From Genoa to Camgoli by Train
Apr 24th, 2017, 12:46 AM
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From Genoa to Camgoli by Train
We're planning day trip Genoa - Camgoli - Portofino by Train in early July, however there's only one one train schedule available in Trenitalia.com online ticketing on our scheduled travel date whereas there're a nos. of schedules throughout the days in June. Does that mean all train seats are sold out in early July? We're really puzzled.
Apr 24th, 2017, 01:48 AM
#3
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Nobody buys tickets for this kind of local trafic in advance. Just do it at the ticket machine once you are at Genoa railway station and stam them befolre boarding the train. Trains about every 30 min, like in the actual timetable.
You don't need any seat reservation. Just hop in and aout like in a metro.
You don't need any seat reservation. Just hop in and aout like in a metro.
Apr 24th, 2017, 02:53 AM
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The July schedule probably isn't posted yet, but you can look at the schedule for this week and get a pretty good idea of what your options will be in July. If the new schedule changes at all departure times are only likely to change by a few minutes per train one way or the other.
Be aware that Genova has more than one train station, and Genova Brignole is the station closer to Camogli and with more trains leaving for Camogli per day.
No need to buy tix in advance. If you're not familiar with the difference between IC and regional trains in Italy, make sure you understand it and be careful not to board an IC train in the station if you only have bought a ticket for the less expensive regional train.
Last but not least, there is no train station in Portofino. It can only be reached by boat from either Camogli or Santa Margherita Ligure (where there is a train station) or by bus or foot from Santa Margherita Ligure. In summertime the boats and buses to Portofino can be jam packed, with lines waiting to board them. in particular on weekends. You might want to plan to visit Portofino first (take the train to Santa Margherita Ligure) and Camogli second, using the boats to get to Camogli. It's a very enjoyable excursion, with a stop to change boats at the picturesque cove of San Fruttuoso.
Be aware that Genova has more than one train station, and Genova Brignole is the station closer to Camogli and with more trains leaving for Camogli per day.
No need to buy tix in advance. If you're not familiar with the difference between IC and regional trains in Italy, make sure you understand it and be careful not to board an IC train in the station if you only have bought a ticket for the less expensive regional train.
Last but not least, there is no train station in Portofino. It can only be reached by boat from either Camogli or Santa Margherita Ligure (where there is a train station) or by bus or foot from Santa Margherita Ligure. In summertime the boats and buses to Portofino can be jam packed, with lines waiting to board them. in particular on weekends. You might want to plan to visit Portofino first (take the train to Santa Margherita Ligure) and Camogli second, using the boats to get to Camogli. It's a very enjoyable excursion, with a stop to change boats at the picturesque cove of San Fruttuoso.
Apr 24th, 2017, 03:16 AM
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Don't buy regional train tickets online! They can't be exchanged or refunded under any circumstance. Buy them at a train station, either at the ticket counter or in a machine. (The machines are almost all multilingual.)
Regional tickets bought at the station are for a specific day, but not for a specific train. If you change your mind, you can change the day of travel, or get a refund, up until the day before.To establish the time of travel and prevent their reuse, you have to stamp them in a machine by the side of the track. Unstamped tickets are not valid at all.The conductors don't check tickets at every stop, so some people who are going short distances are tempted to bet that they won't have to show a ticket. These farebeaters usually have an unstamped ticket in their pocket and then try to convince the conductor that they just forgot to stamp it. It's a ploy that usually falls flat and results in a big fine.
Regional tickets that are sold online can't be stamped in the machines, and are sold for a specific two-hour window on a specific day. They can't be changed for any reason at all, even if it's the fault of the railway, as I found out when a regional train was running very late and I tried to apply the cost of the ticket to a more expensive ticket on a different type of train.
Intercity trains are rare on most routes. On the Genova-Camogli route, almost all trains are regional. On other routes, you'll find also Freccia trains (Frecciabianca, Frecciargento, and Frecciarossa). These are the higher-speed trains, which are reserved trains. They have discounts available for advanced purchase, but they tend to sell out, so it's best to buy them well in advance. The discounted tickets have strict limits on changes or refunds, with the cheapest being absolutely unchangeable, unless you miss the train through the late arrival of an earlier train.
Regional tickets bought at the station are for a specific day, but not for a specific train. If you change your mind, you can change the day of travel, or get a refund, up until the day before.To establish the time of travel and prevent their reuse, you have to stamp them in a machine by the side of the track. Unstamped tickets are not valid at all.The conductors don't check tickets at every stop, so some people who are going short distances are tempted to bet that they won't have to show a ticket. These farebeaters usually have an unstamped ticket in their pocket and then try to convince the conductor that they just forgot to stamp it. It's a ploy that usually falls flat and results in a big fine.
Regional tickets that are sold online can't be stamped in the machines, and are sold for a specific two-hour window on a specific day. They can't be changed for any reason at all, even if it's the fault of the railway, as I found out when a regional train was running very late and I tried to apply the cost of the ticket to a more expensive ticket on a different type of train.
