Rail travel from Florence to Rome
 

I plan to take a train from Florence to Rome on a Friday evening in the fall and was wondering if I can be spontaneous about buying that ticket to allow freedom for when I want to head to Rome or if the high speed trains will fill up on a Friday night going into Rome? Just don't want to have to be locked into a departure time just in case I'm having so much fun in Florence that I want to head to Rome on a later train. I was planning on noting all the departures times from 5 pm onwards and then based on how my last day in Florence goes, just show up to the station about 30 minutes before my desired departure to buy a ticket. Can I do that?

Sure it's possible you may end taking a local which takes about 15-30 minutes longer but in any case train trip is appx 2-21/2 hours. However I would just pick up a open ticket on either the local or the somewhat express trains, unless you want EStar so you don't have to stand in line at the last minute to get it as sometimes the lines are long, slow to move etc.

Don't book in advance, wait till you know what and when you can go. Train connections btw Florence and Rome are plenty.

2 trains an hour most hours - ES trains and i can rarely conceive any problems getting tickets on the spot - just put any angst to rest IME

Actually there would be much more a chance of a train strike in Italy or this region than not being able to get seats on trains that would normally be running IMO

Train strikes seldom occur in the evenings.

You'll be absolutely fine, I cant see it filling up! The train trip is 1hr 40 mins (faster train) and costs 39,90 euro per person one-way. There are plenty of services running between these two cities.

Melissa :o)