Ordinaria tickets - should i order them in advance?
May 6th, 2012, 08:32 AM
#1
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Ordinaria tickets - should i order them in advance?
hello
I'm going to Italy next week and couldn't find do i need to order my tickets earlier if they are ordinaria type? or could i buy at the train station the same day when i'm taking the train?
thank you in advance
I'm going to Italy next week and couldn't find do i need to order my tickets earlier if they are ordinaria type? or could i buy at the train station the same day when i'm taking the train?
thank you in advance
May 6th, 2012, 10:16 AM
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"Ordinaria" tickets are ONLY for the unreserved "regionale" trains. It's usually a BAD idea to buy these tickets in advance in ELECTRONIC form. Better to wait and buy them locally in PAPER form. When in ELECTRONIC form, "ordinaria" tickets for the "regionale" trains can be used ONLY on trains departing WITHIN FOUR HOURS of the train time reflected on the receipt. These ELECTRONIC tickets cannot be changed, nor refunded.
By contrast, PAPER tickets at the "ordinaria" fare can be used on any "regionale" train within TWO MONTHS of the ticket issue date. The ticket can be refunded (with a 20% forfeiture) as long as not "validated" (and as long as the refund is at least 8.01 Euros). These PAPER tickets can also be refunded up to 30 minutes after the ticket has been "validated" (if someone makes a last-moment decision to abort the trip, or discovers that the train has been cancelled or delayed).
All seats on the "regionale" trains are unreserved; hence, there is no advantage to buying the tickets in advance in ELECTRONIC form. In fact, the only advantage to buying "ordinaria" tickets in ELECTRONIC form is for sheer convenience of not having to stand in line at a rail station ticket window or electronic ticket machine when in Italy. Sometimes, having an ELECTRONIC ticket for the "regionale" train can be useful when making a CONNECTION from a fast "national" train to a "regionale" train, where there would not be enough time to buy a PAPER ticket for the "regionale" train at the connecting station. Nevertheless, you can always purchase "ordinaria" tickets for the "regionale" trains in PAPER format locally in Italy (including at many newsstands, bars, tobacconists near the train station, for short-range trips where there is no manned ticket window or electronic ticket machine at the local train station).
By contrast, PAPER tickets at the "ordinaria" fare can be used on any "regionale" train within TWO MONTHS of the ticket issue date. The ticket can be refunded (with a 20% forfeiture) as long as not "validated" (and as long as the refund is at least 8.01 Euros). These PAPER tickets can also be refunded up to 30 minutes after the ticket has been "validated" (if someone makes a last-moment decision to abort the trip, or discovers that the train has been cancelled or delayed).
All seats on the "regionale" trains are unreserved; hence, there is no advantage to buying the tickets in advance in ELECTRONIC form. In fact, the only advantage to buying "ordinaria" tickets in ELECTRONIC form is for sheer convenience of not having to stand in line at a rail station ticket window or electronic ticket machine when in Italy. Sometimes, having an ELECTRONIC ticket for the "regionale" train can be useful when making a CONNECTION from a fast "national" train to a "regionale" train, where there would not be enough time to buy a PAPER ticket for the "regionale" train at the connecting station. Nevertheless, you can always purchase "ordinaria" tickets for the "regionale" trains in PAPER format locally in Italy (including at many newsstands, bars, tobacconists near the train station, for short-range trips where there is no manned ticket window or electronic ticket machine at the local train station).
Jul 30th, 2012, 04:48 AM
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Wish I'd read this (GAC's post above) before purchasing tickets online! Trenitalia should be made to have it on the front page of their website.
Even the Italian lady who tried to resolve the situation for me couldn't understand why purchasing online was so much more restrictive. She was most apologetic that the system was so backward.
DON'T buy Regional Train Tickets Online until you're 100% sure what your doing! Ended up costing me a lot of money.
Even the Italian lady who tried to resolve the situation for me couldn't understand why purchasing online was so much more restrictive. She was most apologetic that the system was so backward.
DON'T buy Regional Train Tickets Online until you're 100% sure what your doing! Ended up costing me a lot of money.
Jul 30th, 2012, 06:37 AM
#4
>>>DON'T buy Regional Train Tickets Online until you're 100% sure what your doing! Ended up costing me a lot of money.<<<
I don't see how regional tickets could cost you a lot of money. The online price is the same as the walk-up price.
>>>I'm going to Italy next week and couldn't find do i need to order my tickets earlier if they are ordinaria type?<<<<
If you select a train with ordinaria and click "see other prices and services", you will then see this:
ODINARIA
Ticket reference, thet begin within 4 hours from the departure of the train indicated on the receipt / ticket. Change Ticket, change reservation and refunds are not allowed.
I don't see how regional tickets could cost you a lot of money. The online price is the same as the walk-up price.
>>>I'm going to Italy next week and couldn't find do i need to order my tickets earlier if they are ordinaria type?<<<<
If you select a train with ordinaria and click "see other prices and services", you will then see this:
ODINARIA
Ticket reference, thet begin within 4 hours from the departure of the train indicated on the receipt / ticket. Change Ticket, change reservation and refunds are not allowed.
Jul 30th, 2012, 10:49 PM
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"I don't see how regional tickets could cost you a lot of money. The online price is the same as the walk-up price."
The "walk up" ticket is valid for 2 months and can be used on any service.
The online ticket has to be used on the train booked and no other. If your plans change you lose your money.
Also it takes alot of effort to buy online - you have to register, change your password, enter your travel details and then specify each individual passanger by name.
Each stage included a 2 hour delay whilst tranitalia's site updated!So the whole process took quite some time. I then had to print off the pdfs (8 pages for 4 passangers) and only then was I made aware that the tickets were not flexable.
Not a good system.
The "walk up" ticket is valid for 2 months and can be used on any service.
The online ticket has to be used on the train booked and no other. If your plans change you lose your money.
Also it takes alot of effort to buy online - you have to register, change your password, enter your travel details and then specify each individual passanger by name.
Each stage included a 2 hour delay whilst tranitalia's site updated!So the whole process took quite some time. I then had to print off the pdfs (8 pages for 4 passangers) and only then was I made aware that the tickets were not flexable.
Not a good system.
