Circumvesuviana

Not sure why the reviews are so low; the train seemed normal. Not very comfortable, but it got the job done. There’s graffiti on the outside, but the inside is acceptable; plastic chairs with okay spacing, and there is line information inside the train as well.

Care to ride the dirtiest, scariest, and most horrifying-​est train ever known on the face of the planet? Then Circumvesuviana is the rail line for you!
During my recent visit to Italy, the group I was traveling with rode the Frecciarossa to Naples in First Class, and we were very pleased with the comfort, service, and quality that was offered on this train. However, we were transferring to Sorrento, which is where Circumvesuviana comes into the story. Once you get into Naples — which is pretty much the Oakland, California, version of Italy, you have to take the Circumvesuviana to Sorrento.
Anyway, we buy our tickets in the station, and head downstairs to the Circumvesuviana station — it was like a straight plunge from heaven to hell… Circumvesuviana trains are covered in graffiti (both inside and outside of the trains), overcrowded, and simply terrifying. I have come to call it Satan Express.
My group, clinging to our bags like Titanic survivors clung to random pieces of debris, were huddled together, fearing death the entire ride. Multiple stations smelled of urine and/​or feces (possible both), and the ride was exceptionally bumpy and nothing like what we experienced on the Frecciarossa trains.
But wait, there’s more! And what exactly is that ‘more’? GYPSIES! For those unfamiliar with gypsies, these are the descendants of people that migrated from the Punjab region of India in the 8^th and 10^th centuries CE («CE» is the same as «AD» for you religious types) and now are widespread across Europe, and are very well known in Italy.
The gypsies will play music in the trains, while their children will walk around with cups begging for coins. Not awful… until you realize there are other members of this group working to pickpocket and/​or steal things from travelers while the music and begging children are distracting you.
I kept our group from being victims, but you really need to watch yourself on the Circumvesuviana. It’s as close as you can get to being on the Railway to Hell — aka — Satan Express.