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First published: May 2025 - Last updated: March 2026
Calling all lovers of Italy and rail travel: in its first summer season in 2025, the Espresso Riviera night train from Rome to Marseille was a resounding success. And it's easy to see why: a direct train, a vintage atmosphere, the sea almost the whole way, waking up facing the Italian coast... In short: a unique rail experience, between retro comfort and breathtaking Mediterranean landscapes!
⚠️ March 2026 update: According to several reports in the Italian press in early 2026, cross-border operation between Italy and France is currently encountering administrative and technical difficulties. As a result, the return of the Espresso Riviera could be in jeopardy for the summer of 2026.
Behind the tourist success of the 2025 edition, operations were already complicated on the French side. To run in France, a train must have a locomotive compatible with the French network and drivers authorized to operate on it. According to several Italian sources, this solution was found at the last minute in 2025, with a specific traction system on the French side. And it even led to certain adaptations: for example, the elimination of the stop in Monaco, notably because of the constraints associated with diesel traction.
But the situation looks different for 2026. According to the Italian rail press, traction on the French side is not guaranteed, not least because SNCF is unable to supply the locomotives needed on its network. Without a locomotive or qualified drivers in France, the train simply can't cross the border. A situation that reminds us just how complex it is to run an international train, even a tourist train...
We will, of course, update this article as soon as an official confirmation is published. To keep up to date, don't hesitate to subscribe to our newsletter (every other Thursday, free in your mailbox):
Unlike traditional connections between Marseille and Rome, which usually require connections, the Espresso Riviera offers a direct route between the two cities.
But practicality aside, what sets this overnight train apart from other high-speed trains (such as Trenitalia's Frecciarossa or SNCF's TGV) is its unique travel experience, focused on comfort and discovery.
After Nice-Milan in 2024, Marseille-Rome in 2025! Operated by FS Treni Turistici Italiani, the Espresso Riviera offers passengers the chance to relive the golden age of the great international trains. With its beautifully renovated old trains, this night train gives the impression of stepping back in time.
And its retro ambience doesn't detract from its modernity: the experience is rather upscale, and most of the locomotives used by the company are electric.
Doesn't that make you want to?
The Rome-Marseille route is operated by FS Treni Turistici Italiani a company created by Italy's state-owned Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (FS) to develop tourist train offers.
This company brings back into service carefully renovated old rolling stock and offers travel experiences akin to the great international trains of yesteryear. The idea is not just to transport passengers from point A to point B, but to make the journey itself a memorable experience.
On board, the atmosphere focuses on the charm of traditional materials (wood, velvet, soft lighting) while offering modern comfort.
After a highly successful first summer season in 2025, the tourist train Espresso Riviera would potentially return in summer 2026 with more traffic.
However, in early 2026, several Italian media reported that difficulties for cross-border operations between France and Italy which could prevent the train from running this year.
No definitive official announcement has yet been made by the operator. FS Treni Turistici Italiani. The situation could change again in the coming months.
Traffic dates for summer 2026 have yet to be announced.
According to reports in the Italian press, there are problems with rail operations between France and Italy. could jeopardize train service this year.
At this stage, the renewal of the Espresso Riviera for the summer of 2026 is still on the table. remains highly uncertain.
What we do know for sure is this:
We will of course update this article as soon as the 2026 dates are made public. And to keep abreast of the 2026 calendar and the opening of sales, don't hesitate to subscribe to our newsletter (good tips and inspiration, every other Thursday in your mailbox).
The 2025 season timetable to get an idea:
The train stopped at Ventimiglia for a locomotive change, necessary because of the differences in rail regulations between France and Italy. This takes a little longer than a standard stop, but is part of the experience.
These schedules enable travelers to make the most of a long weekend or a week-long stay without wasting a day in transit.
The Espresso Riviera links Rome directly to Marseille, but also serves numerous stations along the way.
The first part of the journey, between Rome Termini and Genoa Piazza Principe is performed in night with sleeper cabins or sleeping cars.
The sleeper in "night" configuration - © Alexandre Jeanpierre
Then, from Genoa onwards, the train switches to day and follows the coast towards France, stopping off at Savona, Alassio, Imperia, Sanremo, Ventimiglia then to Menton, Monaco-Monte-Carlo, Nice, Cannes, Saint-Raphaël and Toulon before reaching Marseille.
The sleeper in daytime configuration - © Alexandre Jeanpierre
This progression makes for a particularly pleasant journey, with the sea often visible on the horizon...
