Travelling by train
The Italian railway net (Ferrovie dello Stato) covers most of the territory representing an enough comfortable and economic means of transport (above all for those who can avail of reductions and discounts) even if not always so punctual.
On the website of the Ferrovie dello Stato users can find information (timetables/trains, prices, trains, stations etc.).
- Reservation and Sale
- Promotions and offers
- Many other services
For information written by those who travel by train and eventual signalling of problems:
- In Italy Online: http://www.initaly.comtravel/info/tranlink.htm
In English. Created by a group of travel agents (with correspondents in Italy) it is composed of various sections that give information on the Italian life, the transport, etc
Types of train
The trains travelling on the Railways net are of various types, according to the speed, the number of stops and the distance. The railway-carriages are of 1st and 2nd class, different obviously as for comfort and price of the ticket, but most of the Italians travel in second class. It is easy to distinguish immediately the first from the second class, however on train car or on the walls of the compartment or on the windows you will find written where you are.
For the fastest trains, independently from the class, it is necessary to pay a supplement, and to make the reservation, otherwise you get a fine.
On board of all of the trains it is forbidden to smoke.
Tickets
Purchase of tickets
All the tickets, cards and reductions can be bought both at the station and in the Travel agencies, entitled to the sale of the railway tickets, or calling the call centre (only for medium/long-distance routes) and only for regional train tickets in the authorized newspaper stands and bar. In many railway stations there are also automatic selling machines of tickets, while if you leave from very small stations without ticket office, you have to buy ticket on board, paying an extra.
Further information (in Italian only):
A ticket office service online has been activated, through which, after the registration, it is possible to reserve and to buy railway-tickets using the credit card.
Use and validity of the tickets
It is possible to use tickets within two months from the issuing date.
It is obligatory to obliterate all the tickets
Before starting, it is obligatory to obliterate the tickets using "yellow or orange small machines" situated near the platforms.
Once obliterated, the ticket has validity:
- 6 hours, for journeys with distance inferior to km. 200,
- 24 hours, for travels with distance superior to km. 200;
- In case you forget to obliterate, inform the train staff once got on and you will pay less than if you will wait on the seat the train staff.
If the ticket office is closed or broken or there is no obliterating machine at the railway station, inform the staff before the departure and you will not be fined.
Berths
Most of the night trains have berths of 1st and 2nd class or only of 2nd class. The railway carriages of 1st class have 4 berths for compartment, those of 2nd class have 6.
Each traveller has pillow and a set of sheet-blanket mono-use at their disposal.
Besides the ticket it is necessary to pay a supplement that varies according to the class and the periods of the year.
Reductions and discounts on the national tickets
It is possible to avail of price reductions on the railway-ticket price
- Subscription
- Ticket for groups
This ticket, with the reduction, can be cancelled or limited to medium/ long-distance routes in times of high frequentation. On some regional trains groups are not allowed, or are allowed only for limited distances. Seat reservation is to pay.
For costs you can contact the Centri Comitive di Trenitalia
Reductions and offers for the School Tourism - Reduction for families
This offer is valid for families composed by 3 to 5 persons with at least 1 adult (over 18) and 1 child under 12. The offer is limited. - The Amica fare is the economical solution that lets you to choose your journey in advance. It has limited seats, which vary according to day, train and class.
The new "Amica" tariff allows you to travel with a reduction off all the medium- to long-distance trains when booking by midnight of the day before departure. - Cartaviaggio – free card the allows you to access to services and benefits of Trenitalia.
The more you travel, the more you obtain points that allow you to win prizes like free train tickets.
Facilities for people under 26
Children before four years old can travel for free without an assigned seat
Further information:
Reduction and discount for foreign extra-European people
Eurail
it is an offer for those who live in a country outside Europe (with the exclusion of Russian Federation, Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria). Tickets can be bought online, in the Eurail Aid Offices in the main Italian stations and in your town.
Two are the possibilities: Eurailpass and Eurailticket.
- Eurailpass allow to move freely on the trains of the railroad national companies of transportation of 18 countries (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxemburg, Norway, Holland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Hungary).
There are different possibilities:- Eurailpass Flexi valid only for few days
- Eurail Selectpass valid only for 3, 4 or 5 states belonging to the Eurail Community.
- Eurail Regional Pass, valid in 2 states or group of states
- Eurail One Country Pass, valid only in one state or in a group of states.
The Eurailpass divide themselves still in Basic (for adults-just in 1a class), Youth (young until 26 years-just in 2a class) and Saver (reserved to small groups).
- Eurailticket: ticket from town to town to valid in 26 European Countries and for 2 months, for those who travel alone or in group.
Reductions and offers on International tickets
- Ticket Inter-Rail - http://www.interrailnet.com
Ticket that allows travellers to go in 30 European states. It is possible to choose to travel only in one nation (excluding your own nation) with the InterRail One Country, or in all the supporter states with the InterRail Global.
From the leave station to the frontier tickets are discounted.
The validity of tickets starts from the departure date.
Tariffs for the two options can change according to the age and the period of validity of the ticket.
For young people under 26 years old the ticket for the Inter-rail (valid only for the second class) is discounted. For young people between 4 and under 12 years old there is a discount of 50% on the inter-rail tariff of adults. - GREEN CARD/RAIL PLUS: for young people between 12 and under 26 years old, it costs 40 euro, is nominative and valid for 1 year, and gives discounts (in first and second class) for all the national train, also for couchettes and reduction for travel in Europe. International ticket for companies.
- Family Special: offer dedicated to families with child. The card is valid on the trains that join Italy with Vienna or Germany, both for the nocturnal and diurnal connections and only nocturnal connections for the train to Amsterdam and Prague.
- Smart offer: offer for limited seats and only on some trains
- Artesia Train: http://www.artesia.eu/english/eng_index.php
Train that connect 5 times a day Paris, Milan, Turin, Venice, Florence or Rome. On the website many reduced tariffs.
Further information:
- Trenitalia
http://www.trenitalia.com/ - Site that provides the train timetable in Europe:
Last update: 2009