Starting Saturday, August 3, Trenitalia will operate a weekend line connecting Milan to Nice. Despite initial plans, the train will not stop at Monaco station, disappointing many Monegasque residents. Promotional materials had suggested stops in Monaco, but due to ventilation issues at Monaco’s underground station and the use of diesel locomotives, the stop was canceled.
The train, known as Espresso Riviera, offers a daily round trip on Saturdays and Sundays. Departing from Milan Centrale at 7:35, and arriving in Nice at 13:58. The return journey leaves Nice at 17:12, reaching Milan at 23:40. This schedule favours Milanese travellers, who can enjoy a full day on the Côte d’Azur, whereas residents of Nice will spend only the night in Milan.
Tickets, priced at 109 euros for a round trip, are available on the TTI and Trenitalia France websites. The journey promises comfort, featuring a bar car and a high-end restaurant car with table service for first-class passengers. Trenitalia president Marco Caposciutti noted that the service is experimental and assured that next year, with an electric locomotive, the train will make a stop in the principality.
