From Rome to Marseille via Genoa and Monte Carlo A Timeless Night Train Crosses the Riviera, Blending Coastal Beauty with Dolce Vita Elegance Here’s All You Need to Know About This Scenic Summer Rail Revival

Published on June 30, 2025

Rome–Marseille via the Ligurian Coast and French Riviera: A New Chapter in Night Rail Travel

Starting from 4 July 2025, Italy will witness the return of an iconic overnight rail journey—the Espresso Riviera—a weekly sleeper train that will link Rome with Marseille, winding through the stunning Ligurian coastline and the glittering French Riviera. Departing from Roma Termini every Friday evening, this elegant train service promises an overnight escape through Tuscany and Liguria, arriving in Genoa by morning. From there, the journey transforms into a scenic daytime voyage, making stops at celebrated coastal jewels such as Alassio, Sanremo, Monte Carlo, Nice, Cannes, and Toulon before pulling into Marseille at 14:00 on Saturday.

The return leg leaves later that same afternoon, ensuring passengers are back in Rome by early Sunday morning—making it a perfectly timed weekend escape. A comprehensive test run of the service was successfully completed during the last weekend of June, covering every scheduled stop along the route. The train will operate throughout July and August 2025, offering a romantic nod to the “Dolce Vita” spirit, with sweeping coastal vistas and a nostalgic yet modern travel experience.

Reimagining Night Travel in Italy

This service marks a significant step in the broader effort by Italy’s rail tourism sector to tap into the growing appeal of slow, scenic, and car-free travel. Established in 2023, the dedicated rail tourism subsidiary behind this initiative has been actively building a portfolio that blends luxury, heritage, and experience-driven rail journeys.

Among its offerings are:

• Espresso Cadore, which takes passengers from Rome to Cortina d’Ampezzo through the Dolomites and Veneto.
• Espresso Versilia, a summer weekend train linking Milan with seaside favourites like Viareggio and Forte dei Marmi.
• Treno Storico della Sila, a historic steam train navigating Calabria, along with refurbished 1980s-style services reaching inland treasures such as Montalcino and Lucania.

The Espresso Riviera, however, stands out as the first international night-time offering, and with its premium, seasonal format, it’s setting a new benchmark for rail tourism in Europe.

The Financial and Environmental Rationale

While night trains have been gaining traction across Europe, maintaining profitability remains a hurdle, particularly for cross-border routes where costs are high and margins thin. Despite these challenges, the Espresso Riviera finds strength in timely market trends:

• A surge in demand for seamless, car-free holidays.
• Skyrocketing hotel prices during the high summer months.
• A strong and rising preference for sustainable, climate-conscious travel alternatives.

The Riviera service cleverly captures the essence of all three, positioning itself as not only a travel mode but also a travel experience. And with limited direct overnight rail options between Italy and France, this route fills a crucial gap in European transport infrastructure.

A Widening Night Rail Renaissance

The revival of the Espresso Riviera is part of a broader European resurgence in overnight train services. Across the continent, similar ventures are reawakening:

• Vienna–Split and Zurich–Zagreb summer lines have thrived under Austria’s ÖBB Nightjet.
• Sweden’s SJ successfully revived its long-distance service to the Arctic with Stockholm–Narvik.
• In Spain, heritage trains continue to draw in upscale, slow-travel enthusiasts.
• Meanwhile, France has committed to revitalising its own network with an order for 180 new sleeper cars and 30 locomotives, aiming to establish ten domestic night routes by 2030.

The growing popularity of these routes is evident. In 2024, France’s night trains carried over one million passengers, reflecting a 23% rise from the previous year. The message is clear: the public appetite for overnight rail is real and growing.

A Broader Influence on the Travel Landscape

The Espresso Riviera is more than a stylish journey; it has the potential to transform regional tourism economies. For leisure travellers, it brings a fresh, eco-conscious alternative to flying or long road trips. Its weekend structure is ideal for short getaways, its overnight format reduces accommodation costs, and the route itself offers some of the most picturesque vistas in Southern Europe.

For the travel and hospitality industry, the train could serve as a catalyst for local tourism, particularly in Liguria and Provence. By enhancing cross-border mobility, the service encourages more diversified, experience-rich travel—a key focus in today’s evolving tourism market.

A Ripple Effect Beyond Europe

Though centred in Europe, the Espresso Riviera sets an example for global transportation planning. Its emphasis on seasonal, high-quality rail journeys could inspire other regions to develop similar car-free, climate-friendly travel options.

This movement could place competitive pressure on airlines and road travel providers, nudging them to rethink their approach to pricing and environmental impact. Moreover, its success may prompt transport policymakers worldwide to reconsider the value and feasibility of night train services.

Looking Ahead: A Seasonal Yet Strategic Vision

While the Espresso Riviera is not designed for year-round operation, its summer-only model aligns with peak travel demand. It targets those who seek comfort, style, and sustainability in their vacation experiences. If demand grows as projected, there may be scope to extend operations or introduce similar routes elsewhere.

The service is less about nostalgia and more about reviving the romance of train travel in a practical, future-forward way. It appeals to modern travellers while honouring a timeless tradition of exploring the world slowly, intentionally, and beautifully.

The relaunch of the Espresso Riviera is not just a train service—it’s a reinvigoration of how we move, explore, and connect across borders. With its scenic path from Rome to Marseille, and stops in some of Europe’s most celebrated coastal towns, this route represents a unique blend of convenience, elegance, and environmental consciousness. As the global travel industry grapples with balancing demand and sustainability, services like this offer tangible, stylish solutions—all while reshaping the rhythm of travel in ways that are as memorable as they are meaningful.