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.