Well yesterday I was reading here that the Trenitalia site had become much more user friendly and cheap tickets could be booked in advance. So I decided to do some research for an Oct. trip - I plugged in dates for March tho (10/3/2013) that's March, yes? and was told no trains possible from Como S. Giovani to Venezia - really? so any idea what I'm doing wrong or is the system just having a momentary quirk. Of course I could find info on the Bahn site but I had hoped to book the cheap tickets when they became available on the Trenitalia site.

I have made 5 train trips for oiur trip in May and never had a problem. Just put in you dates and found plenty of trains for that trip.
Cheryl

well I made some progress - tho at first on the english web-site I was still getting "no travel solustions found" but then I went to La freccia and found cheap tickets from Milan to Venezia - so will I have to buy the ticktes in two steps? from Como to Milan and then Milan to Venice? is there a "tutorial" somewhere on the site and ticket prices / options?

Yes, go to seat61.com and read THAT tutorial and are you really trying to book October tickets this far out?

Yes, I know it is too early to book - I was just trying to see how the website was working these days and how much the tickets were going to cost by running dates already loaded into the system. I'll go over to seat61 now. Thanks!

Most trains between Como SG and Milan are slow R trains (or even local surburban S trains). There is no point in buying R tickets in advance, no discounts, no reserved seating, no amenities and more restrictions than if you buy at the station. There are no cheap tickets for R trains ever. They are always the same price.

I had no problem at all entering Como S Giovanni and Venezia for those dates and getting results. There are some EC trains between Como and Milan. These are the international trains coming from Zurich and are designated EC. EC trains don't run as often as the R trains. You can buy these EC trains through 6/8 and most are 9€ discounted (regular/walk-up price is only 13€). They do have reserved seating. I'm not sure it's worth hanging around in Como a couple of hours to get an EC train.

FWIW - I've been on the EC train from Zurich to Milan when it has been as much as an hour behind schedule.

The R trains are 4.55€ - travel time is 37 minutes to 44 minutes depending on train.

EC trains are a bit faster - 33 minutes so really not much difference. There is a cluster of these between 10-12 (coming from Zurich and Basel), but then in the afternoon there is a gap.

R tickets must always be validated track side before boarding or you can be fined. Tickets for faster trains include assigned seats and they are checked on board. Always keep tickets handy until you get off the train.