Trenitalia Ciampino Airlink from Roma Termini to Rome Ciampino Airport by Train and Bus

After more than a week in Rome, it’s time to head off back to Edinburgh. While Rome Ciampino Airport does not have a direct airport rail link train, Trenitalia offers the Ciampino Airlink which is a train and bus combination to get passengers to Rome Ciampino Airport via Ciampino Railway Station. While the cheapest train (metro) option would be with ATAC via Rome Metro Line A and Bus 520, I wanted a Trenitalia commuter train to depart from Roma Termini by train properly.

Roma Termini Railway Station

Heading into Roma Termini Railway Station from one of the many side entrances.

Roma Termini is also one of the main pick-up points for airport buses in Rome. Most if not all of them cost about double the price of the Ciampino Airlink. The airport bus is probably only worth the price if going to Rome Fiumicino Airport.

Heading down the underpass to access the platforms without the need to walk all the way to the end of the station.

Trenitalia Ciampino Airlink Ticket

My Trenitalia Ciampino Airlink ticket from Rome Ciampino Airport to Roma Termini, made up of 2 portions. The fare for the Trenitalia Ciampino Airlink costs €2.70, which is split as €1.50 for the train and €1.20 for the bus. I had pre-purchased my ticket online on the Trenitalia website since I knew my arrival and departure flight times, but Trenitalia ticket machines are also available inside the terminal.

Tickets are “auto-validated” based on my booked time, and thereafter valid for 4 hours on the same route.

This also means that despite arriving earlier, I could not use an earlier train to Ciampino as technically my ticket has not been validated, and I will be liable to a fine.

Interestingly, trains which offer Ciampino Airlink connections are listed as ARL instead of the usual REG.

Heading through the underpass below the platforms and tracks.

My booked Trenitalia Regionale 20115 is departing from Platform 22.

Trenitalia Regionale 20115

My Trenitalia Regionale 20115 is operated by a push-pull “Vivalto” train set hauled by an E.464 electric locomotive with double-deck passenger coaches. This train is bound for Velletri.

Boarding the double-deck “Vivalto” push-pull train.

The interior of the upper deck of the Vivalto train set.

Seats are laid out in facing bays of 4 seats.

2 2-pin power sockets are available by the wall in each facing bay of 4 seats.

The interior of the lower deck of the Vivalto train set has mostly airline-style seats with tray tables.

My Trenitalia Regionale 20115 on the Ciampino Airlink ticket was beside the Leonardo Express, the real airport express train to Rome Fiumincio Airport which costs €14.

My Trenitalia Regionale 20115 departed from Roma Termini at 8.35am – 7 minutes delayed.

Passing by the dreaded outer end platforms of Roma Termini.

Passing by the Roma Termini signal box.

Passing by the Ferrotel Roma Santa Bibiana.

Passing by the Temple of Minerva Medica.

Passing by the aqueduct leading to Porta Maggiore.

Passing over the line between Roma Tiburtina and Roma Tuscolana.

Passing by freight trains at Roma Casilina.

Heading out of the eternal city.

Capannelle Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Capannelle Railway Station.

Passing by Capannelle Racecourse.

Passing over the Grande Raccordo Anulare.

Approaching Runway 15 at Rome Ciampino Airport.

Passing by the road skirting around Rome Ciampino Airport that I will be on shortly.

Passing by Rome Ciampino Airport.

Ciampino Railway Station

My Trenitalia Regionale 20115 arrived at Ciampino Railway Station at 3.49pm – 6 minutes delayed. This technically leaves me with only 1 minute to make my Ciampino Airlink bus connection.

The station building of Ciampino Railway Station as seen from the platform.

Heading down the underpass to the station building.

Transfer to Ciampino Airlink Bus

Signs pointing to the Ciampino Airlink bus connection are all around the underpass for very easy wayfinding.

Heading out of the station to the bus stop.

The façade of Ciampino Railway Station.

Ciampino Airlink Bus Stop

There was no bus waiting at the Ciampino Airlink Bus Stop when I got out of Ciampino Railway Station. I probably had missed the CI123 bus departing at 8.50am due to the delay of my booked Trenitalia Regionale 20115. Nevertheless, tickets are “auto-validated” based on my booked time and valid for 4 hours on the same route, so I can simply catch the next bus.

The full bus timetable is available at the bus stop, and there was going to be another bus in 10 minutes departing at 9am. Perfect.

Ciampino Airlink Bus

At 8.59am, the next Ciampino Airlink bus arrived at the bus stop.

Boarding the Ciampino Airlink bus. This 9am bus bears the train number of CI125, operated by ATRAL for Trenitalia.

Tickets are checked by the bus driver at boarding – don’t board the Ciampino Airlink bus ATAC-style to wait for revenue inspectors.

There is also a validator on board which I did not need to use, but check with the driver if this is a Trenitalia ticket validator or the ATRAL one which is not in use.

The interior of the Trenitalia Ciampino Airlink bus, which is a familiar Citaro with not so familiar seats.

My Ciampino Airlink bus CI125 departed from Ciampino Railway Station at 9.00am on time. That was an efficient boarding process taking only 1 minute.

Heading out of Ciampino town.

Skirting around Rome Ciampino Airport.

Passing over the Grande Raccordo Anulare on the roundabout above.

Turning in to Rome Ciampino Airport.

Turning into the bus stop at Rome Ciampino Airport.

Rome Ciampino Airport

My Ciampino Airlink bus CI125 arrived at Rome Ciampino Airport at 9.10am – 3 minutes early.

The Ciampino Airlink bus stop outside Rome Ciampino Airport.

The façade of Rome Ciampino Airport. This main building is the departure hall. From here, I headed in to do my Ryanair visa check for non EU/EEA passengers to get my boarding pass.

Conclusion

My Trenitalia Ciampino Airlink got me from Roma Termini to Rome Ciampino Airport by train and bus combination in 42 minutes. If I had purchased my open ticket and validated it on the spot, I could have reached the airport even earlier as I could get on the first available train after validation. Despite the delay of my Trenitalia Regionale 20115, I still had a good connection to the Ciampino Airlink bus as it was surprisingly more frequent than the train. However, do beware of the weekend and holiday schedule as services are reduced.