Sicilia Express: New Sleeper Train In Italy Heads From Turin to Sicily

Italy’s new sleeper train the Sicilia Express is coming to take homesick Sicilians home for Christmas. However, this once-off rail experience is also available for travelers visiting the country. The train follows the scenic route from Turin and offers special entertainment, delicious food and comfortable sleeping arrangements.

The Sicilian Express sleeper train in Italy

As noted by Sicily’s Regional President Renato Schifani, the new sleeper train is aimed at workers or students who wish to return home to Sicily to spend Christmas with their families.

The Sicilian Express is set to leave Turin in northern Italy just before Christmas on December 21 and will travel overnight to the island. Moreover, the train will return to Turin on January 5, shortly before the Epiphany, a holiday in Italy.

Many Sicilians, especially the young move to northern Italy for better employment opportunities. However, flights from the north to the south of Italy can be expensive, making regular travel home difficult.

No ordinary sleeper train

Meanwhile, the Sicilian Express is no ordinary sleeper train as FS Treni Turistici Italiani are pulling out all the stops to make the 18-hour rail journey unforgettable. According to the website for the train:

The experience on board the train will be enriched by the presence of well-known personalities who will narrate the journey to Sicily.

Moreover, the train will offer two dining cars that promise to serve traditional food from Sicily. Guests will also get to enjoy “master classes, artistic performances and the participation of influencers and well-known personalities from the Sicilian scene” to entertain them.

How much are the tickets on the Sicilia Express?

Whether you are traveling from northern Italy to head home, or a traveler wishing to see more of the country, ticket prices for the Sicilia Express are affordable. They start at €29.90 ($31.50) one way if you are prepared to sit upright throughout the journey.

For those who seek more comfort, private sleeper compartments are available for €129.90 ($136) for your own sleeper compartment. Meanwhile, tickets are already on sale and are available on the FS Treni Turistici website, or from train station ticket offices.

How much to fly internally in Italy?

Last month, an Italian newspaper found return flights from Bergamo, near Milan, to Catania in Sicily as €716 ($753).

Meanwhile, to help with expenses, the Sicilian government has a scheme that subsidizes domestic flights. Island residents returning home for the holidays can claim back 25 percent of the flight costs, or 50 percent in December and January.

For those tempted to book the journey from Turin to the island, Christmas in Sicily is warm, with December temperatures ranging from around 10 to 15 degrees Celsius (50 to 59 degrees Fahrenheit). However, temperatures can drop lower at night, reaching around 7 to 9 degrees Celsius (45 to 48 degrees Fahrenheit).