kak113

Hi all-
I have dropped the ball based on difficulties with the Trenitalia site and not enough time to order from Rail Europe (I think, based on the fact they only seem to have a shipping option). We are arriving in Rome this Monday (volcano permitting) and hope to take the ES train from Rome to Naples and local train to Pompeii on Monday the 26th.

Will I be able to just go buy the tickets at Termini when we arrive since I've waited so long? Can I get a ticket all the way through to Pompeii (including the Circumvesuviana ticket) or do I need to buy that in Naples?

Last question, if I can get one ticket with both stops, is the C ticket good for whatever local train we want vs. a set time? We are thinking of stopping off in Naples for pizza at Da Michele and would prefer to only be locked into the Naples - Rome piece.

Thanks in advance!

rs899

Yes, you certainly can get a ticket in Termini when you arrive. Easiest may be to find one of the self serve kiosks and you can do the transaction in English with your US credit card.

You cannot get a Vesuviana train there as that is a completely different company (not FS)and cannot get a combo ticket. Just get that ticket the morning of your departure from the basement of the FS Station in Piazza Garibaldi in Naples.

And do get the pizza, but be prepared to wait...its worth it.

Fond memories of just 2 weeks ago...

Palenque

Yes with two trains an hour or more to Naples from Rome you will have NO problem getting on trains - i would suggest you buy them as soon as you land in Rome at the airport's train station (the non-stop Leonardo Express from the airport to Rome Termini (main station) also leaves from there - so buy your Rome-Naples return ticket then - easier than doing so at hectic Termini i'd think.

No you can only buy tickets to Naples - the CircumVesuviana train is not part of Trenitalia - tickets to Pompeii cost all of about 2 or 3 euros each way - no seat reservations - commuter train - just hop on - at Naples Centrale follow the signs for the CircumVesuviana - you walk thru some passageways for a few minutes to reach the CircumVesuviana station, adjacent to Naples Centrale but technically a separate station.

You are only locked into the Rome to Naples trains. You want to get off at the Pompeii Scavi train station - right at the entrance to the ruins. There are direct trains from Rome to Pompeii Centrale but that (Trenitalia station) is a mile or two away from the ruins, in the modern town of Pompeii.

You may have to cancel your tickets each way in cancelling machines - i'm not sure so ask when buying if you must before getting on the train.

Capiche?

rs899

You of course have to cancel the FS ticket before boarding, but the Circumvesuviana is a timed ticket , I think it may have been valid for something like 110 minutes. You insert it into a turnstile as you enter the gate area and it is returned back to you stamped and ticking. Also, don't make the mistake we recently did . There is a train to Sarno from Naples. When it is abbreviated on the train board we mistook it for the train to Sorrento , which is where the Pompeii Scavi stop is. Let's just say we had a bit of an adventure getting back to Pompeii....

Rick

Palenque

Yes good tip - the CircumVesuviana trains split, some to Pompeii (Sorrento branch) and some to Sarno and perhaps even another split. Anyway good tip from rs899 about not just hopping on any train at the CircumVesuviana station!