From Sunday, high-speed train service will start from the Rome's main airport to Florence, Venice.
The move, announced on Tuesday, is potentially the first step in a plan to fully integrate the Fiumicino airport west of Rome into the country's extensive rail network and eliminate the need for travellers from other parts of Italy to change trains in the city centre.
As of Sunday, two trains a day will leave for Venice and two will arrive from the floating city, in what will be a 4h 12min trip.
The frecciaargento (silver arrow) trains leaving the airport will also serve central Rome, Florence (2h 14min), Bologna (2h 59min) and Padua (3h 57min).
Announcing the Fiumicino plans, State Railways (FS) chief executive Michele Mario Elia said he expected privatisation of the railway system to be completed by the first half of 2016.
