Navigating Italy’s Trains
 

On Oct 8th I arrive Frecciarossa into Firenze SM Novella station @ 11:40AM and depart Regionale train at 11:53 to La Spezia. I am nervous about the 13 minute connection time. Any advise on how to get info on the regional connection track # and quickly navigating the station to make that connection.

Any advice would be helpful. It’s listed as a legal connection from Venezia/ Firenze connecting to Firenze/La Spezia. Appreciate your feedback.

Just check the board. Make sure you're looking for the train number and not the city name. Boards show the last stop on the train's run which can be different.

It's not a tiny station but it's not that large either. If you're Frecciarossa is on time you won't have to rush.

btw if you have a smartphone with internet download the TrenItalia app. If you plug in the train number into the search bar it'll show you if it's on time and the expected track. Obviously when you get off the train check the boards just in case it's been changed.

Two tips -

- before arriving in Florence walk the whole length of the train to the head so you will be at the point nearest to the end of the platform.
- immediately turn right and walk to those platforms at the end of the station - one of those will be the departure platforms for La Spezia

And since it's a regional train if you miss one you can always hop on the next ones as seat reservations are not possible so always can board. But you should be fine as others say - best to also ask the conductor which track that train will be on.

Excellent advice, thank you very much! Can you and have you left luggage in locker at La Spezia? Is it secure?

There are more to it to your train connection.
The 11:53am Firenze S.M.N. to La Spezia Regionale happens to be a no change train. Next such train is two hours later at 13:53. You can find it out all at Acquista il biglietto con le nostre offerte - Trenitalia.
If you miss the 11:53am train, the next few trains going you direction requires a change in train at Pisa Centrale.
If you end up taking the 12:28 train from Firenze S.M.N,, then not only that you have to get off at Pisa Centrale, the next train to La Spezia at that point is 13:42 IC train which your Regionale train ticket does not cover. If you want to travel with your ticket, you need to wait until the 13:54 Regionale.

Regarding track number. The most up-to-date info is the one shown on digital display at the Firenze S.M.N. There are published "usual" tracks, but that is just that. A phone up would tell schedule track assignment, but that changes depending on the availability of the track at the time your train is in the station. What a ticket inspector on your first leg train can tell you is the "usual" track. But the actual track can change during last 5-10 minutes before your next train arrives. The track info gets even more last minutes your next train is not arriving into Firenze S.M.N on time.

Freccia trains "tend" to keep the hours while Regionale seem to ever fall behind the schedule as it travels.

Left-luggage is secure as it is manned by staff who manually take it from you but still never leave anything really valuable in it - if something does come up missing - a rarity IME - you have no proof of anything. Take anything of value in your day pack. check Acquista il biglietto con le nostre offerte - Trenitalia for left-luggages at stations - Pisa Centrale supposedly has left luggage so if you want to break your journey - always possible on regional tickets I believe and take a cab to Leaning Tower and back can do - but book a slot if want to ascend it.

If you miss the 11.53 train, take just the 12.28 train to Pisa and change there to another Regionale dp 13.34 and you will arrive at La Spezia at 14.54.
The best connection would have been Venice dp 8.42 - La Spezia ar 14.32, with changes at Bologna and Parma (Fare 29 EUR).

Why left luggage in La Spezia Centrale? Curious.

so so when we exit train and turn right at end of platform the regional trains are that end of
platform?

Yes - those on the right ( coming off the trains basically go west and those on the left go east - Pontassieve, Arezzo etc). Of course, standing in the station looking at the trains the situation is reversed. When you get off the train and walk right you will see a large listing of trains and you should see the exact track from which your train departs.

In view of the short connection time you must have already acquired your ticket which you can download by sms to your phone. Otherwise you will have a problem as the queues at the Firenze SMN station are often long and move slowly and also the automatic ticket machines, whereas quick if you are familiar with them can be incredibly slow if one is unfamiliar with them.

Yes. I have purchased a ticket and have a paper ticket with barcode.

Great - you are more than half way there! Hope all goes well.

From Siena to Rime - Best to return rental ti airport and taxi to SM No Ella station for fast train or option return to Chiusi?

I cannot understand your query

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Sorry, will have home base in Siena for few nights before heading to Rome. Best to drive our rental to Florence airport and drop, taxi to SM Novella train station for high speed to Rome? Or drive from to Siena to Chiusi to drop car/take regional train to Rome?

There are about 15 daily regional train connections between Siena and Rome. Journey time 3-4 hrs. Fare 17 EUR. Change at Chiusi or Grosseto.
There are furthermore 11 direct Siena - Rome buses. Journey time about 3hrs, fare about 18 EUR.

neckervd's suggestion is too complicated and too long.

Drive to Chiusi and leave car. Train to Rome is just under 2 hours but does not involve changes, nor a taxi.

Yes Chiusi where car rental returns are near station mainly and yes dirt-cheap regional trains - no seat reservations so never full - if 1st class is available I'd pay the relatively extra to use it on regional trains.