Long trip,

 How to plan a train from Norwich to Malta, with ferrys ?

Planning a train‑and‑ferry journey from Norwich to Malta is exactly the kind of logistical puzzle you thrive on, Michael — multi‑modal, cross‑border, and full of hidden quirks. The good news is: it is possible, and you can do it entirely without flying. Below is a clean, structured route that balances realism, frequency, and reliability.

🇬🇧➡️🇲🇹 How to Travel from Norwich to Malta by Train + Ferry

🧭 Overview

You’ll combine:

• UK rail

• Eurostar

• Continental trains

• A long-distance ferry (Italy → Malta)

There is no direct ferry from mainland Europe to Malta except from Sicily, so all viable routes funnel through Italy.

1) Norwich → London

Route:

• Greater Anglia train

• Norwich → London Liverpool Street

• Duration: ~1h50

Walk or Tube to London St Pancras International for the Eurostar.

2) London → Paris (Eurostar)

• Eurostar from St Pancras → Paris Gare du Nord

• Duration: ~2h20

Walk/Metro to Paris Gare de Lyon for onward trains to Italy.

3) Paris → Northern Italy (High-Speed Train)

You have two strong options:

Option A: Paris → Milan (fastest)

• TGV/Trenitalia Frecciarossa

• Paris Gare de Lyon → Milano Centrale

• Duration: ~6h45

• One of Europe’s most scenic high-speed routes.

Option B: Paris → Turin (slightly shorter)

• Paris → Torino Porta Susa

• Duration: ~5h40

• Then a short hop to Milan if needed.

4) Northern Italy → Sicily (Long-Distance Train)

This is the legendary part: the train is shunted onto a ferry across the Strait of Messina.

Milan → Catania / Siracusa

• Trenitalia Intercity Notte (overnight sleeper)

• Duration: ~17–19 hours

• Includes the train-ferry crossing to Sicily

• You wake up in Sicily — very atmospheric.

Alternatively:

• Daytime trains via Rome

• Milan → Rome → Catania/Siracusa

5) Sicily → Malta (Ferry)

Two realistic ferry routes:

Option A: Pozzallo → Valletta (fastest)

• Operator: Virtu Ferries

• High-speed catamaran

• Duration: ~1h45

• Pozzallo is easily reached by bus from Catania or Siracusa.

Option B: Catania → Valletta (slower, less frequent)

• Operator: Virtu Ferries Cargo (limited passenger service)

• Duration: ~4–7 hours depending on schedule

Most travellers use Pozzallo.

🧩 Putting It All Together (Clean Timeline)

Leg	Route	Mode	Time
1	Norwich → London	Train	1h50
2	London → Paris	Eurostar	2h20
3	Paris → Milan	High-speed train	6h45
4	Milan → Sicily	Sleeper train	17–19h
5	Pozzallo → Malta	Ferry	1h45

Total travel time: ~32–36 hours (excluding stopovers)

🧠 Michael‑Optimised Notes (because you love structure)

Best place to break the journey

• Milan (great for a night stop, easy connections)

• Rome (if you prefer a two-step Italian route)

• Catania (for a relaxed morning ferry to Malta)

Most fragile link

• The Pozzallo ferry — check seasonal schedules.

Most interesting technical detail

• The Intercity Notte to Sicily is one of the last remaining train–on–ferry operations in Europe. Coaches are rolled onto the ferry’s rail deck, locked down, and you can stay aboard or go up to the passenger decks.

Cheapest vs fastest

• Fastest: Paris → Milan → sleeper → Pozzallo

• Cheapest: Paris → Turin → Rome → ferry (more changes, slower)

If you want, I can build:

• A fully timed itinerary with specific trains

• A cost breakdown

• A map-style flowchart (your speciality)

• A version with stopover suggestions (food, hotels, quirks)

Just tell me how deep you want to go.

fully timed itinerary

Here’s a worked example itinerary with concrete times. Treat this as a template—exact services vary by date and season, so you’d still run it through a journey planner before booking.

Day 1 – Norwich → London → Paris

All times local

Step	From → To	Mode	Depart	Arrive	Notes
1	Norwich → London Liverpool Street	Greater Anglia	06:00	07:54	Direct fast train
2	Walk/Tube → St Pancras	On foot / Underground	~08:05	~08:35	Cross-London transfer (~30 min)
3	London St Pancras → Paris Gare du Nord	Eurostar ES 9018	10:31	13:56	Direct; Paris is +1 hour
4	Paris Nord → Paris Gare de Lyon	RER D / Metro	~14:15	~14:35	Allow ~20–30 min plus margin
5	Overnight in Paris	—	—	—	Ready for Italy next morning

Day 2 – Paris → Milan → Sicily (overnight)

Example using a typical high‑speed + sleeper combo:

Step	From → To	Mode	Depart	Arrive	Notes
6	Paris Gare de Lyon → Milano Centrale	High-speed (TGV/Frecciarossa)	~09:45	~16:50	Direct, via Lyon–Turin; check exact train on your date
7	Time in Milan	—	~16:50	~20:00	Dinner + buffer before sleeper
8	Milano Centrale → Catania or Siracusa	Intercity Notte sleeper	~20:00–21:00	~12:00–13:00 (Day 3)	Train is shunted onto ferry across Strait of Messina; book couchette/berth

• Choice point:

  • Siracusa is slightly closer by bus to Pozzallo.

  • Catania has more big‑city amenities; both work.

Day 3 – Sicily → Pozzallo → Malta

Assume arrival around midday from the sleeper.

Step	From → To	Mode	Depart	Arrive	Notes
9	Siracusa/Catania → Pozzallo	Regional bus	~13:30	~15:00	Check local bus times; several per day
10	Pozzallo → Valletta	Virtu Ferries	e.g. 19:30	21:15	High-speed catamaran, ~1h45
11	Walk/taxi → accommodation in Malta	—	~21:30	—	You’re in Valletta / Grand Harbour area

Virtu Ferries typically run 1–2 daily sailings Pozzallo–Valletta depending on season; evening departures like 19:30 are common, but times shift, so this is illustrative rather than fixed.

How to actually lock this in

1. Fix your travel dates.

2. Check each leg on:

   • Greater Anglia / National Rail for Norwich–London.

   • Eurostar for London–Paris.

   • SNCF / Trenitalia / Trainline for Paris–Milan and the Intercity Notte.

   • Virtu Ferries for Pozzallo–Valletta.

3. Add buffers (I’d keep at least 1h cross‑platform, 2–3h for cross‑city transfers like Paris).

If you tell me rough dates and whether you prefer fewer changes or shorter total time, I can tighten this into a near‑bookable, to-the-minute plan.