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This new summer sleeper train travels from Rome to the French coast

After a successful run in summer 2024, the Espresso Riviera will be returning from the end of July – here’s what we know so far

Liv Kelly
Written by
Liv Kelly
Writer, Time Out Travel
Villefranche-Sur-Mer, France
Photograph: Shutterstock
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If you haven’t jumped on the sleeper train bandwagon just yet, the return of this glamorous summer service might just be the announcement to pique your interest. 

In summer 2024, a Riviera Express train between Nice and Milan was launched as part of Italy’s new fleet of vintage tourist trains. After its success, operator Fs Treni Turistici Italiani has confirmed that a similar service will launch this summer, this time between Rome and Marseille

The plan is that the service will depart Rome’s Termini station every Friday and arrive in the South of France by Saturday morning. The train will leave Marseille on Saturday evenings and arrive in the Italian capital in the early hours of Saturday, according to Genova Today

On offer will be sleeping cars with private compartments, as well as more affordable couchettes available in the overnight section – and these start from as little as $48. Once the nighttime portion of the journey is over, the train’s layout will change to include lounges as well as first- and second-class seats. 

So, where is this train stopping? Some of the route’s highlights include Sanremo, a chic resort town on the Ligurian coast, and Menton, a vibrant little French town near the border with Italy.

After departing Rome, the full route will stop at Genoa, Savona, Alassia, Imperia, Sanremo, and Ventimiglia in Italy, before crossing into France and stopped at Menton, Monaco, Nice, Cannes, Saint-Raphaël–Valescure, Toulon and Marseille. 

The service will run from July 4 to August 30, and tickets will be available from the Trenitalia website from May 24

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