The overnight train service linking Rome with the French Riviera is set to return this summer, this time with a stopover in Monaco, offering travellers a nostalgic journey along one of Europe’s most stunning coastal routes—and fulfilling promises made a year ago when the same service faced last-minute operational challenges.
The Espresso Riviera, operated by FS Treni Turistici Italiani—a subsidiary of Italy’s national railway Trenitalia—will run every weekend from 4 July through 30 August, threading its way between the Italian capital and Marseille via the Principality of Monaco.
The launch comes after a troubled attempt in 2024, when Trenitalia’s original Espresso Riviera service between Nice and Milan was forced to bypass Monaco entirely just days before its scheduled debut. The planned stop at Monaco’s underground Gare de Monaco Monte-Carlo was cancelled at the last minute due to safety concerns over diesel emissions and inadequate ventilation systems for the diesel-powered trains.
Despite the setback, the shortened Nice-Milan service that did operate during August 2024 generated enough interest to encourage this year’s significantly expanded route, which now extends all the way from Rome to Marseille.
The vintage-style sleeper train departs Rome Termini each Friday evening at 19:57 (21:45 on the inaugural 4th July service), arriving in Marseille the following afternoon at 13:57. The return journey leaves Marseille at 14:46 on Saturdays, reaching Rome by Sunday morning at 06:48.
The route showcases some of Europe’s most breathtaking coastal scenery, making stops at Genoa, Savona, Alassio, Imperia, and Sanremo on the Italian Riviera before continuing to Ventimiglia, Menton, Monaco-Monte Carlo, Nice, Cannes, Saint-Raphaël, and Toulon along the French Côte d’Azur.
From Rome to Genoa, passengers travel overnight in sleeping compartments, waking to stunning Mediterranean views. From Genova onwards, the service operates as a day train, allowing travellers to fully appreciate the coastline as it unfolds through large panoramic windows.
Accommodation and onboard experience
The service offers several accommodation options tailored to different travel preferences. For the overnight portion from Rome, passengers can choose between private sleeping compartments for one or two people, or four-berth couchettes that can be booked for exclusive use by families or small groups.
For the scenic daytime section along the coast, the train features private living room lounges available for exclusive usage, first-class seating with panoramic views, and comfortable second-class accommodation.
The onboard experience includes a restaurant serving hot and cold dishes throughout the journey, with meals ranging from breakfast to dinner featuring both Italian and French regional specialities. Additionally, a dedicated bar offers drinks and snacks, perfect for enjoying an aperitivo while watching the Mediterranean coastline pass by.
The service fills a significant gap left when night train services along the Mediterranean coast were discontinued in previous years. FS Treni Turistici specialises in historic and tourist train services, bringing back the romance of rail travel along one of Europe’s most travelled routes.
Prices start from €54.90, with a 25% discount available through the operator’s ‘TTI Special 25’ promotion, though places are limited and booking early is recommended.
Bookings opened on 24th May exclusively through the FS Treni Turistici website, by email at info@fstrenituristici.it, or by telephone on +39 337 1481776 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 1pm).
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Photo source: Treni Turistici Italiani