TRAIN TRAVEL, TOD’S STYLE

Diego Delle Valle’s other venture, a high-speed rail service, features luxe amenities and Ferrari engineering. All aboard.

Train travel stateside often conjures up unpleasant memories of trips spent enduring spotty Wi-Fi, stained fabric seats, and microwavable cuisine. Leave it to Italians, then, to imbue high-speed train service with a much-needed dose of chicness.

Through NTV, a passenger rail company, Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo and Tod’s CEO Diego Delle Valle launched the Italo train, a high-speed service that travels daily between Milan and Naples. As its Ferrari roots betray, the Italo train travels at speeds up to 223 miles per hour and boasts bright red exteriors. Running since April, NTV plans to extend current service to connect the existing routes with stops in Turin, Venice, and Salerno.

With Ferrari engineering, the Tod’s influence manifests itself in the train’s interior. Supple Frau leather seats and food prepared with ingredients from Mario Batali’s Eataly seem light years away from their Amtrak counterparts. Free Wi-Fi is uninterrupted by tunnels, and a cinema car offers new releases broadcast in hi-def.

NTV offers three tiers from travelers to choose from—Club, Prima, and Smart—but prices are decidedly affordable, with tickets starting at 45 euros (about 60 USD) for the Rome-Milan trip.

With no plans for expansion outside Italy at the moment, it’s worth looking into booking a flight…to take the train.

For tickets and further information, contact Rail Europe in the U.S. at 888.382.7245 or visit raileurope.com.