Slow or fast train Bologna to Santa Margherita Ligure?
Apr 7th, 2010, 04:53 AM
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Slow or fast train Bologna to Santa Margherita Ligure?
Doing research at trenitalia, I find that you can either change trains in Milan, in which case the trip takes 3h 40min, or you can take a slow train which goes directly and takes 4h 44min. You pay a fraction of the prize. Does anyone have any experience with this particular stretch? We're going in the beginning of July, so heat might be an issue. Grateful for all comments.
Apr 7th, 2010, 05:12 AM
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We've done this trip. We took the slow train (but in April not in the height of summer). Coming back we got on the fast train by mistake and we were charged to upgrade our tickets! I think we paid for a full return on the fast train in the end.
An expensive mistake and we didn't notice much of a difference apart from the shorter journey time and fewer platform stops.
An expensive mistake and we didn't notice much of a difference apart from the shorter journey time and fewer platform stops.
Apr 7th, 2010, 12:33 PM
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I don't see any slow direct regionale trains. I see you can take a regionale to Parma, switch to a train to La Spezia, and switch to another train to SML. These 2 transfers allow 15 minutes to change trains in both Parma and La Spezia.
The problem with the slow trains in that they often seem to be "in ritardo" (late). The faster trains take precidence and the slow train may be shunted off to the side to let them pass. So if your first train is late 20 minutes, the schedule is out the door, and you may spend quite a while sitting on the platform waiting for the next one, and subsequently for the next one. So if you choose this option, print out the schedules for the next trains as well, and have a Plan B.
The problem with the slow trains in that they often seem to be "in ritardo" (late). The faster trains take precidence and the slow train may be shunted off to the side to let them pass. So if your first train is late 20 minutes, the schedule is out the door, and you may spend quite a while sitting on the platform waiting for the next one, and subsequently for the next one. So if you choose this option, print out the schedules for the next trains as well, and have a Plan B.