Intercity trains are rare on most routes. On the Genova-Camogli route, almost all trains are regional. On other routes, you'll find also Freccia trains (Frecciabianca, Frecciargento, and Frecciarossa). These are the higher-speed trains, which are reserved trains. They have discounts available for advanced purchase, but they tend to sell out, so it's best to buy them well in advance. The discounted tickets have strict limits on changes or refunds, with the cheapest being absolutely unchangeable, unless you miss the train through the late arrival of an earlier train.
Apr 24th, 2017, 03:39 AM
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IC trains are not "rare" on the Genova to Camogli route. An IC train departs Genova Brignole heading south almost every hour. It is a common mistake for travelers who want to head south from Genova to look at the destination of the train on the electronic board - La Spezia or Rome etc -- and mistakenly get on the next train leaving the station without realizing they have the wrong ticket (and could get fined) or that the train will not stop in Camogli. This is especially true when the regional trains are running late but the ICs are not. The temptation to take the next train headed south is pretty strong.
I reiterate my advice to be careful not to board an IC train by mistake if you want a regional train.
I reiterate my advice to be careful not to board an IC train by mistake if you want a regional train.
Apr 24th, 2017, 03:47 AM
#7
>>>you'll find also Freccia trains (Frecciabianca, Frecciargento, and Frecciarossa). These are the higher-speed trains,<<<
These trains don't stop in small towns (unless it's somewhere like Pisa with a big tourist attraction).
>>>Does that mean all train seats are sold out in early July?<<<
Regional trains don't sell out. You just squeeze in like you would on a subway if it seems full and stand for your ride. There is no reserved seating on regional trains. It's not possible. Know your stops for the train you want (you can click one of the ? on Trenitalia to get the list) as these trains are usually scheduled to stop for only 1-2 minutes and you need to be at the door ready to get off for your stop.
Schedules change twice a year and summer schedules start 2nd weekend in June (will run through 2nd weekend in Dec) which might not be loaded yet for some trains. Schedules don't change much. If you want to see possible trains and prices, look at the same day of the week within the next 7 days.
These trains don't stop in small towns (unless it's somewhere like Pisa with a big tourist attraction).
>>>Does that mean all train seats are sold out in early July?<<<
Regional trains don't sell out. You just squeeze in like you would on a subway if it seems full and stand for your ride. There is no reserved seating on regional trains. It's not possible. Know your stops for the train you want (you can click one of the ? on Trenitalia to get the list) as these trains are usually scheduled to stop for only 1-2 minutes and you need to be at the door ready to get off for your stop.
Schedules change twice a year and summer schedules start 2nd weekend in June (will run through 2nd weekend in Dec) which might not be loaded yet for some trains. Schedules don't change much. If you want to see possible trains and prices, look at the same day of the week within the next 7 days.
Apr 24th, 2017, 07:32 AM
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If you're getting on at the first station, which I think would be Genova for regional trains going to Camogli, you can make sure of getting a seat by arriving early enough to board as soon as the track is announced. I've rarely had to stand on a regional train, even when traveling to a beach town in the summer. Commuter hours are more likely to be crowded, heading into a large city in the morning, and out in the afternoon and evening.
The regional train schedules are always the last to be loaded when the schedule changes. The Italian regions subsidize these trains, and there is always a disagreement about service: Trenitalia wants to cut underused lines, and the regions don't want any service cut. Sometimes the schedules are still not up a few weeks before the new schedule. The high-speed and intercity schedules are updated much earlier.
The regional train schedules are always the last to be loaded when the schedule changes. The Italian regions subsidize these trains, and there is always a disagreement about service: Trenitalia wants to cut underused lines, and the regions don't want any service cut. Sometimes the schedules are still not up a few weeks before the new schedule. The high-speed and intercity schedules are updated much earlier.
Apr 24th, 2017, 07:38 AM
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Frencarmoire, I don't understand where these IC trains are posted. I just looked for trains from Genova Brignole to Camogli-San Fruttuoso, on April 26th, to avoid the holiday, and I don't see a single direct IC train between 8 AM and 3 PM.
Apr 25th, 2017, 05:14 AM
#11
>>> there is really one single IC train (Milan dp 14.05 - La Spezia ar 17.21 which stops daily at Camogli<<<
It appears so, but won't be beneficial to OP because of being mid afternoon (they are doing a day trip from Genoa).
**15:47 Genova Piazza Principe Arrivo 16:11 Camogli-S. Fruttuoso***
The only IC going in the opposite direction is no help either because it's at noon.
It appears so, but won't be beneficial to OP because of being mid afternoon (they are doing a day trip from Genoa).
**15:47 Genova Piazza Principe Arrivo 16:11 Camogli-S. Fruttuoso***
The only IC going in the opposite direction is no help either because it's at noon.
