colavecd

I've poured over the Trenitalia website and the message boards in hopes of finding an answer and since I have been unsuccessful I thought I'd give it a try. In looking at the time table for Venice to Florence some listings have two stations listed under the DEPARTURE heading in the same box/same time; Mestre and S. Lucia. Usually the one under the first is in red type. Since I wish to depart from S. Lucia, how do I interpret the two listings? Thanks!

LoveItaly

Hi colavecd, if you just need a ticket(s) to travel from Venice to Florence you can buy the ticket when you arrive in Venice. The Santa Lucia station ia in Venice along the Grand Canal, the Mestre station is on the mainland, outside of Venice although it is considered part of Venice proper.

You may need to take the train from Santa Lucia to Mestre..that train trip takes something like ten minutes or so. And then it could be you will need to change trains at Mestre to continue onto Florence. If you buy your ticket at the Santa Lucia station it will all become clear to you. Best wishes and enjoy your time in beautiful Italy!!

LoveItaly

Oh good heavens, what I meant to say was you will take the train from the Santa Lucia Station BUT you may have to change trains at the Mestre station to continue your train trip to Florence. I must learn to "preview my reply"!! Best wishes.

kdi

Or why not simply take a train from ST Lucia.This is so much more convenient than changing trains at Mestre, especially if you have a bit of luggage.
If I'm not mistaken there are trains almost every 45 minutes from St Lucia,Venice to St Maria Novella,Florence.

colavecd

I think I need to better explain my confusion. In reading the time table from Venice to La Spezia via Florence, some times list S. Lucia, some Mestre, and others with BOTH train stations listed; one in blue, the other red. There is no key explaining the color reference. On some listings, S. Lucia is listed first or on top with Mestre below it, and vice versa. I know I want to leave from S. Lucia, but some of the options that work for us have S. Lucia listed below Mestre for the same departure time slot. I am interpreting that as the train departs Mestre, next stop S. Lucia, then on to Florence. But this doesn't make sense to me. Am I reading too much into this? If S. Lucia is listed below Mestre, I am thinking that train will leave from S. Lucia around(?) 10 minutes after it departs from Mestre. Due to my confusion I am reluctant to purchase my tickets in advance not knowing this info and fear that traveling June 30th will be a busy time. Hopefully someone can set my mind straight! Thanks!

TRSW

It means that the train will stop briefly in Mestre to pick up more passengers. You will not have to switch trains. You will only switch trains if there is a destination listed in the middle columns.

Tom

WallyKringen

For peace of mind, input the departure as (exactly like this)

Venezia S.Lucia

it will then come up as VE S.L.

and the arrival exactly as

Firenze S.M.Novella

That's the station near the historic center - there are others around Forence, but if you input it as above they won't even come up.

Some connections require that you change trains in Bologna. You might want to consider booking seats (when you buy the tickets) on a train that leaves later from Bologna, to give you a few hours to wander around and eat lunch (it's a culinary capital!!!).

WK

rosexmke

Wally is correct - don't enter venice as your departure, enter VE S.L. I had a similar trouble - could not understand why sometimes S.L. came up and other times MEstre. The time I wanted to leave only had Mestre - that meant that I had to buy a seperate S.L. to MEstre ticket and change trains. It was no big deal. But if you have a time that includes the firenze departure from S.L. then take it.