We are arriving in Rome (FCO) from Sardinia via Meridiana on a Sunday around 1PM.

We would like to take the express train from Rome to Florence. Can you please help me figure out how to get to the correct train station from the Rome Airport?

How much will the express train cost (not pricing out of trentalia)? When do these become available for purchase?

According to Rail Europe $48 in 2nd, $68 in 1st --- i always just buy my trentitalia tickets at the station - they have machines that take credit cards as well as ticket windows if you want to pay in cash.

What is the difference between 2nd and 1st? We've never taken a train in Europe.

1st class on the Rome - Florence - Milan Intercity trains is 1x2 vs 2x2 in 2nd - not sure about the room between rows - but it cant be too much worse than 1st as 1st is pretty bad.

Don't just European trains by Trentitalia - Trentitalia trains are dirty, there dont seem to be English announcements and they are usually too hot or too cold. I travel from time to time by train in Switzerland and France where the trains are quite good - Trentitalia is like the NY subway in comparison

If these are indeed the prices on Raileurope, this may be one time where pre-purchasing from the US will be cheaper (assuming shipping costs are not too high).

Trenitalia prices the ticket from FCO to Firenze at �44/�58 for 2nd/1st, so with the conversion, the USD prices are cheaper. I am somewhat surprised that Raileurope has connections from FCO, as their system used to only recognize ticketing originating in Termini Station (but kudos for finally updating their system! to recognize a wider variety of train stations).

What are the alternatives? Do all the trains leave from the same station? I'm assuming they simply have different ticket stations to purchase the tickets then one would just go to the appropriate track, is this correct?

As am I as I schlepped into Termini on my way to Firenze after being told by Raileurope my Italy Trenitalia pass could only be validated at Termini. Mind you this was several years ago and it seems like standards have changed for the better.

No - the pricing I checked was basic Rome - Florence, not from FCO

Rome Airport website is www.adr.it

Shuttle from Fiumicino station to Rome Termini train station is called LEONARDO EXPRESS. It runs every 30 minutes (from 6.37 to 23.37). Cost is 11 Euros and travel time is 31 minutes (no stop).
Do not take the "metropolitan train" as this does not go to Termini station !

From Roma Termini Station, you have 2/3 trains every hour to Firenze SMN (Santa Maria Novella).
ES (Eurostar) trains are a bit more expensive but faster (1.40 minutes), wheras IC (Intercity) trains take 2.30 minutes.
Do not take Regional or Interregional trains as they stop at every station !

In Italy the difference between 1st and 2nd class is on the size of the seats and compartments. On ES trains, you will probably get free newspapers, snacks etc.
1st class tickets cost double than 2nd class.
In general, ES and IC trains are OK. Service, cleanliness, punctuality are bad on regional trains.
It is true that italian railways are not as good as in France, but they are also much cheaper !

Once you are in Sardinia, you can buy any railways ticket from a local authorised travel agency (check sign FS).

I have found ES and IC trains to be comfortable, have adequate room, and be very clean.

You can buy tickets from the window or the machine. the machine allows all the choices. for ES first class, you must reserve a seat also. IC first class is frequently pretty empty. for IC, you must time stamp your ticket. We got a 10 euro fine for no time stamp. IC first class is just fine. if you have time, pick up a lunch and a bottle of wine to consume on the train.

We have only been in the Rome train station twice, but the place had very many pick pockets who would grab anything.

There is a long current thread (and lots of old threads) on this specific subject on Slow Travel.

But anele's info posted in this thread pretty well sums it all up.