If the standard catchword on the London Underground is ‘mind the gap’ then, on the Italian railway system, it is ‘attenti a salire’.  Platforms here are usually rather lower than those found in the UK and one has often to climb up to one’s carriage via several steps.

In their campaign to improve access to differently mobile persons Italian Railways are investing much money in raising the platform levels at many stations, thus facilitating passenger access to the rolling stock. Furthermore, in some instances boards slide out from the carriages enabling easier wheel-chair access.

So there is even no need to ‘mind the gap’ or ‘attenti al divario’.

One can see this sort of platform improvement at Lucca station where it has recently been installed. Note both the steps and the ramp going from the old, lower-level, part of the platform to the new raised section and the protective barriers between the two.

With regard to Italian railway travel further points should be noted:

1. It’s the railway line number (binario) that is used to indicate where a train departs from rather than the platform number: in Italy one platform usually has two different numbers depending on which side the train arrives.
2. The railway network is much more evenly interconnected throughout the peninsula. There are no absurdities such as those occurring in the UK where, one cannot travel directly from Oxford to Cambridge, but has to go to London and change lines.

However, the best thing in favour of Italian railways is their cheapness when compared with other railway systems throughout Europe. Just compare prices for different countries on this mileage chart:

How can Italian railways afford to run their railways at such a reasonable price? It’s because they are subsidised by the government with money coming from rail operations in the UK on lines whose franchise has been bought by ‘Ferrovie dello Stato’, the government-owned Italian State railway company. Most recently bought by FS is the West Coast route which replaces management by Virgin Trains.

(On the Line to Southend last month)

So much for one aspect of the UK’s aim of ‘taking back control’…

For more on Italian State railways in the Uk do see my post at:

https://longoio3.com/2018/12/05/how-to-enjoy-an-italian-train-journey-in-britain/