Trenitalia Regionale 20024 from Albano Laziale to Roma San Pietro

Concluding the Vatican By Train experience, Vatican Full Day PLUS passengers start the return train journey from the end of the line at Albano Laziale with the open bus directly from the Pontifical Gardens of Castel Gandolfo. Trenitalia Regionale 20024 is a domestic train which runs from Albano Laziale to Roma San Pietro, just south of St. Peter’s Basilica and Vatican City. While the outbound Vatican By Train Vatican Full Day PLUS train journey departs from Vatican City, the return journey does not, stopping short of the border.

Vatican By Train • Vatican Full Day PLUS Itinerary

Click on each timing to view the experience in each post.

8.00 am: Tour of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel with an audio guide
10.00am: Walking tour of the Vatican Gardens with an audio guide
11.00am: Departure from Vatican City Railway Station by electric train to Castel Gandolfo and transfer by shuttle
12.30pm: Visit to the Museum of the Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo with audio guide
3.30pm: Tour of the Gardens of the Pontifical Villas (Villa Barberini) by eco friendly transport with an audio guide
5.18pm: Departure from Albano Laziale Railway Station by electric train to Roma San Pietro Railway Station

Albano Laziale Railway Station

Trains can be seen from the car park of Albano Laziale Railway Station where the Vatican open bus alighted us.

A Trenitalia staff escorted all Vatican By Train Vatican Full Day PLUS from the open bus to the train.

Walking past the train on Platform 1, which is a public train for the regular FL4 regional train to Roma Termini.

The station building of Albano Laziale Railway Station.

Validators are available on the platform for those with single FL4 Trenitalia tickets.

Crossing the temporary bridge across the tracks between platforms behind the buffer stops.

The 2 Trenitalia ETR 425 “Jazz” EMUs side by side at Albano Laziale Railway Station.

The Trenitalia ETR 425 “Jazz” EMU on Platform 2 is the set reserved for Vatican by Train passengers.

The train was still switched off and locked when passengers had already arrived.

Waiting at Platform 2 for the train doors to be unlocked.

The normal FL4 Trenitalia Regionale 20022 departed first at 4.43pm, bound for Roma Termini.

The Trenitalia Regionale 20024 train doors were opened shortly after the Trenitalia Regionale 20022 had departed.

The Trenitalia Regionale 20024 train set was still switched off, but surprisingly it was not stuffy or hot, even with the heat from outside.

A key benefit for Vatican Full Day PLUS for the Trenitalia Regionale 20024 is boarding at Albano Laziale Railway Station, since all other passengers would be shuttled over to Castel Gandolfo Railway Station instead. This means that Vatican Full Day PLUS passengers get first choice of seats for the return Trenitalia Regionale 20024 trip to Rome.

I got myself a nice full window forward-facing seat.

2 2-pin EU power sockets are available by the window seat.

The legroom on board the Trenitalia ETR 425 “Jazz” EMU.

Train information had also not been displayed yet, although the GPS position of the train was correct.

At 5pm, the train’s lights and air-conditioning was switched on.

The arriving FL4 Trenitalia Regionale 20031 pulled in to Albano Laziale Railway Station at 5.14pm – 1 minute early.

My Trenitalia Regionale 20024 departed from Albano Laziale Railway Station on time at 5.18pm.

Train information is available on the information screens upon departure from Albano Laziale Railway Station.

Heading past houses near to the train tracks after departing from Albano Laziale Railway Station.

Heading through the tunnel underneath Villa Doria.

Looking out to Lake Albano on the right.

Crossing the railway crossing before Castel Gandolfo Railway Station.

Castel Gandolfo Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Castel Gandolfo Railway Station with all other Vatican by Train passengers waiting.

Non-stop to Roma San Pietro

Departing from Albano Laziale Railway Station and away from the scenic Lake Albano.

Passing through Albano Laziale Railway Station.

The scenery along the way to Rome.

Passing through Ciampino Railway Station.

Seems like there was a fire of sorts behind Rome Ciampino Airport.

An Italian firefighter Bombardier CL-415 coming in for landing at Rome Ciampino Airport.

The smoke continues billowing behind Capannelle Racecourse.

Passing by the ruins of a Roman aqueduct.

Passing through Roma Casilina.

Taking the left turn at the wye junction towards Roma Tuscolana. The Trenitalia Regionale 20024 is the only regular passenger service train which does this turn.

Splitting off the wye junction with a Frecciarossa heading for Roma Termini.

Heading through the junction of Roma Tuscolana.

Passing by the depot in the middle of the wye junction.

Passing through Roma Tuscolana Railway Station.

Heading along the quadruple-tracked line.

Passing through Roma Ostiense Railway Station.

Passing through Roma Trastevere Railway Station.

Heading through the tunnel past Quattro Venti to Roma San Pietro.

Roma San Pietro Railway Station

My Trenitalia Regionale 20024 arrived at Roma San Pietro Railway Station at 6.21pm – 1 minute delayed.

Trenitalia Regionale 20024 at Roma San Pietro Railway Station.

The Vatican by Train tour ends at Roma San Pietro Railway Station, and does not re-enter Vatican City on the return trip. This makes the Vatican Railway unique again as it only offers international services in 1 direction out of Vatican City only.

Heading out of Roma San Pietro Railway Station.

From Roma San Pietro Railway Station, there is a direct bus service 64 to Roma Termini. Regular ATAC Metrebus tickets are accepted.

However, there was also an impending FL5 train departure for Roma Termini, so I decided to head back to the platform to catch the train.

Conclusion

The Vatican By Train experience ends with the Trenitalia Regionale 20024 train ride back to Roma San Pietro Railway Station. All in all, the Vatican Full Day PLUS programme offers great value to visit the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, Vatican Gardens, Vatican Railway, Castel Gandolfo, Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo, and Gardens of the Pontifical Villas (Villa Barberini) in a single packaged price, including bus transfers up and down the hill of Castel Gandolfo, saving the need for a hike.

Aside from the attraction of taking the train, it’s not difficult to see why the Vatican By Train tours getting booked out months in advance, since visiting Castel Gandolfo is now made more convenient with direct train packages from Rome.

If you are intending to go on the Vatican By Train programmes, make your booking as early as possible, since there are departures only once weekly on Saturdays. I booked my ticket about 3 months in advance, directly from the Vatican Museums website.