Questions about regionale trains
 

1. What is the difference between Regionale trains and Regionale Veloce?
2. In major stations I know you have to validate your ticket before boarding. In very small countryside stations* will there also be validation machines on the platform? (If not, what does one do about validation?)
3. In very small countryside stations* is there likely a place to buy tickets? If not, what options exist?

* Specifically with reference to Capalbio

I've searched both the Trenitalia and seat61 websites and can't find the answers to the above.

Regarding validation, while I can't answer your specific question, I do know from experience that if you cannot, or forget to, validate your ticket, you can write a validation on the ticket, the time and date you got on the train. I learned this from a local lady sitting near me when I forgot and she showed me.

1. I'm not sure there really is a difference unless the regional trains are older than the regional veloce. While veloce means fast, it doesn't translate in this instance to faster trains (some rv are slower than a train designated regional on the same route). Neither will have any amenities.

2. You have to validate regional tickets, not IC or Frecce tickets. Regional tickets aren't for a specific train or specific time. IC and Frecce tickets you are buying a specific seat on a specific train and those tickets get checked on board. Even small stations will have somewhere to validate. If it's out of order, find some train personnel ASAP and get them to validate.

3. Not always although there might be a ticket machine (sometimes out of order). You need to find a nearby store that sells them. Look for a cafe, news stand, hotel, etc. that has the Trenitalia logo displayed in the window.

Do keep in mind that these small stations served by regional trains are mostly pull through stations. Trains are often scheduled for only 1 minute stops. You must be ready to jump on or off. If you are getting off somewhere with such a short stop, you need to be at the door with your luggage ahead of the stop. The train will not be waiting for you to gather belongings and make your way there. It helps to know the stops/times (available on Trenitalia) for your particular train so you can be ready to get off.

Regionale veloce trains stop at fewer stations along a given route than regionale trains. At least from my limited experience in Umbria, you will find validation machines at even smaller stations. We also found ticket machines at unmanned stations but opted to buy tickets at a tabacchi (tobacco shop) in town. We also bought tickets for a couple of the routes we expected to take at the Trenatalia station at the airport in Rome. Since regional tickets are good for two months there was no concern buying them a bit in advance.

Hopefully someone with more experience with Italian train travel experience will chime in.

Wiki says the regional veloce are supposed to stop at fewer stations, but when you look at schedules on certain routes, doesn't always seem to the be case.

From Trenitalia wiki:

***Regional trains[edit]

Trenitalia regional train
Regional trains travel within an Italian region or between neighboring Italian regions. Trains usually stop at all stations, thus connecting small centers to cities. Regionale veloce (fast regional train) are trains stopping at fewer stations.***

Trenitalia lists Capalbio as having a ticket machine.

>>>Since regional tickets are good for two months there was no concern buying them a bit in advance.<<<

True if buying them there. If you buy online from Trenitalia, they are for the specific day you select and you have a 4 hour window to use them from the time of day you select. Trenitalia only sells them online 7 days in advance.

thanks for your prompt response ... all was helpful

we'll be in better shape than when we flew into Dresden a couple of years ago. At the travel counter at the airport we bought tickets for the train into Dresden ... a train was getting ready to leave, we frantically looked around for the validation machine, couldn't see it, so got on anyway.

The cars were sort of bi-level with most seating upstairs and a little standing room downstairs at the door. With our luggage we just stood there ... a German w/ a bike was there too, and 2 or so others. ... And the inspector showed up.

We were the first he approached. My wife tried to explain in poor travelers' German and showed him our freshly bought tickets. He tried some English, but it was as bad as our German. I think he gave up and just warned us not to do it again ... anyway, he went on to the others.

The guy with the bike didn't have something right with his ticket, they discussed and the guy waved in our direction (I speculate that he would be saying "you let them off") so the inspector shook his head resignedly and moved on. The other couple also tried the same trick ... the inspector got angry, a lot was said, but he again shook his head, shrugged, and went on upstairs.

I'm not sure if we'd have the same luck in Italy (although it sounds from other posts that many Italians would have fled).

Whether or not a ticket requires validation has absolutely NOTHING to do with the size of the rail station (" In major stations I know you have to validate your ticket before boarding") and has EVERYTHING to do with whether or not the ticket is good for ONE specific date and time. If it is, that will be printed on the ticket so there is no need to validate it regardless of which station you get on at.

All that validation machine does is act like a time and date stamp.

I've never seen any difference, on the routes I use, between regionale and regionale veloce. Both make the same stops.

When I'm planning a departure from a small station, I buy the tickets in advance at a larger station.

Smaller stations are more likely to have broken ticket machines, I know I seem to find them a lot when I'm taking a break from riding a bike, stations are seldom in the centre of smaller towns so there is not even a Tabbachi close by. Ticket inspectors are seldom a happy bunch. So smile the moment you see, them walk towards them and start with "mi dispiace ma" I'm sorry but.