【動画あり】フレッチャロッサ ファーストクラス( エグゼクティブ ) の旅とは? Italian High-Speed Train  Frecciarossa’s Executive Class

 

 

A customer who loves railways expressed interest in learning more about Italian trains.
In this blog, I, Nakamura, will report on my actual experience aboard Italy’s high-speed train, the Frecciarossa, specifically its Executive Class (equivalent to First Class). 

 

 

 

Please note:
 

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During my trips to Italy, I usually visit two cities. In Florence, I attend Pitti Uomo, an international men’s clothing fair, and in Milan, I visit showrooms and factories of various brands.

ミラノ中央駅の構内

 

Operated by Trenitalia, the Frecciarossa can reach speeds of around 300 km/h, akin to Japan’s Shinkansen. The latest ETR1000 models can even reach speeds of around 350 km/h. When I first started traveling to Italy, the journey between Florence and Milan took about 3 hours, but now it’s reduced to just 2 hours, which is incredibly convenient.

 

 

This is the Frecciarossa 1000, consisting of 8 cars. (Apologies for the quality of this 2019 video.)

 

 

This time, I boarded what is called the Frecciarossa 500, an 11-car train.

 

 

 

One thing to note, not limited to Frecciarossa, is that depending on the boarding station, the Executive Class can be either at the very front or the very back, so it’s important to be mindful of that.
I remember once, arriving at the station just in time and having to run 200 meters with my suitcase. That was quite a struggle.

 

 

 

 

Now, let’s talk about the highest grade, the Executive Class, comparable to First Class on airplanes.

 

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With only 8 seats in one carriage, there’s plenty of legroom.

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s a video from the seat’s perspective.

The seats, made of grey genuine leather, are spacious and comfortable. They’re electric reclining seats, allowing you to adjust the backrest and footrest with just a button. Even the window shades are electric.

 

 

 

For comparison, this is the interior of the Frecciarossa 1000. The seats were brown, and there were 10 seats in this carriage. This model allows you to rotate the seats, which is especially handy if you’re prone to motion sickness from sitting in a backward-facing seat. 

 

 

 

エグゼクティブクラスの
車内サービスとは?
What’s the in-car service like in Executive Class?

 

Shortly after taking your seat, the staff will present you with a menu.

 

 

 

 

First, a drink… I ordered Prosecco, and they poured me a very generous glass.

“Thank you, this is quite a lot,” I said, to which they replied with a wink, “It’s a service!” Classic Italy.

 

 

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The menu changes frequently, and the offerings differ depending on the time of day (morning, afternoon, evening).

On my last trip (January 2024), it was a lunchtime journey. I had lasagna and mashed potatoes.

You can choose from various options like focaccia, sandwiches, pasta, gluten-free meals, and more. There’s also an array of desserts, non-alcoholic drinks, and warm beverages.

 

 

 

 


It was morning time.

 

 

 

こちらはフレッチャロッサ1000に乗車した際の様子。

 


This was during a ride on the Frecciarossa 1000.

 

 

 

 

As mentioned earlier, the journey between Florence and Milan is about 2 hours.

With delicious meals and beautiful scenery passing by, time flies, and before you know it, you’ve arrived.

 

 

 

Interestingly, similar to First Class on airplanes, holding an Executive Class ticket grants you access to VIP lounges at major stations.

It’s nice to have a place to relax before boarding.

I haven’t used the lounge yet, so I’m thinking of visiting it next time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope you found the insights into the Executive Class of Italy’s high-speed Frecciarossa train interesting.

For reference, the fare for my journey between Florence and Milan was 170 euros .

It’s worth noting that Italy’s safety standards are not as high as Japan’s, and the risk of theft, like pickpocketing or bag snatching, increases in the lower train classes. I’ve heard alarming stories, like a colleague from Japan who had their luggage stolen on a train to Florence after following what seemed like an official instruction.

The Executive Class offers a relatively safer environment, as access is restricted and there’s ample space for luggage at your feet, ensuring no adjacent passengers.

Though it’s pricier, I remind myself that the cost of safety is never too high when traveling alone.

I hope this information is helpful.