Re: Are we all alone in Basilicata?
 

Yes, he's a fantastic font of handy information. I've travelled to Italy by train in the past, taking the Thelio night train from Paris to Verona. Last year, I travelled from Trento to Palermo by train, leaving home about 5pm and arriving in Palermo just before 10am the next morning, a wonderful experience. I'll never forget standing on the deck of the ship crossing the Messina straits at 6am or having the compartment all to myself for a couple of hours as the train hugged the northern coast of Sicily, the sparkles of the early morning sun dancing on the sea as we flashed in and out of tunnels. Incredible. Palermo was a lot more my cup of tea than I expected too, much less hectic (although the traffic is hideous!).

Re: Are we all alone in Basilicata?
 

It surprises me how reliable the trains are here considering how old are the power units on the Regional trains. A friend in the UK went to buy a Trans Peninne Express ticket to Manchester Airport recently and was advised to travel hours early in case of delays.

Re: Are we all alone in Basilicata?
 

That's a good point Phil. The TPE service is very variable in my experience (I usually fly back from Manchester when I leave the UK). Last time I was there, my train was 20 minutes late even though it was ready & waiting on the platform for the first departure of the day. Apparently, the train had got cold overnight and the driver couldn't raise the necessary pressure for the various systems. You would have thought that there would be enough slack in the system to allow for the trains to be prepared for the day.

What are the trains like in Umbria (assuming you have any)?

Re: Are we all alone in Basilicata?
 

The very reason they have a problem doing anything about climate change! A taxi from our house in the UK to Manchester airport 1hr door to door, cost £50. The train (which I love) we have to get to the station on a once every 1.5 hours local train or the bus or again a taxi - £10. Cost I'm not too sure, but even with a railcard and/or booking well in advance it will be at least £10 - we have often went by taxi....
I agree, the trains we have used in Italy, as old as they are, are on time!

Re: Are we all alone in Basilicata?
 

Plus, the Italian rolling stock cannot be as old as the God-awful Pacer trains which run across most of the northern lines in the UK. They're supposed to be being phased out and not before time - hideously rattly & bumpy "trains" with bus bodies that are cold in winter and hot in summer.

Re: Are we all alone in Basilicata?
 

That is a funny excuse for departing late.
The problem with Umbria is that a lot of the towns are on the tops of hills and the stations are a good way from the centres.

It is interesting that when they were planning the Autostrada del sole both Perugia and Terni were desperate for it to pass by but in the end it was routed via Orte and Umbria was left as a backwater.