Milan to Rome by train: Frecciarossa vs Italo, fares and times (2026)

By TrainsNews' International Expert · Updated 30 October 2026

Milan to Rome by train takes as little as 2 hours 50 minutes on a Frecciarossa, from Milano Centrale to Roma Termini. Two companies run high-speed trains on the route: Trenitalia and the private operator Italo. For Tuesday 10 November 2026, Trenitalia sold 45 direct Frecciarossa trains between the two stations, with fares from €50.90, and Italo sold 33 direct trains from €43.90 (checked on 30 October 2026). Italo's own route page advertises fares from €29.90 (read on 30 October 2026).

Milan to Rome by train at a glance

Frecciarossa or Italo?

Both companies run high-speed trains between Milano Centrale and Roma Termini. The choice comes down to the timetable, the fare on your chosen day and a few minutes of journey time.

Trenitalia's Frecciarossa is the national operator's high-speed brand. Trenitalia lists Turin – Milan – Reggio Emilia AV – Bologna – Florence – Rome – Naples – Salerno among its main Frecciarossa routes, and gives the trains a top speed of 300 km/h. On our sample day, the first direct train left Milano Centrale at 05:10 and the last at 20:35.

Italo is a private company. Its Milan to Rome trains call at Milano Centrale, Milano Rogoredo, Reggio Emilia AV, Bologna Centrale, Firenze Santa Maria Novella, Roma Tiburtina and Roma Termini. Italo's route page gives 33 trains a day and a journey time of 2 hours 52 minutes. On 10 November 2026, its first train left at 05:40 and its last at 20:40, reaching Termini at 00:24.

Our advice: compare both for your exact time.

Train times and fares

Here are the fastest Frecciarossa departures from Milano Centrale to Roma Termini on a Tuesday morning:

Times and lowest fares checked on Trenitalia (lefrecce.it) on 30 October 2026 for Tuesday 10 November 2026, one adult, direct trains only. Fares change with demand and booking date.

And the fastest Italo departures over the same morning:

Checked on italotreno.com on 30 October 2026 for Tuesday 10 November 2026, one adult.

Across the day, 28 of the 45 Frecciarossa trains took between 2 h 50 and 3 h 20. The fastest was the 20:35, due in Rome at 23:25. The lowest fare was €50.90 on 26 trains, and the dearest starting price was €102 on the 09:10.

On the Italo side, every train started at €43.90, €44.90 or €46.90. The quickest took 3 h 05: the 12:20 and the 18:20.

Watch the slower departures

Not every direct train is fast. That Tuesday, the Frecciarossa trains leaving Milano Centrale at ten past the hour took between 3 h 39 and 4 h, and the 05:50 took 4 h 45. Italo's departures at twenty to the hour took 3 h 39 to 3 h 44.

The gap matters. The 17:10 Frecciarossa reached Termini at 20:50 with fares from €62.90, while the 17:35 got in at 20:39, eleven minutes earlier, from €50.90. Check the journey time before you pick a train, not only the departure.

How to pay less

Book early. Trenitalia says the number of seats at each Base price level is limited and changes with the day and the train, and its cheaper Economy and Super Economy fares stop selling two and six days before departure.

Check both operators. That Tuesday, Italo's cheapest seat cost €7 less than Trenitalia's. On another date, the order may be reversed.

Use age-based offers. FrecciaYOUNG, for travellers under 30, sells Standard seats at fixed prices of €19, €29 or €39 depending on the route. FrecciaSENIOR, for travellers over 60, starts at €29 and needs a CartaFRECCIA loyalty code. Both must be bought by midnight on the tenth day before travel.

Know your fare rules. A Trenitalia Base ticket can be changed any number of times before departure, and once up to an hour after. Refunds before departure cost 20%. Economy tickets can only change date or time, paying the difference with the Base price, and are not refundable. Super Economy tickets cannot be changed or refunded.

Stations: Centrale, Rogoredo, Termini and Tiburtina

Milano Centrale, on Piazza Duca d'Aosta, is the main departure point for both companies. Italo describes it as Italy's second-largest station, built in 1931, with 24 tracks, more than 800 trains a day and over 120 million passengers a year. The green and yellow metro lines stop there, along with buses and trams.

Milano Rogoredo is served by Italo and by part of the Frecciarossa service. For 10 November 2026, Trenitalia sold 27 direct Frecciarossa trains from Rogoredo to Roma Termini, the fastest in 3 hours, also from €50.90.

Roma Termini, on Via Giolitti, is Rome's main station. According to Italo, it has 32 tracks and handles about 850 trains a day, with links to the metro, trams, trolleybuses, buses and taxis. Roma Tiburtina, in the north-east of Rome, is a stop on Italo's Milan trains and is reached by metro line B, bus or tram.

How to book

Buy Frecciarossa tickets on trenitalia.com and Italo tickets on italotreno.com, or compare both with the search box at the top of this page.

Luggage and life on board

Italo lets passengers bring as many bags as they need for free. Overhead racks take items up to 53 cm high and 42 cm deep. In Smart class, bags go on those racks, in areas at the end of each coach or in lockers where fitted, and pieces larger than 75 x 53 x 30 cm are not allowed.

