FS Treni Turistici Italiani has unveiled a new heritage rail experience linking Milan with Alba in Italy’s Piedmont region, expanding the country’s growing portfolio of slow tourism train journeys focused on food, wine and regional culture.
The new service forms part of the company’s “Itinerari d’Autore” programme, developed together with Fondazione FS Italiane, which aims to transform railway travel into an immersive tourism experience rather than simply a means of transport. The autumn itinerary will operate aboard restored Gran Confort carriages originally introduced in the 1970s for premium long-distance and international rail services.
The train will run between Milan and Alba on selected Sundays from October to December 2026, timed to coincide with the internationally known white truffle season and the Alba White Truffle Fair. Scheduled travel dates include 11, 18 and 25 October; 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 November; and 6 December.
Passengers will travel through Lombardy and Piedmont with stops including Pavia, Alessandria and Asti before reaching the UNESCO-listed Langhe hills, one of Italy’s best-known wine regions. The route crosses the Po Valley before climbing into landscapes dominated by vineyards, hilltop villages and medieval castles.
Adult tickets are priced at €92, while fares for children aged between four and 12 cost €46. Tickets went on sale on 9 May 2026.
The Milan–Alba route is being promoted as a premium “slow travel” experience. Onboard catering will focus on regional products and wine traditions, while storytelling and curated travel content will accompany passengers throughout the journey. FS says the objective is to encourage travellers to experience the changing scenery, cuisine and culture of northern Italy at a slower pace.
Alba, the final destination, is internationally recognised for its white truffle industry and wine production. The town sits at the heart of the Langhe, Roero and Monferrato landscapes, which were added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2014 for their cultural vineyard heritage.
The restored Gran Confort coaches are central to the experience. Built by Fiat Ferroviaria between the early 1970s and late 1970s, the carriages represented some of the most luxurious rolling stock in Italian rail history and were originally designed for top-tier long-distance services and Trans Europ Express-style international travel.
The coaches became known for their blue velvet seats, quiet interiors, large panoramic windows and advanced sound insulation. Some cars were capable of operating at speeds up to 200 km/h, making them among the most advanced Italian passenger coaches of their era.
Fondazione FS has spent recent years restoring several historic train sets as part of a broader initiative to preserve Italy’s railway heritage while creating new tourism products. The Milan–Alba route joins a growing collection of scenic rail itineraries launched by FS Treni Turistici Italiani, including the “Ferrovia delle Meraviglie” route between Piedmont and Liguria and other heritage services focused on regional food and cultural tourism.
The project reflects wider tourism trends across Europe, where demand has grown for rail-based experiences centred on sustainability, slower travel and authentic regional experiences. Instead of prioritising speed, operators are increasingly marketing the railway journey itself as part of the destination.
Italy has accelerated investment in tourism rail projects since the launch of FS Treni Turistici Italiani in 2023. The state-backed operator has since introduced a range of leisure-oriented routes including Espresso Cadore, Espresso Riviera and Espresso Langhe-Monferrato services, combining overnight trains, heritage rolling stock and curated tourism experiences.
The new Milan–Alba train is not directly connected to the Besanino Express leisure rail services in Lombardy. However, both reflect the broader Italian rail industry trend toward experiential tourism trains designed around landscapes, local identity and leisure travel rather than conventional point-to-point transport.
