Old “Trinacria Express” name now just means the airport–city train
Older guides that say “Trinacria Express” are talking about the same rail line that now runs from Falcone–Borsellino Airport (PMO) to Palermo Centrale in roughly 45–60 minutes. The service is a Trenitalia regionale train, not a separate branded express anymore, but the route and basic use case match the old name.
The station sits under T1 at Palermo Airport, with elevators and escalators linking the platform directly to the arrivals level in about 3–5 minutes of walking. Trains usually run at least once per hour in daytime, with more departures in peak periods and fewer in late evening. You buy tickets from the Trenitalia machines or ticket counter in the station hall before going down to the platform.
A standard one-way ticket from the airport to Palermo Centrale costs roughly €6–€7 per person in 2nd class, which is the only class offered on most of these regional runs. The ride makes several intermediate stops such as Palermo Notarbartolo, so it is not a non-stop express even though older “Trinacria Express” branding suggested speed. Validate paper tickets in the green or yellow machines on the platform before boarding to avoid fines.
Trains terminate at Palermo Centrale station, about 2 km from the Quattro Canti crossroads in the historic center, and roughly 30–40 minutes on foot from the port area. From Centrale, local buses and taxis wait directly outside the main entrance on Piazza Giulio Cesare. If your hotel is near Stazione Notarbartolo or along the line, you can hop off before Centrale to cut down on backtracking by bus or taxi.
When searching schedules, use “Punta Raisi” for the airport and “Palermo Centrale” for the city, since the Trinacria Express brand no longer appears in the Trenitalia app or on station departure boards. As a last check, look for trains with a scheduled travel time of under 1 hour and a listed arrival or departure track at the underground airport station. Tip: buy your ticket in the Trenitalia app before landing if you want to walk straight from baggage claim to the train in under 10 minutes.