As chairman of Ferrari, Luca di Montezemolo is used to making things that move at breakneck speed. But rather than flashy sports cars for wealthy motor enthusiasts, the Italian businessman’s latest high-velocity project aims to cater for the traveling masses. The Italo train from NTV – a passenger rail company of which di Montezemolo is also chairman — is a high-speed service that has been dashing between Milan, Rome and other major Italian cities since April.
With its dark red color scheme, streamlined shape and speeds as fast as a formula-one car, everyone’s calling Italo the “Ferrari train.” A cinema carriage, free Wi-Fi access throughout the train, and luxury leather seats all add to the high-performance, luxury theme. But Italo is intended to be affordable and accessible to all consumers.
Both Italo and state-run rival Trenitalia currently have promotional offers, but Trenitalia’s flexible standard tickets from Rome to Milan start from $107 and go up to $200, whereas flexible standard tickets from Rome to Milan on Italo range from $110 to $163.
While Italy has had high-speed trains since the late 1970s, NTV is the country’s first rail operator not run by the state. Montezemolo and his consortium of partners, including French state rail company SNCF, have invested €1 billion ($1.2 billion) in NTV, breaking Trenitalia’s monopoly. But Trenitalia was ready for Italo’s arrival. It has spent $100 million upgrading the interiors of its Frecciarossa trains and introduced free Wi-Fi. It welcomes a new high-speed player and is prepared to fight for every customer.
Cameron Jones, vice president of rail industry technology specialists SilverRail, agrees that competition in the sector can benefit the consumer. The expansion of other rail operators across Europe is having a similar effect, says Jones. Italo hopes to have 25% of Italy’s market by 2014, and di Montezemolo doesn’t rule out expanding beyond the country’s borders.
So, do you want to experience riding a ‘Ferrari on rails’? Do you like the concept of the Italo high-speed train?
Source: CNN Travel
Image: Jalopnik
Digital Etiquette For The Excited Travelers
1. Don’t play “stump the tour guide” by looking up the sights you’re visiting on your mobile phone and sharing your findings with the group.
“The tour guide knows something interesting,” Matthews said. “They know local pieces of information. They have these local nuggets that now they’d be offended by even sharing because how can they compete with Wikipedia?”
2. If you post to Facebook, Twitter or a blog, make sure the others you’re traveling with know you’re writing or sharing photos about the trip.
Laws vary from state to state, so it’s not only important to know them, it’s equally import to ask permission to photograph people and let them know the images may wind up online.
3. Don’t “tag” people in photos online without prior approval.
Not only will the person you tag see it, but all the people who will visit his or her wall will also see it. Can you image having your work colleagues that you may have Facebook friended see you in your skimpy bikini guzzling back a beer? Also in the same vain, some tweets or photos shouldn’t be posted until you’re home –or not at all.
5. Be careful about posting critical comments online about a destination or trip.
“Posting commentary considered ‘negative’ about an area you’re touring for the first time disappoints and can even offend others who are envious that you’re able to take a vacation,” Matthews said.
6. Unless you’re riding on a bus, train or plane, take off the headphones.
Travel is about the sights, smells and sounds. Not only is wearing headphones rude, it can be dangerous if you can’t hear the noise of an oncoming car or a bus.
7. Get in front of the camera.
“With the help of the Internet and Google images, I can see thousands of pictures of the Eiffel Tower,” Matthews said. “I can see plenty. So when I see another picture of the Eiffel Tower, why aren’t you in front of the Eiffel Tower?”
8. Turn down the screen brightness.
A great traveler’s trick is to use your smartphone or tablet screen as a flashlight. It’s great in a pinch, but watch out, you can get some fellow air travelers very angry if that goes off in a darkened cabin.
Do you follow any of all of these digital etiquettes? Tell us of the times you were offended by “rude” techies!
Source: Fox News Travel
Image: SailAway Yacht Charter Consultants, Inc.