Italy Train Travel with luggage
Jun 27th, 2012, 08:15 PM
#21
>>>Or i could buy a bigger case in Florence for the tools and surplus i have to get and send back to Milan via BagExpress that Alitalia uses (for door-to-door baggage service) costing about 25 Euros for a medium 22 kg suitcase..does anyone have any knowledge of that service
Jun 28th, 2012, 08:02 AM
#23
ref getting around stations, if you have enough time you may very well be able to find lifts and ramps if you take your time. on my trip to tuscany last year, I found very few on my way out - i was anxious, not sure where I was going. or how much time I'd got. on my way back through the same stations a week or so later, they had miraculously appeared!
so long as your train schedule allows, if you take your time, you may find what you are looking for.
so long as your train schedule allows, if you take your time, you may find what you are looking for.
Jun 28th, 2012, 08:21 AM
#24
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Here's a picture of 2nd class on the fast train.>
this is a staged promo photo of trenitalia when brand new cars were rolled and does not typify 2nd class IME on high-speed trains in general and if kybourbon would show a similar photo for first class you would see a key difference between first and second class - first class has three seats in a row not 4 - and has what to me are priceless - isolated seats with a window and an aisle - and couples can have such seats facing each other with a nice table in between - no dealing with others having to get out to go to the loo or snackbar, etc. and obviously a lot more room for luggage as there are about 25% fewer seats in the same size train car - voila much more room for luggage. I have ridden many many high-speed trains and there is a significant difference between classes - one reason many Italians gladly pay extra for the extra comfort. Some folks here, for whatever reason, like to say there is no difference between classes and it is foolish to pay even one more euro for first class - may experience tells a different story - on the trip of a lifetime and with lots of luggage go first class - plus with the discounted 2nd class tickets they are in practice not changeable nor refundable - if you want to wait until you are there to decide when to travel then yes a full fare ticket will cost more - sometimes though not that much more than a discounted one - but for some at least the flexibility is priceless. And there are also I believe online discounts in 1st class as well. Oh well that is my take anyway thru years of traveling on Italian trains.
this is a staged promo photo of trenitalia when brand new cars were rolled and does not typify 2nd class IME on high-speed trains in general and if kybourbon would show a similar photo for first class you would see a key difference between first and second class - first class has three seats in a row not 4 - and has what to me are priceless - isolated seats with a window and an aisle - and couples can have such seats facing each other with a nice table in between - no dealing with others having to get out to go to the loo or snackbar, etc. and obviously a lot more room for luggage as there are about 25% fewer seats in the same size train car - voila much more room for luggage. I have ridden many many high-speed trains and there is a significant difference between classes - one reason many Italians gladly pay extra for the extra comfort. Some folks here, for whatever reason, like to say there is no difference between classes and it is foolish to pay even one more euro for first class - may experience tells a different story - on the trip of a lifetime and with lots of luggage go first class - plus with the discounted 2nd class tickets they are in practice not changeable nor refundable - if you want to wait until you are there to decide when to travel then yes a full fare ticket will cost more - sometimes though not that much more than a discounted one - but for some at least the flexibility is priceless. And there are also I believe online discounts in 1st class as well. Oh well that is my take anyway thru years of traveling on Italian trains.
Jun 28th, 2012, 09:01 AM
#26
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
annhig - thanks for that - I know that but at times forget!Here's a picture of 2nd class on the fast train.>
Here's another try!
<Here's a picture of 2nd class on the fast train.> (From kybourbon's post above)
This is a staged promo photo of Trenitalia when brand new cars were rolled and does not typify 2nd class IME on high-speed trains in general and if kybourbon would show a similar photo for first class you would see a key difference between first and second class -
first class has three seats in a row not 4 - and has what to me are priceless - isolated seats with a window and an aisle - and couples can have such seats facing each other with a nice table in between - no dealing with others having to get out to go to the loo or snackbar, etc. and obviously a lot more room for luggage as there are about 25% fewer seats in the same size train car - voila much more room for luggage.
I have ridden many many high-speed trains and there is a significant difference between classes - one reason many Italians gladly pay extra for the extra comfort.
Some folks here, for whatever reason, like to say there is no difference between classes and it is foolish to pay even one more euro for first class - may experience tells a different story - on the trip of a lifetime and with lots of luggage go first class -
plus with the discounted 2nd class tickets they are in practice not changeable nor refundable - if you want to wait until you are there to decide when to travel then yes a full fare ticket will cost more - sometimes though not that much more than a discounted one - but for some at least the flexibility is priceless.
And there are also I believe online discounts in 1st class as well. Oh well that is my take anyway thru years of traveling on Italian trains.
Here's another try!
<Here's a picture of 2nd class on the fast train.> (From kybourbon's post above)
This is a staged promo photo of Trenitalia when brand new cars were rolled and does not typify 2nd class IME on high-speed trains in general and if kybourbon would show a similar photo for first class you would see a key difference between first and second class -
first class has three seats in a row not 4 - and has what to me are priceless - isolated seats with a window and an aisle - and couples can have such seats facing each other with a nice table in between - no dealing with others having to get out to go to the loo or snackbar, etc. and obviously a lot more room for luggage as there are about 25% fewer seats in the same size train car - voila much more room for luggage.
I have ridden many many high-speed trains and there is a significant difference between classes - one reason many Italians gladly pay extra for the extra comfort.
Some folks here, for whatever reason, like to say there is no difference between classes and it is foolish to pay even one more euro for first class - may experience tells a different story - on the trip of a lifetime and with lots of luggage go first class -
plus with the discounted 2nd class tickets they are in practice not changeable nor refundable - if you want to wait until you are there to decide when to travel then yes a full fare ticket will cost more - sometimes though not that much more than a discounted one - but for some at least the flexibility is priceless.
And there are also I believe online discounts in 1st class as well. Oh well that is my take anyway thru years of traveling on Italian trains.
Sep 25th, 2015, 12:56 PM
#30
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,969
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have just ridden 6 Italian trains in a week with luggage. I now see an additional reason to travel light. There seems to me a quantum jump in tourists with enormous cruise size luggage getting onto trains. They take so much time getting onto trains that they block narrow platform area such as tunnel platforms in CT or at narrow strip between the platform edge and stairs. By being able to host luggage above my head, I could walk through huge luggage blockages to get to my car. While 1st class cars have more space, they are not enough to accommodate everyone carrying 26" wheelies or larger.
