Travellers in northern Italy have more options than ever to swap city life for the Ligurian coast this spring and summer. An expanded programme of special weekend sea trains launches on Saturday, 28 March.
For the first time, two established seasonal rail programmes — the Treni del Mare and the Ponente Line — are being combined into a single, integrated timetable. It will deliver 39 additional train services every weekend and on public holidays between Liguria, Lombardy and Piedmont. Together, these services represent more than 45,000 extra seats available each weekend throughout the spring and summer season.
Two programmes, one joined-up service
The Treni del Mare (Sea Trains) have been a fixture of the northern Italian summer for several years. They provide direct connections between Lombardy’s cities and Liguria’s beaches on Saturdays and public holidays.
For the 2026 season, the offer includes ten trips a day – five outbound and five return – connecting Como, Bergamo, Milano, Saronno and Gallarate to the rivieras of Ponente and Levante.
The service is active on Saturdays and public holidays on the following routes:
- Saronno – Taggia Arma
- Como S. Giovanni – La Spezia Centrale
- Bergamo – Ventimiglia
- Milano Porta Garibaldi – La Spezia Centrale
- Gallarate – Ventimiglia
The “Sea Trains” also stop at Monza, Seregno, Gallarate, Busto Arsizio FS, Legnano, Rho, Pavia and Voghera.
For 2026, 21 Treni del Mare services will run — 10 on Saturdays and 11 on Sundays and public holidays — funded and scheduled by the Liguria and Lombardy regions in collaboration with Trenitalia and Trenord. The programme runs until 27 September.
Joining the Treni del Mare this year is the Ponente Line, which adds 18 services connecting Liguria with Turin. These run on two Fridays, five Saturdays and 11 Sundays from 3 April to 13 September. There are four additional connections available over the Easter period.
A growing network built on regional cooperation
The expansion reflects years of growing collaboration between the three regions. Ligurian Transport Councillor Marco Scajola said the integrated programme was the result of a deepening partnership that had been developing over several years. Scajola pointed to what he called the “Tortona Pact” and the subsequent doubling of trains on the Genoa-Milan line as earlier milestones on the same journey. “Together with neighbouring territories, we are increasingly working towards a shared vision,” he said.
Lombardy’s transport councillor Franco Lucente highlighted the consistently strong take-up of the sea trains by travellers. “The numbers tell us that more and more citizens are choosing the train for leisure travel, for sustainable and increasingly efficient mobility,” he said, describing the service as an important link between the two regions during the key months of the tourism season.
Piedmont’s transport councillor Marco Gabusi confirmed that his region would continue to invest in the rail link to the Ligurian Riviera. He described it as both well-used and strategically important. He further added that trains on the route had “registered significant numbers,” confirming that the connection to the coast had become an increasingly central part of how Piedmontese residents travel.
Where can the sea trains take you?
Among the most popular destinations served are Ventimiglia, La Spezia — the gateway to the Cinque Terre — Taggia Arma, Alassio, Sanremo and the picturesque fishing village of Camogli. The services are designed as same-day returns, with trains departing in the morning and return services running in the evening.
Tickets are available at Trenord ticket offices, at Trenitalia points of sale and self-service machines, and on the trenitalia.com website. No reservation is required.
