When I use Trenitalia now it shows automatic fill-in options based on what I start typing. It didn't used to do that. Maybe Pompeii is not on Trenitali? Circumvesuviana (sp?) is another train system for further south if my memory serves me correctly. I don't know much about it.

Salerno does come up for me but not Pompeii

Pompeii isn't on the trenitalia line I don't believe...I think it is on the local circumsuviana train service, which is likely why you can't find it....

Maybe this will help also
http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/pompeii-train-stations.cfm

You might try using the www.lefrecce.it version

It fills the names in automatically and I think it is easier to use

I just tried to do the same exercise and i think i understand the problem - the trenitalia site now defaults to "lefrecce" ; if the station you want isn't served by lefrecce then it comes up as unavailable.

however, if you then select "tutti i treni" it enables you to see all the choices.

eg here are the regionale trains from Salerno to Pompei for tomorrow:

https://www.lefrecce.it/B2CWeb/search.do?parameter=searchOutputViewer

it is a pain, I agree.

Using this website for Trentalia: http://www.fsitaliane.it/homepage_en.html I entered Salerno and then Pompeii with a date two months in advance and the trains for that date were displayed.

You can find the names of all the train stations operated by Trenitalia but it's rather hidden because there isn't an English verion of it. (I found it by scrolling to the bottom of the first screen and clicking on "For Travelers, In the Station." Then a message is displayed saying, "Under construction, page available in Italian." I then clicked on Italian.)

The following link, accessed as described above, enables you to list all the train stations by region in alphabetical order: http://www.fsitaliane.it/instazione.html

First click on the map on the region of interest. Then click on the first letter of the name of the city/station you want; all the stations beginning with that letter are displayed. You can click on "Servizi in Stazione," to see which services are available at these stations. The services available at each station are indicated by a red dot.

>>>At the moment I have been trying to find the names of the stations in Salerno and in Pompei (Salerno to Rome route)<<<

It depends on which Pompei station you want. If you are going to the ruins, you don't want Trenitalia. You want the Circumvesuviana train line which is a commuter train line between Naples and Sorrento. It stops at Pompeii Scavi (note the ruins Pompeii has 2 i's). If for some odd reason you want the Trenitalia Pompei stop (quite a trek from the ruins), then it would have one i.

>>>Is there a list of names for train stations that Trenitalia will recognize?<<<

Yes. Trenitalia recognizes all the Italian names/spellings. It doesn't recognize an Americanized version.

Roma, not Rome
Firenze, not Florence
Napoli, not Naples, etc.

It's also quite possible you are looking for train stations that are not Trenitalia such as the Circumvesuviana. There are quite a few private train lines in Italy. Just depends on where you are trying to go. Many small towns won't have trains at all and you would need to look at bus connections.

One more thing. Pompei Scavi is the name of the stop on the Circumvesuviana train for the entrance to the Pompeii site.

The Pompeii stop on the Trenitalia route between Naples and Salerno, named simply Pompei (Italian spelling of Pompeii) is closer to the center of modern Pompeii. The closest entrance to the excavation site when arriving by Trenitalia is at Piazza Anfiteatro.

The site I (any many other people) use this site for scheduling:
http://www.bahn.de/i/view/USA/en/index.shtml

It shows almost all European trains and is very easy to use. You don't have to know the exact name of the station as it will give you options. It does not show the Circumvesuviana line.

Here's the Circumvesuviana schedule:

http://www.vesuviana.it/web/en/Orari

One trick I use is to click on the "Home FS" link at the very top left of the main page for Trenitalia. Clicking on that link takes you the old website

http://www.fsitaliane.it/

In the middle of the page, you will find a "Biglieterria OnLine" link, and clicking on that provides the old pokey familiar interface, which I find easier to use.

>>>Clicking on that link takes you the old website<<<

Not anymore. If you do get to the old site, you had to use the Italian version so it wouldn't help unless you knew the Italian spellings. If you clicked English, it rolled back to the new site.

This version of Trenitalia recognizes the English spellings of most stations:

http://www.fsitaliane.com/homepage_en.html

However, it does not recognize misspellings in either language, and you do need to use the full name of some small stations (i.e., Varenna-Esino for Varenna on Lake Como).

If you want to see lists of stations by region, you can navigate around this website, but unfortunately it's only in Italian.

http://www.fsitaliane.it/instazione.html [click on the main city in the region, i.e. Naples for Campania]

Thank you very much for your help. The alphabetical list several of you pointed to was what I had in mind. I played more with the Trentitalia site and have found that once you make a “mistake”, it seems to flag you as a sinner and does not allow repentance. If I reset the page by going back to the main screen, it seems to move forward. Also, I noticed that on the main screen which has the red box on the right does come up with the choices once you start typing. Once you leave that screen that functionality is gone.
I have two days before I meet companions in Rome. I am flying into Naples with the intent of seeing Pompeii. Since I have 2 to 2 ½ days, I thought I might take in the Amalfi coast one day. Since my purpose is to see Pompeii I was thinking of basing myself in Pompeii but on day two taking the train to Sorrento, bus along the coast (stopping at interesting places) and returning to Pompei from Salerno by train. Is this a feasible day trip?
I am considering hotels right by the ruins. If I do this, what stop do I get off (Pompeii?). IdyllicItaly, is Piazza Anfiteatro a train stop or just a landmark for the return walk? (below are the stops before and after Pompei – once I got the connection from Salerno to Naples, I figured out how to see all the stops).
Also, some of you indicated it was quite a distance from that train station to the ruins. I expect to do a fair amount of walking and will have no luggage with me. Are we talking a mile or 5 miles? -- and any issues with walking this late in the evening?

Scafati 11:47 11:48
Pompei 11:51 11:52
Torre Annunziata Centrale 11:56 11:57

If still having difficulties with your Trenitalia purchases, perhaps try...

http://www.italiarail.com/

Do, please, make your own price comparisons - however I think you'll find very little difference in buying from them, with the convenience of paying in dollars on a site that uses more "English" versions of place names... although I note it only accepts Roma Tiburtina for that particular station!

With e-ticketing there's no longer the need to ship people a paper version, so the cost disadvantage they worked under has now gone...

Peter

Within the Comune of Pompei there's a total of four rail stations, only one of them operated and used by Trenitalia.

Of those, three (but not the outlying "Moregine") are marked on this map:

http://www.unicocampania.it/files/mappe/pompei.pdf

(The track marked in red, and the "Pompei" station on it, are Trenitalia's - on the Naples/Salerno line!)

(Piazza Anfiteatro is a "square" of sorts, whose name is also used to denominate one of the entrances to the archaeological site. It's more or less midway between the central three stations)

For your Sorrento trip, you'll need to go to the one usually called "Pompei Scavi" (Pompei Scavi Villa dei Misteri in full), which is on the Circumvesuviana railway's line between Naples and Sorrento (duuh!!).

Try...
http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/through-naples-to-sorrento-or-pompei.cfm

.. and here's the route map for that one:

http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/image/128288647

... and their whole network!

http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/image/124987094

Peter