Italy Eurostar: reserved seats 1st v 2nd class
 

I do not understand if I need a reservation or not for 2nd class Eurostar. If I buy this ticket, do I automatically have a seat? Do I have to by a ticket and then a reservation separately? Very confused.
Thanks.

Was unaware that Eurostar operated in Italy

Yes, Blightyboy, there are Eurostar trains in Italy.

Lauriemichelle, you don't need a seat reservation for 2nd class on Eurostar trains in Italy. You can sit wherever you like in any of the 2nd class carriages. You don't need to purchase your tickets before you leave home. You can buy them all at the main train station in your first destination city (or at a travel agency or American Express office). Or buy them as you go.

In a few large cities there are automatic ticket purchase machines that are very easy to use (in English). They take cash and credit cards. These machines are also installed in some small train stations where there is no on-site personnel.

The only really important thing is to validate your ticket before you get on the train. Look for the yellow machines at the ends of the platforms (binarios).

That certainly is NOT our experience. We have found that 1st and 2nd class both are reserved when you buy a ticket, it's automatic. We've traveled in both classes and don't really see the advantage of 1st class.

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The premium trains between major Italian cities are called Eurostar Italia. It has nothing to do with the Eurostar service that goes through the Channel Tunnel.

All Eurostar Italia trains are reservations only. Including 2nd class.

ES trains are reserved seats only, it doesn't matter which class you are buying and you certainly can't sit wherever. You can only sit in the seat on your ticket. I'm not sure why 2 posters today have said otherwise.

People sometimes get confused because the companies that sell tickets in the US at a markup (RailEurope, etc.)or passes don't include the seat reservation and you have to pay extra to them to reserve. It's a way they make more money. If you purchase from Trenitalia, any ES ticket (1st or 2nd) the seat will be included as they are mandatory and there won't be an extra fee. You cannot travel on an ES train without a reserved seat.

What company are you trying to buy from? You should either use Trenitalia or just wait until you get to Italy.

Hi L,

All ES* and AV trains are reserved seat - 1 and 2 cl.

Buy your tickets in Italy or online at http://www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html

((I))

>you certainly can't sit wherever. You can only sit in the seat on your ticket.

If other seats are vacant and not reserved for the current part of the trip, you certainly can sit in them if you like. But you have to reserve _a_ seat with your ticket indeed.

According to the trenitalia web site, Eurostar tickets are always sold with a seat reservation. If you board a Eurostar train without a reservation, you will be charged an additional 25 euros.
If a Eurostar train is more than 25 minutes late, you can get a 50% refund and this also apparently applies if the air conditioning is not working.

<Was unaware that Eurostar operated in Italy>

my understanding: the name Eurostar was trademarked by Fiat makers of the high-speed ETR Italian trains named Eurostar Italia... and the name was also licenses to Eurostar trains running thru the Chunnel (ugh!!!!) i mean Channel Tunnel.

Well, Lauriemichelle, I apologize for the incorrect information in my post. I have obviously spent too much recent time on intercity and regional trains. I set my punishment at several rides on Italian Eurostar trains in second class.

I've travelled first and second class on ES in Italy. The tickets were reserved and definitely designated seating. We had some fellow passengers in the 'wrong' seats next to us and they were told to move to the correct seats by the conductor.

how far in advance can you purchase tickets online on trenitalia.com? I tried purchasing tickets for beginning of September but were not available.

Yes to reserved seats in second class on Italian Eurostar! All seats are reserved. You can look at the train diagram on the platform to find the location of your carriage number so you know where to be standing when the train arrives.

Hi Clau,

60 days in advance.

((I))

Last month we took the train from Florence to Como.
Our friend who purchased her ticket in advance from an agency paid more than double the price of our ticket.
The worst part was, she was told that she must change in Milan.
We purchased our tickets at the station in Florence.
1st class was either 35 or 40E reserved seats, directly to Como.
Couldn't believe her travel agents markup.

just on trenitalia web site inquiring about Euro Star tickets Rome to Florence and it looks like there was no option to purchase. It is an October date I'm inquiring about. Does anyone have any additional info on this?

60 days max

Thanks for your reply. Is this the best way to go -- purchasing in advance from trenitalia direct or can I just wait until I get to Rome and purchase then?

Just returned from Italy. I had purchased tickets for certain runs for our group from trenitalia.com before we left. Once for a strike day and another for a very specific run. It was a blessing for sure. On local and short inter-regionals I just used self-service machines. They are easy and take only a few minutes, if you aren't there with massive crowds and little time.