The appeal of this train lies in a different travel experience to that of "classic" night trains:
Dedicated space is provided for transporting bulky luggage and bicycles, which is particularly practical for cyclists and long-distance adventurers.
Eating aboard the Espresso Riviera: a dream come true, don't you think? - Alexandre Jeanpierre
The train combines retro charm: the interior aesthetic is clearly inspired by the great trains of the era: wood, velvet, elegant details... A vintage atmosphere, with comfort that has nothing to envy by contemporary standards.
Fares for summer 2026 have not yet been published..
To give an idea, here are the price levels observed in 2025:
These fares are subject to change depending on demand, the level of comfort chosen and the company's fare policy for 2026.
Reservations can be made directly with FS Treni Turistici Italiani or, when it opens, via dedicated ticketing platforms.
In 2025, tickets went on sale at the end of May. In view of this success, we strongly advise you to book ahead as soon as the next opening of sales is announced.
The Espresso Riviera is not included in the Interrail pass. It is a specific tourist train, distinct from the Intercity Notte trains operated by Trenitalia, which can be accessed at extra cost.
Interrail pass holders must therefore purchase a separate ticket for this route.
Yes, bicycles are accepted on board, thanks to a dedicated space for bulky luggage. Please note that additional charges may apply, depending on your ticket category.
As for pets, in principle they are allowed, subject to certain conditions. We advise you to check the exact terms with the company at the time of booking.
Of course, the night train will never be the fastest. On the other hand, you can optimize your travel time by sleeping during the journey, avoiding airport checks and, above all, drastically reducing your carbon footprint.
Above all, it transforms your journey into an adventure. Dining in a restored restaurant car and waking up facing the Ligurian Sea, or cruising along the Côte d'Azur in the early hours of the morning, is an experience that air travel can never offer. With the Espresso Riviera, the journey between Rome and Marseille becomes a travel experience in its own right, in the tradition of the great European trains!
But above all, what the plane can't offer is the experience. Waking up facing the Ligurian Sea, crossing two countries seamlessly, dining in a restored restaurant car - this is what makes the journey unique.
The Espresso Riviera is part of a revival of night trains in Europe, and if its 2026 season confirms the success of 2025, it could well inspire other international routes of the same type.
July 10, 2025: The good news is that we were there for the inaugural event and got to try it out! Alexandre, one of our reporters, went to Rome with the Espresso Riviera for the event. Sustainable Mobility Partnership co-constructed by BNP Paribas and the Académie de France à Rome - Villa Médicis.
It's an experience that immerses us in a real film set," he says:
"Right from the start, you feel you're in for a unique experience. As the train pulls into the station, it honks its horn like a vintage train. Agents, dressed in the traditional costumes of hotel bellboys, come down to greet us. It's like being in The Grand Budapest Hotel."
As for the atmosphere on board, it is both vintage and modern. "The interior design is retro, but there are also the practical features of today's trains." In the restaurant car, the journey takes on the air of a dolce vita :
"In the train restaurant, we're really immersed in the Italian ambience. The menu is local: pasta is served with a piece of poultry and vegetables, and for dessert, a marble cake. For each trip, the company has hired a musician to play the melodica (a piano blower) of traditional Italian songs. The music accompanies us through dinner."
The melodica player in question - © Alexandre Jeanpierre
As for the experience of waking up in Italy, Alexandre has tested and approved: "After passing through the sumptuous coastal roads of the Côte d'Azur the day before, we wake up facing the Italian coast it's pretty crazy. At breakfast, when the scenery goes by, the waiter, very chic, offers us several formulas: coffee, tea or cappuccino served with a croissant."
In short, the Espresso Riviera is not just a train very practical which allows you to reach Rome without a connection and at a relatively affordable price, but it's also a fully-fledged travel experience. If you get the chance, we highly recommend it!
Issue du monde de la communication et des médias, Sophie est Responsable éditoriale chez HOURRAIL ! depuis août 2024. Elle est notamment derrière le contenu éditorial du site ainsi que La Locomissive (de l'inspiration voyage bas carbone et des bons plans, un jeudi sur deux, gratuitement dans ta boîte mail !).
Convaincue que les changements d’habitude passent par la transformation de nos imaginaires, elle s’attache à montrer qu’il est possible de voyager autrement, de manière plus consciente, plus lente et plus joyeuse. Son objectif : rendre le slow travel accessible à toutes et tous, à travers des astuces, des décryptages et surtout, de nouveaux récits.
