SkyTeam and Trenitalia, Italy’s leading rail operator, have agreed to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to offer customers a wider choice of destinations across Italy. The new partnership will enable customers to explore Italy using high-speed Frecciarossa train services – Trenitalia’s high-speed network in Italy – facilitating intermodal travel across the country by combining air and rail itineraries in a single reservation.

“If the train goes there, so do we”. Frank Marini was keen to get that message across as he made his 40 th trip to Australia from his base in the USA as President and CEO of Railbookers group.

Train journeys are on the radars of travel-hungry Australians looking to take in the scenery of Europe, the UK and North America while they get from A to B. Rising eco-awareness and a growing preference for slower, more immersive travel is driving the demand, and it’s about to get even easier for them to see the world by rail.

Travelport has signed a multi-year deal with European online rail and coach ticket provider, Trainline.

Italy will introduce its first rail tourism project targeting the luxury market, beginning in 2023.

Etihad Airways has expanded its partnership with AccessRail to permit its customers to book select rail options in Europe in conjunction with airfares using the airline’s online booking platform and GDSs.

Following a successful pilot in June, the new Mobile Italy Pass is now available via the Eurail and Interrail webshops. Trenitalia is the first of the participating carriers in the Eurail and Interrail scheme whose rail services will be available via a new digital solution – the first all-in-one mobile pass that travellers can conveniently access via the dedicated Rail Planner App.

With just one easy-to-book ticket, travellers will be able to fly on Emirates and reach some of Italy’s most picturesque cities and towns using high speed, modern and comfortable Trenitalia trains that leave from Emirates’ four Italian gateways: Bologna, Milan, Rome and Venice. Through the partnership, passengers will be able to board Trenitalia trains directly without the need to exchange their boarding pass for a separate ticket. As with their flight, they will be assigned a seat number and car number which will appear on their e-ticket.