Circumvesuviana Railway Service

This is just beyond the square in Sorrento and it is very easy to get a ticket, you just buy singles for each way. They are very cheap and run very regular. They are not nice comfy trains, they are commuter trains that get very busy. But bearing in mind that they start from Sorrento then if you get there in plenty of time then you will get a seat because the train sits there and fills up. They are very busy and obviously like anywhere especially where there are a large number of tourists there will be opportunists to pick pocket or whatever so just as you would where ever you are be aware of your surrounding and be careful, that simple. We saw a lot of people using this to get to Naples to get to the airport and quite frankly that is a very cheap option. It takes you direct to Naples main train station and I think from there you just get another train to the airport. It is a very cheap and easy way to get to pompei and I would definately not bother with paying for an excursion to pompei but to use the train. As it stops literally right by the entrance to pompei. it will be extremely busy when you get back on at pompei because obviously it is already quite full from Naples but you may get a seat as more people get off as you get nearer to Sorrento. We also went to Herculaneum and then to Vesuvius via this train and also to Naples itself to go to the museum. Herculaneum is a bit of a walk through the new town to get to the site but not that far and there is a bus that you can book tickets for getting you up to vesuvius to and we did both on the same day. We set off first thing in the morning and it was after lunch before we went up vesuvius but it is quite doable in one day. Naples is a case of sitting on the train until you get to the end of the line in Naples and then you get off and you are in the underground then so you can just get an underground which is also really cheap to take you to where the museum is which holds most of the artifacts from pompei and is well worth a visit and highly recommend. Although have to say we had a wander around Naples and struggled with it, felt unsafe and found it dirty and we didnt like it, just for going to Naples to have a wonder around. Cant recommend these trains enough though for a cheap way to get to places and they are so easy. As I recall it was only E3.95 to get single ticket to Naples, so return E8 just under for one person. So if you are thinking to use it as a transfer from Airport worth looking at for price.

Useful and cheap commuter service: rattly & basic trains but an easy way to get to Pompeii, Herculaneum etc from Naples or Sorrento.
Yes, the trains are noisy & graffiti-covered on the outside. But at €2.80 from Naples to Pompeii, it's the cheapest way of exploring all the lovely places along the Bay of Naples.

The trains run about every 30 mins and the journey from Naples to Pompeii takes about 38 mins. You can find the timetable online as a pdf (search for "orari Circumvesuviana" and make sure you're on the official eavsrl.it site). Unlike most reviewers here we found the trains were fairly reliable, though we did experience one cancelled train during a week of using the line.

The stations are really convenient: Pompeii Scavi station is less than 5 mins from the main Pompeii entrance (ignore all the ticket touts at the rail station!) Herculaneum is about 10 mins walk straight downhill from the station.
Again, unlike some other reviewers here we had no problem with fellow passengers: there are commuters, students and tourists (foreign + domestic!) Of course you have to beware of pickpockets on the trains and platforms, but this is a regular hazard of urban Italy.

Top tip 1:
Remember to validate your ticket before boarding the train. If you have to go though barriers, this is done automatically. But if you board at a small station (inc Pompeii & Herculaneum) you need to punch your ticket in the ticket hall. Look for the small yellow wall-mounted ticket validation machines.

Top tip 2:
If starting from Naples, get on at Napoli Porta Nolana station which is the start of the line so you *will* get a seat. If you opt for Garibaldi station, one stop up the line, you almost certainly won't get a seat. Porta Nolana is a nice small station serving only the Circumvesuviana line and we found the ticket office staff helpful.

Stations lack maps to show what train goes where. Most stations have no live train indicators. The lines are shared by certain trains on which the standard flat fare ticket is not valid, but this will not be at all obvious to visitors. Where there are maps, they are years out of date, showing many stations that have since been closed. Rolling stock and stations are decrepit, vandalised and full of graffiti. The service is often crowded and unreliable, and plagued by pickpockets. I recommend wherever you have the choice (such as between Naples, Herculaneum & Pompeii), use the mainline Trenitalia rather than Cirumvesuviana. Trenitalia is slightly more expensive, but it is well worth the difference.

The train doesn't work. The train from Napoli to Pompei was cancelled so we couldn't use it. The return train was very late and no information was given about the delays. The train drove very slowly and then broke down in the middle of nowhere, leaving hundreds of people stranded. No taxis at that station either. I think you could use trenitalia instead and take a taxi from the station to the Pompeii park - it's worth it so you don't waste your time.

The circumvesuviana train also gets packed full, with no air conditioning. So you really don't want to get stuck on the train.

We used the Circumvesuviana train line to travel to see Pompeii on a Sunday. The positives: it is cheap, the trains depart roughly every 30 minutes, and the train takes you to just outside the main gate. It is a very popular choice by travelers. The negatives: the trains are often delayed, in fact most tours advise that you plan for a delay of 30 minutes, the trains are very crowded and not air conditioned.

Trains in rural India have higher quality and are less rickety. Forget air conditioning, some of the trains don’t have electricity / lights. The timetables are at best an approximation. The train makes unexpected stops all the time (in addition to the hundreds of scheduled stops 1.5 km apart). I’ve never had a delay of less than 20 minutes with 30-40 being common. I suggest allowing for two hours from Naples to Sorrento (or the reverse) if you have any type of connection. I say even as someone who loves trains: if you have any way to avoid this train, do so. Otherwise, prepare to stand, swelter, and wonder if you’re living in the early 1900s.

We used this in the third week of October twice - once with no air conditioning and the second time with air conditioning. The train cars were very full so sometimes people had to stand. it ran relatively on time - maybe a few minutes late. We felt safe during daylight hours and
It seemed like a very urban transit system found in many parts of the world such as New York City. We used the portion between Napoli and Pompeii Scavi.

Had read/heard not such good reviews of riding this train. You must go downstairs to a dedicated train ticket window in order to purchase and no reserved seats, on line booking or anything is possible. The price is cheap, the train runs frequently, makes several stops along the way to sorrento from Naples. If you are going on your own to Pompeii this is the train you should take. We took the train from Naples mid day. All the seats were taken so had to stand for entire time of the trip which was close to 2 hours. Had read about pickpockets, etc but felt like all were pretty much tourists trying to stay safe.on the return trip we started out in the morning and were able to find seats all the way back to Naples and then train was not as crowded. Experience was not as terrible as what had been written about it.

Inexpensive by UK standards. Our trains were on time or only slightly delayed. Peak season, very crowded, had to stand all the way Sorrento to Naples, "Live entertainment" on the train but rumour has it watch your wallet, open window air conditioning. Recent change in routing: does not stop at Ercolani Scavi (Herculaneum) on the Sorrento to Napoli route.
The Tourist Circumvesuviana is much less crowded, limited stops, which include Herculaneum, but is x 4 the price.

As many other reviewers have said, this can been packed and uncomfortable (but we found it fine on a September Sunday).

However, at least on the journey south (from Naples to Herculaneum/Pompeii and Sorrento), the secret of happiness (or at least guaranteeing a seat) is to join the train at the Porta Nolana station (where the trains all begin), rather than at Piazza Garibaldi. Then you will have a pick of the entire train.

If travelling on the M1 Metro line to Garibaldi, the walk is not much further than from there to the Circumvesuviana platforms at Garibaldi.

Outbound trains seem to be on time, but both our returns were significantly late.