From Rome, through Sicily: Italy latest night train is a €25,000 luxury getaway on rails

Rome: On Italy’s newest rail service, trains will take days to reach their destinations and tickets will cost thousands of euros. Such an experience isn’t for everyone, and that’s exactly the point.

Beginning next year, La Dolce Vita trains will offer a selection of one- to three-night trips from Rome and through Sicily for a starting price of €6,000 ($6,500) for two people. Routes snake through destinations like Palermo, Venice and Portofino. The most exclusive cabins will cost at least €25,000 per night.

“It’s like a luxury cruise but on rails,” said Paolo Barletta, chief executive officer of luxury travel group Arsenale SpA, which will operate the service in association with the famed Orient Express brand. “The train is a means of transport that is a passion of many. It is romantic and has very special charm.”

The service — affiliated with the Orient Express brand — springs from two key trends: the post-pandemic travel revival and renewed interest in trains in connection with the climate crisis. After being cooped up under Covid-19 lockdowns, people are on the road again. That’s especially true of the wealthy, which want to get off the beaten track but in style and with less guilt.

Italy is a sought-after destination for its food, culture and history. There were over 3 million upscale visitors to Italy in 2022, spending an average $4,000 each, according to tourism board ENIT. The group expects revenue from high-end international travelers to grow 31% between 2020 and 2024.

“Luxury tourists are looking for something different, as cruises are kind of been there, done that,” said Dina Ravera, founder and chairwoman of upscale tour operator Destination Italia SpA. “Sustainable, slow travel on alternative routes and panoramic roads across Italy is in high demand by high-spending tourists.” “It’s like a luxury cruise but on rails.”

The luxury segment is unaffected by the inflation pressure and economic anxiety hitting most consumers. A survey by payments company Flywire Corp. found that 83% of upscale travelers plan to spend more in 2023 than last year.

To tap into the demand, Arsenale is investing €240 million to start the service, including converting aging trains from national operator Trenitalia into rolling luxury transport. Amenities include fine dining at brass-trimmed tables and suites with wood paneling and sitting rooms.

Interiors are inspired by 20th century Italian design, combining muted shades of orange, terracotta and purple. The deluxe cabins will feature carpeted floors and wood slats on the ceiling as well as private bathrooms. Suites will be equipped with a sofa, a table and two armchairs to take in the landscape.

Within the glossy lacquer walls of the dining car, Italian aperitivo and local wines will be served, and delicacies will include sea urchin and truffles. During Le Grand Soir evening dinners, a photographer will take vintage Polaroids for the guests. As many as 62 passengers will be able to travel in the 12-coach trains.

The routes at times will use secondary tracks close to the mountains and the seaside. Travelers will be able to hop on and off for events, such as nighttime visits to St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice or performances at Milan’s La Scala opera house. There will also be options to stay at Arsenale-owned Orient Express hotels in Rome and Venice, which are also set to open in 2024.

The first two trains will start service embarking from Rome to northern and southern Italy, along with tours through Sicily. Four more will follow in 2025, adding routes throughout the country.

There are plans to extend the concept to the Arabian peninsula after Arsenale signed agreements with Etihad Rail and Saudi Arabia Railways to develop similar services in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

Carriage construction is currently being undertaken at the CPL Progresso E Lavaro factory in Brindisi, Italy. Photographer: Alessio Paduano/Bloomberg

Pre-registrations for the first La Dolce Vita trips are already open, and enough people have paid €500 deposits to take up all of the available spots for 2024, if passengers and routes can be matched, according to Barletta, who founded Arsenale in 2020 in partnership with Annabel Holding, the company owned by billionaire Nicola Bulgari. Official booking starts after this summer.

Most of the customers will likely come from the US, Europe and the Middle East, alongside domestic Italian travelers, Barletta said, adding that Asia is lagging behind.

For Dolce Vita passengers, price isn’t an issue. “Buying a top-brand bag may cost the same as a tailor-made journey, but it doesn’t give the same emotional experience,” he said.