Trains from Milan to Naples, for commuting life you spend no less than 1,200 euros a month – Corriere.it

The story of Giuseppina Giuliano, the 29-year-old Neapolitan who works as a janitor in a high school in Milan and who does as a commute between Naples and Milan because he struggles to bear the costs of a rent in the Lombard capital, has been around the web arousing much interest. Those who showed solidarity with the girl for her situation were soon replaced by those who question the veracity not so much of the facts as of the figures mentioned in terms of spending and savings.

Fares per trip

Giuliana tells of receiving a salary of 1,165 euros a month for her work, of taking the 5.09 Italo high-speed train which takes her from Naples to Milan at 9.24 and the 18.20 one for the return, arriving in Naples at 22.53. With a system of accumulating travel points, purchases largely in advance and discounts, according to her story, Giuliana would be able to spend 400 euros each month on this journey. By doing some checks on the websites of both Italo and Trenitalia, it is noted that in reality the morning train is a Frecciarossa, while the return one is an Italo route. Trying to buy a ticket for the following day, in both cases, the price is between 90 and 100 euros; but trying to book one well in advance, for example for any day in May 2023 (For Trenitalia, for example, it is not possible to go beyond this period, because every year in June it presents the new summer tariff), there is actually a large saving because the trip would cost between 30 and 35 euros. Assuming that the girl manages to spend this amount for all the trips she has to make in a month, counting an average of 20 working days, the total monthly expense would amount to 1,200-1,400 euros.

The subscription offer

therefore, it is clear that the best choice is to use a subscription service. Italo, however, does not offer this kind of service. For the Milan-Naples route, it is possible to purchase a 10-journey booklet which is valid for 180 days and which has a price of 649 euros for second class, 749 for first class. Obviously, it’s not a convenient option if a traveler needs to make two trips a day for 20 days a month. As regards Trenitalia, however, there is an offer of season tickets for the same route which is divided as follows:
– from Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm, at a cost of 847 euros (second class);
– from Monday to Friday at any time, at the price of 1,096 euros;
– any day from 9-17, for 947 euros;
– any day at any time, for a cost of 1,171 euros.
Considering that Giuliana claimed to take the Frecciarossa at 5.09 on the outward journey, offers with the pre-established time slot are excluded. Assuming the girl doesn’t work on Saturdays, the most convenient proposal is the one from 1,096 euros per month (which would be equal to about 27 euros per trip, so it would already lead to savings compared to buying ticket by ticket, even well in advance). However, a very high figure and hardly sustainable with a salary of 1,165 euros. Between Milan and Naples with Trenitalia there is also a 509 euro Intercity subscription, which is the closest rate to the 400 the caretaker is talking about, but not a feasible option since the journey takes 9 hours.

Discount systems and travel points

Obviously both companies offer discount and loyalty systems — Carta Freccia or Italo Pi — so that thanks to each journey made it is possible to accumulate points: the longer the journey, the more points are given to the traveller. Once you have reached a good amount of points, you can exchange them for one or more free trips. The offer for both companies, also with regard to discountsin constant evolution it is therefore difficult to quantify the number of transports that can be saved but it is unlikely that it is equal to an amount greater than even half the cost of the monthly pass.

The dear home in Milan

This does not mean that expensive housing in the Lombard capital is not a real problem. The average price of a single room for rent, in a shared house, is around 600 euros a month, without considering the cost of bills and extra expenses, such as a subscription to public transport for example. Certainly, however, the most viable alternative in economic terms as well as in terms of living conditions does not seem to be commuting between two cities more than 800 km apart.