Problem with Trenitalia online reservations, please help me!
 

I am trying to reserve a 2 bed compartment on May 20, 2005 from Salerno to La Spezia Centrale.
The schedule is as follows:
Salerno (23:18) to La Spezia Centrale (07:06)
TRAIN #- 1940

I keep getting error messages... we really need to be on this train and we desperately want the 2 bedroom compartment. Can anyone help, PLEASE!!!

My suspicion is that you're one or two days early according to the "no sales until 60 days before" rule; I get NO for any purchase on any train on that date betweeen Salerno and La Spezia.

How odd, it appears that I can get a 2 bedroom compartment on this train:

ICN 768

The price is the same (159,38€) and the time is similar
Salerno 23:39 to La Spezia Centrale 06:59

Is an Express train (my original choice) better than an ICN train?

Hi TA,

Reservations for both trains are working.

Don't pay full fare.

Click the "discounts" button.

Click for your dbl compartment.

Click for the lowest "liberta" fare, even though it appears to be closed.

If it doesn't work, go to the next higher "liberta".

You can get a 1 cl dbl on the E train for 90E.

((I))

Sorry, I was just going to write a correction. It did work for me for the train you had chosen, right up to «Acquista», which I wasn't quite prepared to do...

I unfortunately have no idea what the difference between the two kinds of train is; I've looked for but haven't found an explanation for the fork-lying-sideways symbol.

Texas: you're paying too much. I found a twin sleeper on Espresso train 1940 on 20/5/2005 from Salerno to La Spezia Centrale for a total of 90 Euros for the entire compartment, by selecting "Liberta' di Viaggiare" promotional rate of 45 Euros per person for a twin sleeping compartment. Read the rules and regulations concerning this promotional rate. Don't pay 159 Euros when you can travel for 90!

The ICN train leaving later the same night is nearly equivalent, but it is a little bit faster, and has rail cars with ordinary seats as well as sleeping compartments and couchettes, whereas the EXP train appears to have only sleeping compartments and couchettes.

ira,
Thank you so much for the discount information.
I can get all the way through the process but when I click purchase I get a message saying the number of seats I requested is unavailable.
This is the first day this train has been open for reservations, could it really be full??

I just found the identical promotional fare of 90 Euros for a twin sleeping compartment on ICN 768 on 20/05/2005 between Salerno and La Spezia Centrale.

So it's nearly a toss-up between the ICN and EXP train.

BEWARE: EXP 1940 originates in Palermo. ICN 768 originates in Reggio di Calabria. Both trains may be running late, particularly the Espresso. You might opt for the ICN train.

Thank you also so much GAC. I am getting the 90€ fare, but it just keeps telling me (after I hit the last "purchase" button) that there are not seats available.

I'm wondering... since I am reserving both seats in the 2 bed compartment, could I see if a compartment labeled "uomo" or "donna" is open? Or is that not allowed?

Well, it seems that no matter what gender of a 2 bed compartment I select, I end up with the message saying "We are sorry, the number of seat requested is not available".
This occurs after I am logged in and click the last purchase button.

I got out a calendar and added up the days and if both today and the day of travel are counted, I am 61 days out... however, since the "Buy" icon shows up (this is the first day that it has), I have no idea if this could be why I can't actually purchase.

I will try again at 4:01pm (mountain time) and see if I am able to purchase once it is 12:01am in Italy tomorrow.

Thanks so much to you all. GAC, the origin is very useful information! We will definitely try to book the ICN.

I will post back if I am successful... anyone know what to do if I am not?? A night train really is our only option, I'd just hate to pay the raileurope fees to have someone else do it for me! :-(

Texas: my first choice would be to ask for "compartimento intero". But try the other options as well. Just be sure you end up with a sleeping compartment for two, and NOT a "couchette" compartment for 4 or 6.

Also try the same train the day beforehand, just to test the system.

Alright, I can now get the system to allow me to book the 60€ per person fare, but not the 45€ per person fare even though it shows up as available (I get the now infuriating "We are sorry, the number of seat requested is not available" message when I click the final purchase button).

Should I just go ahead and book the 60€ fare. I don't mind waiting, but it is essential we get on one of these trains and that we have a 2 bed compartment.

P.S. Not to sound obsessive, but this is the seat and coach we would be getting for 60€ each (1st class)

2 bed compartment

Assigned seat in couch 12: 42 , 46


Is there any way to make double sure this is indeed the sleeper compartment we are wanting - it seems weird that the seats are 42 and 46 instead of being next to one another!

Assuming that sleeping compartments beds at 45 Euros have all been sold out, I suppose that you're next best bet is to lock in at 60 Euros, which is still a savings over the regular fare.

Before doing so, I would QUICKLY check the situation one and two days beforehand, to see whether the system seems to be working correctly.

What about the OTHER night train? Is the 45 Euro fare available, or only the 60 Euro fare?

When you purchased this ticket, you should have been show a diagram of the compartment with an upper and a lower bed. If you selected both, and the system responded, you should be OK. Send an e-mail to Trenitalia for clarification.

No, both night trains only work with the 60€ fare...

Unfortunately, now when I wanted to go back and buy the 60€ on the ICN I get a message saying I have reserved too many seats without buying them. Where can I go see these reserved seats (I am sure the ones listed above are in there) and buy them?

By the way, GAC you are a LIFE SAVER!!!!!!!!

I've never encountered this problem. Perhaps if you stay off the website overnight, and try next morning, the 45 Euro compartments will reappear!! Maybe the system is "overloaded" with inquiries for this specific type of accommodation on this specific train on this specific date. Don't hold me to this, however!

I wanted to update all of the kind souls who helped walk me through this process.
I was able to purchase 2 beds in a 1st class 2 bed compartment on the ICN train for 60€ per ticket this morning. It appears that the 45€ tickets must just not be available, but I am still thrilled to have saved almost 40€ on the trip.

Thank you, thank you, thank you again.

Hi TA,

Glad you finally got your tickets.

Those cheap fares sell out fast, don't they?

((I))

Hi ira,

Next time I will set an alarm clock to go off at precisely 12:01am Italian time!