby archaeological sites, including Stabiae and Ercolano.
When will the new high-speed train from Rome to Pompeii start running?
Luckily, travelers won’t have too long to wait, as construction is scheduled to begin soon on the new train station. While no exact date has been given, Italy’s cultural ministry said it will open by the start of 2024. Meanwhile, the new route is part of the Great Pompeii Project, which started in 2012 and is funded by the European Union.
However, while the new train route will be convenient to travelers and a boon for local tourism operators and hotel owners, there are some concerns. Recently, the Italian newspaper Il Mattino predicted that the new high-speed route could double visitor numbers at Pompeii from around 20,000 to 40,000 a day. This raises concern over overcrowding at the archeological park.
However, in 2021, authorities in Pompeii introduced a bus service to link Pompeii to other, surrounding archeological sites.
At the end of 2021, Pompeii’s authorities introduced a bus service that links Pompeii to surrounding archeological sites. The aim of the Artebus is to encourage visitors to widen their itineraries in an effort to avoid overcrowding the iconic archaeological site. To get an idea of the number of visitors, Pompeii reportedly received almost three million visitors in 2022.