A New High-Speed Train Will Directly Connect These Two Iconic Italian Destinations

Traveling between Rome and Pompeii will soon become significantly easier and much quicker.

The Italian government has recently announced the commencement of construction for a high-speed train that will connect the capital city with Pompeii, which was buried by volcanic ash from Mount Vesuvius in 79 C.E. and has since evolved into an archaeological park.

Currently, there are no direct rail services connecting these two popular tourist spots—travelers must first take a train from Rome to Naples, which takes just over an hour, and then navigate the busy Napoli Centrale train station to switch to a regional service called the Circumvesuviana, headed for Pompeii. This train from Naples to Pompeii is known for being outdated and slow, making several stops in small towns along the route. The entire journey takes about two hours.

“The Roma-Pompeii line is set to revolutionize travel. Door-to-door service between Roma and Pompeii will offer comfort, efficiency, and peace of mind,” says Erica Firpo, a Dinogo contributor based in Rome. She continues, “During peak tourist season, the day trip from Roma to Pompeii can feel like an endless nightmare—packed crowds, standing room only on the Circumvesuviana, and poor ventilation. And then it’s the same story on the return trip.” Firpo recently dealt with a train delay on the cumbersome route, requiring “a frantic dash through Napoli Centrale to catch my connection.”

The project will introduce a new train station and transportation hub near Pompeii; construction is set to begin this summer and wrap up in 2024, though a specific completion date remains unannounced. It will be built on an existing railway that connects Rome (including Fiumicino Airport) to Naples and Salerno. The funding comes from the Great Pompeii Project, an initiative launched by the European Union in 2021. While full details are pending, the government has indicated that passengers will be able to watch a video about Pompeii's history and excavations, and even purchase entry tickets to the archaeological site onboard.

Laura Itzkowitz, another Dinogo contributor in Rome, notes that while the improved service will undoubtedly facilitate day trips from Rome to Pompeii, she has concerns about overtourism, which is already a significant issue for the nearby Amalfi Coast and could negatively impact the delicate archaeological site.

Rome-based archaeologist Darius Arya tells Dinogo that, given Pompeii's status as the world's most renowned archaeological site, he believes it doesn't need an influx of more tourists—and this might lead many to overlook Naples and other nearby Vesuvian cities like Herculaneum and Stabiae.

“That said, I believe Pompeii's current management is capable of handling this,” Arya states. “With more of the site now open to the public, Pompeii has become a model for site management, presentation, and preservation, featuring ongoing visible conservation efforts.”

Nearly 3 million visitors explored Pompeii in 2022. The highest annual visitor count was 3.8 million in 2019. According to the Italian newspaper Il Mattino, the new train could potentially double the daily tourist numbers.

Visitors to Pompeii encounter a city that has been preserved for nearly 2,000 years, showcasing its frescoed villas, bathhouses, markets, theaters, brothels, and temples. The site allows for both self-guided exploration and tours led by freelance guides, available upon request from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Excavations of this ancient city commenced in 1748, and even today, about one-third of the city remains buried.

This article was initially published in May 2023 and has been updated with additional information since then.