I generally enjoy traveling by train. However, this particular trip had a very special feature: a ferry crossing on the train.

There are not many of these railway ferries left, especially for passenger services. In a way, this is understandable: After all, it is much easier to get a few hundred passengers aboard a ferry than an entire train. Thankfully, Trenitalia is not deterred by this. For night trains in particular, it is a much more comfortable solution – for the passengers, at least.

In my case, the loading onto the ferry did not begin until just before 8:00 a.m.. Still, I was certainly glad to leave my luggage on the train while I leisurely watched the ship set sail. Fortunately, the Strait of Messina was “well-paved” today, making for a pleasant crossing.