Trenitalia's Frecciarossa fleet is made up of ETR 500, ETR 600, ETR 700 and ETR 1000 trains. All have a socket at each seat and offer three or four service levels: Executive, Business, Premium and Standard. For heavy luggage, Trenitalia's Bagaglio Facile service with Zyppy ships a first bag for €22 between Easy Luggage locations, then €20 per extra item, delivered within 24 to 48 hours (rates read on 30 October 2026).

On board the Frecciarossa, the FrecciaPlay portal runs over the train's Wi-Fi with entertainment, internet access and travel information. Italo's Smart class has reclining leather seats, free Wi-Fi and a snack area with vending machines.

The expert's view: three lines, one signalling system

Milan to Rome is not one line. Trains run on the Milan–Bologna high-speed line, cross the Apennines on the Bologna–Florence line, then take the Florence–Rome Direttissima. RFI, Italy's infrastructure manager, says its new Turin – Milan – Naples – Salerno high-speed network has been fully operational since 2009.

Until April 2026, the Florence–Rome section was the odd one out for signalling. In a 2019 presentation, RFI listed Milano–Bologna and Bologna–Firenze among its lines already running with ERTMS/ETCS Level 2, Baseline 2. The Direttissima Florence–Rome was still in the "in realisation" column.

That work was done in three phases. RFI says the first section, Firenze Rovezzano – Arezzo Sud, went live in December 2020, and the last one was completed in April 2026. The FS group gives the details: the final 88 km between Orvieto Sud and Settebagni were switched over between 23:00 on Friday 10 April and 15:00 on Sunday 12 April 2026, with about 300 people on the job. The whole 240 km Rome–Florence line now runs under ERTMS. RFI puts the investment for this final phase at €147 million, including €142 million for ERTMS between Orvieto Sud and Settebagni.

The next big step is in Florence. RFI plans an urban high-speed link of more than 9 km, about 7 km of it in twin tunnels, with a new high-speed station at Belfiore–Macelli. It will separate long-distance trains from regional ones and will carry ERTMS Level 2 with no break from the lines on either side.

Milan to Rome by train: FAQ

How long is the train from Milan to Rome?

The fastest Frecciarossa took 2 h 50 on 10 November 2026, and most took between 2 h 59 and 3 h 20. Italo advertises 2 hours 52 minutes; its fastest trains on our sample day took 3 h 05. Some direct trains take 3 h 39 or more.

How much is the train from Milan to Rome?

For 10 November 2026, Frecciarossa fares started at €50.90 and Italo fares at €43.90 (checked on 30 October 2026). Italo advertises fares from €29.90 on this route (read on 30 October 2026).

How many trains run from Milan to Rome each day?

On 10 November 2026, Trenitalia sold 45 direct Frecciarossa trains and Italo 33 direct trains from Milano Centrale to Roma Termini.

What time is the first and last train?

The first Frecciarossa left Milano Centrale at 05:10 and the last at 20:35 on 10 November 2026. Italo ran from 05:40 to 20:40.

Can I use a Trenitalia ticket on an Italo train?

No. The two companies sell separate tickets, and each is valid only on its own trains. High-speed tickets are also tied to a specific train.

Can I board at Milano Rogoredo?

Yes. Italo stops there, and Trenitalia sold 27 direct Frecciarossa trains from Rogoredo to Roma Termini on 10 November 2026.

Key takeaways

The trip takes about three hours, with 45 direct Frecciarossa and 33 Italo trains on our sample day. Italo started at €43.90 that day, Trenitalia at €50.90. Watch the journey time, as several direct trains take 3 h 39 or more. Tickets are tied to one company and one train.

Read more

Rome to Florence by train: Frecciarossa vs Italo, fares and times

Rome to Naples by train: Frecciarossa vs Italo, fares and times

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Sources: Trenitalia, journey search Milano Centrale and Milano Rogoredo → Roma Termini (times and fares checked on 30 October 2026 for Tuesday 10 November 2026); Trenitalia, Frecciarossa routes, trains and on-board services; Trenitalia, domestic fares, offers and change rules (read on 30 October 2026); Trenitalia, Bagaglio Facile luggage service (rates read on 30 October 2026); Italo, journey search Milano Centrale → Roma Termini (times and fares checked on 30 October 2026 for Tuesday 10 November 2026); Italo, Milan to Rome page (trains a day, journey time, fares from, stops, Smart class; read on 30 October 2026); Italo, Milan page (Milano Centrale); Italo, Rome page (Roma Termini, Roma Tiburtina); Italo, stations served; Italo, luggage policy; RFI, long-distance network and projects (Direttissima upgrade, Florence high-speed link); RFI, Direttissima Roma – Firenze works; FS group, ERTMS fully operational on the Rome–Florence line (12 April 2026); RFI, ERTMS implementation plan in Italy (presentation published by the European Union Agency for Railways, 16 October 2019). Information checked on 30 October 2026.