Thanks for your reply. The prices aren't even posted on trenitalia.com for trips out in October unless I'm doing something wrong.

travellinwill- Enter a date in the next few weeks if you want a price. They won't be any different for October. You can only purchase (or see the prices )60 days in advance on Trenitalia.

One more question I promise :)
What do the ticket types mean i.e. standard, flexi, etc.?

This link explains the different tarrifs.

http://www.trenitalia.com/en/orari_b...fo_tariffe.htm

The standard = the basic ticket rate
Flexi is a more flexible ticket, but costs a little more.

A recent/current special is the "Amica" offer, with a 20% discount. No special card required. That may be your best bet.

What a fantastic rail system, buy your ticket, reserved seat, and comfort makes U.K system look shite by comparison.

Thanks J62. Sorry, it's been a while since I've been on the forum.

J62 is there an English version of the Trenitalia web site or do I need to be fluent?

Here's the English link, but parts of Trenialia's website is still Italian only.
http://www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html

Hello everyone,
I am going to buy train tickets from trenitalia and as you may know, it is mandatory to choose the seats!
Since we are three people, I want to have seats close together; but I do not know the seating plan of ES trains.
Can anyone inform me about this seating plan and how the seats are numbered?

>I am going to buy train tickets from trenitalia and as you may know, it is mandatory to choose the seats!

No, it is mandatory to RESERVE three seats (on ES). Forget seating plans, just reserve three and trenitalia automatically tries to put them all close together. If there are no free seats that close together, you will be seated where there is space.

Hi I,

When you buy your tickets you can choose aisle or window.

Skip the part about car and seat numbers. That is only if you want to sit near someone who already has a ticket.

((I))

Thank you for your reply; but my problem is not solved yet!
We are three. Actually I tried to book tickets onlie. When I did not define the seat numbers, the system automatically chose seats No 71, 72 and 78 for me. I did not know if they are close to each other or not!
I want to know how the seats are numbered in ES trains?

>I did not know if they are close to each other or not!

Nor do I or (probably) anybody here.

The numbering system depends on the actual trainset trenitalia is using for this particular run. There are several generations of ETR trainsets.

The system tries to get you seats as close as possible. If they aren´t close, bad luck. If you are separated by aisle or a seat row, simply ask your neighbours nicely to swap the seats.

Seat x1, x2 and x8 are together.

Here's a map. You'll be traveling on a ETR 500 most likely:

downloads.raileurope.com/pdf/2005_usa_version/premier_trains/es_italy_product_description.pdf

I posted the question about why they are numbered that way, and I've searched all over the web, but I still haven't got an answer why it's like this:

W x1 x3 A x7 x5 W
W x2 x8 A x4 x6 W

W = windown, A = aisle.

My husband and I travelled from Perugia to Rome by ES last October. We bought the tickets at the sation at Perugia the day before, paying by credit card, and reserving the seats according to the plan that came up on the screen. However, the carriages that turned up were not ES ones[according to my husband, who's a train buff] and the seat configuration was quite different. It didn't really worry me but my husband wasn't amused!

Thank you so much for your wonderful and help.

I believe that you do not have a seat reservation in second class Eurostar...when we booked our first class tickets on a Eurostar from Milan-Florence, using the automatic machines at the station,(which are very easy to use) we selected our seats as part of the ticket process....

Thank you all for the great information! I've been struggling trying to figure out whether I should get a RailEurope Saver pass (4 days) or to buy point-to-point for the 8 of us traveling.


Just to confirm....

1) When you buy a ticket on Trenitalia;com for a ticket on an ES or IC+ train, the supplement for the reservation is already included in the price, correct?

2) To do e-mail ticketless travel, you don't need to get it validated before you board the train, correct? All you need to do is show the conductor the PNR (aka record locater) on your e-mail, right?

3) I read on another boards that people have had a lot of trouble buying tickets on Trenitalia;com. Have you had any issues?

TYIA for all of your help and advice! :-D

1. correct

2. correct

3. yes, many report troubles completing the transaction on trenitalia.com. I have a citibank credit card and used their 'virtual' credit card numbers - one of their identity theft solutions. With the virtual credit card # the transaction went right through 1st time.

So given all that I have read here I am thinking that the best way to go is to just go to the station and buy and reserve your tickets/seats as you go. Would you agree? I came to the forum today basically to find out if the consensus thought it was important to book and buy before even getting to italy but if it is simple to do it as we go then that sounds good to me as I have a million things yet to book and arrange before we leave.