Train Tips for Italy

Train Travel is very common and useful in Italy. 

Either if you are using it for business or pleasure while traveling from city to city you best learn from a few of my mistakes.  

Lesson 1:  When there is no working machine to validate your ticket, What do you do?

Once you get on the train find the conductor right away!  If you wait for him to come to you he will give you a fine.  I had to pay about 5 Euro for lack of notifying the conductor once I entered the train.  A tip to keep in mind.

Lesson 2: When you are running late, always check the time of the next train before purchasing. (even if you think you are on time)

I was running to the Termini station and I knew I had enough time to buy the ticket from the machine and run to the track.  I was so wrong in this case.  The train was pulling away.  D'oh!  So because I was upset I tore up my ticket and bought another 32.00 Euro ticket.  Rookie mistake.  I could have exchanged the ticket by using a the confirmation number at the bottom the ticket.  Lesson learned.  

Lesson 3: The difference between Intercity and Regionale.  

I once bought a ticket for a train to Chiusi for Regionale not paying attention that the type of train leaving at that time was actually an Intercity.  And because Regionale tickets can be used on any regional train, I was none the wiser.  I knew when the conductor came around to check tickets, I would have to pay.  So gladly I had enough money to pay the difference of the ticket.  I will never miss of the mention which type of train will be taking me around Italy again.

Regionale--is the least expensive train to take between regions.  They run within each region so they stop at every tiny town.  There are some express trains that are regional as well.  Check how long the train ride is from one destination to another.  Then once you get to the station you can check on the bright yellow timetables that are dispersed around each station.  

Intercity--is the second least expensive but since the FrecciaRossa, Frecciaargento and Frecciabianco started there are less and less of these trains.  You will get a reserved seat with the purchase of the ticket.  

All these trains offer a bar on board, air conditioning and separate male and female restrooms.  There are reserved seats for these trains as well.

Frecciarossa--connects the cities Torino, Milano, Bolgona, Firenze, Roma, Napoli, Salerno.  The top speed this trains travels at is 360 km/h or 224 mph.

Frecciaargento--connects Roma with Venezia, Verona, Bari/Lecce, Lamezia Terme, Reggio Calabria.  The top speed this train travel at is 250 km/h or 150 mph.

Frecciabianco--connects Milano with Venezia, Udine and Trieste; Genova and Roma; the Adriatic coastline until Bari, Lecce.  The top speed this train travels at 200 km/h or 124 mph.

I also wrote down a few more experiences here www.venere.com/... and here www.venere.com/... which got a lot of attention and criticism (read the comments, pretty funny) on what I know about train travel.

Written and contributed by Katerina Fiore
www.nileguide.com/...