An Italian rail company is getting in the festive spirit by laying on a special sleeper service designed to reunite families at Christmas.
The low-cost, direct overnight train will run from Turin in northern Italy all the way south to Sicily, reflecting just how many Sicilians have left the island for economic opportunities elsewhere and the subsequent demand for affordable homeward travel over holiday periods.
The initiative by FS Treni Turistici follows a request from Sicilian governor Renato Schifani as part of efforts to take “every possible action to support all those Sicilians, workers or students, who by choice or necessity live in northern Italy and wish to join their loved ones to spend the Christmas holidays together.”
A one-off voyage on the Sicilia Express
Dubbed the Sicilia Express, the 18-hour route has nine station stops, including at regional hubs such as Milan and Florence, as well as the capital Rome. But, it’s important to note the service is unfortunately a one-off, giving those who want to spend yuletide on the central Mediterranean island just one chance to board. It is set to leave Turin Porta Nuova on 21 December at 3:05 pm and arrive in the Sicilian port city of Messina the next morning at 09:45 am, where it will divide to serve both Palermo and Syracuse.
The return journey, also a standalone offering, departs Messina on 5 January, a date that in some countries traditionally marks the end of the Christmas season. Leaving the harbour at 6:50 pm, it will pull into Turin at 12:50 pm the following day.
Two dining cars, entertainment and pets go too
On board, passengers benefit from two dining cars with Sicilian-inspired menus, as well as a range of activities to fill the journey with optional entertainment, masterclasses, and performances.
Tickets supposedly went on sale on 3 December, and start from an affordable €29.90 one-way for a seat or €129 for a sleep compartment, making the Sicilia Express a genuine alternative to carbon-heavy air travel. But no tickets were available to book when Travel Tomorrow attempted a reservation via FS Treni’s website on 4 December, indicating either a tech problem with the site, or very high demand.
With 544 seats and pets allowed too on the one-off service, it’s possible there will not be room for everyone’s dream of a Sicilian Christmas to come true, but governor Schifani hopes the service will prove popular enough to be reincarnated at other significant times of year, such as Easter.
