This might be obvious but could someone explain to me exactly where I can see train schedules? I looked on the trenitalia sight and saw that I could purchase tickets if I wanted to but I couldn't find the schedule link and I know that I've seen this before because I jotted down some notes. We will be traveling from Venice to Perugia (my notes say 5 hours), then Perugia to Rome (3 hours) , and Rome to Naples (2 hours), then on into Positano either by bus or ferry. I 'm trying to gauge check out/check in times and travel times so I know we will be "on time" so to speak. And what type of train would we be taking?

Hi G,

http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...0080a3e90aRCRD

May I suggest taking the train to Salerno and the ferry to Positano? Saves the ride on the Circumvesuviana and a SITA bus.

For Ferry schedules Positano – Amalfi - Salerno (P.zza della Concordia):
See http://tinyurl.com/3cbhkb

http://www.ferroviedellostato.it/homepage_en.html

In the box on the left side, in red "Tickets," type in the cities, date and approximate time and click "Send." Timetable results will appear in a new window. Unless there's a big difference in the duration of the journey, I'd just pick the departure or arrival time that works for you. You'll see on the results page, under "1st class" and "2nd class," that there are fare differences if that matters.

Ira and I have sent you to the same source for timetables, although the web pages look slightly different.

Ira-it is because of an earlier post that we are DEFINITELY thinking of the train to Salerno and ferrying into Positano. Breathtaking arrival by sea... Thank you so much for the link(s), I was just not able to see schedules and will look once again.
Jean-I was on the ferrovie site too and just couldn't navigate. I'll go back and try again, thank you!!!

There's no general listing for an all-day schedule. You must act as is you're booking a train, inputting your departing and arriving stations, choosing a date and time to generate a schedule for those choices. Once you have a schedule, at the bottom of the page you can click on previous or next to see trains that depart earlier or later than those listed.

HELP! Ira, Jean & ellenem-I was able to see schedules and fares for our Venice/Perugia leg, and also for the Rome/Salerno leg, but when I tried to click on purchase for the Perugia/Rome leg I got a message saying these tickets were not purchasable. This leg of the train travel will happen on a Sunday (Sept. 20th). What does this mean? I tried every train that day and none were purchasable...yikes!

It means that it is a regional (R) train and you can't purchase online--no need to purchase before the day you plan to go. It's a slower train that has no reserved seats. Seats can't sell out because none of them are reserved--just get on and find an empty seat. You buy a ticket for Perugia to Rome for an R train and you can get on ANY R train that goes between Perugia and Rome.

If you haven't already seen this, here's a very helpful link to Slow Travel's excellent explanation f the Italian train system.

http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/trains/index.htm

You can purchase R trains online if it's within 7 days and if Trenitalia would accept US credit cards (it doesn't). If you want to get the price of those trains, just enter a date withing the next 7 days.

Hi G,

>Aug 14, 09 at 11:27 PM<

Although there have been reports by some posters of using "virtual CCs", in general Trenitalia isn't equipped to accept non-European CCs.

Use the website to determine which trains you want. Buy all of your tickets at the first train station when you arrive in Italy.

Enjoy your visit.

Bless you ellenm! I thought perhaps I would have to figure out where else we could turn in the rental car! Whew! Thank you for the link on slow trav, I will read through it later today.
KYbourbon-yes, I was trying to ball park trains fees to add that cost into my budget and I will do that. I found a great link on webitalia that explains how to purchase i biglietti at la ferrovie, but I could have sworn the guy said you could use a credit card. I'm going to check that again since it means more cash I will need.
Ira-I like your idea of planning ahead and purchasing them all upon arrival at the first station in Venice. It makes a lot of sense.
Thank you all for soothing my panic of being stuck in Perugia on a Sunday and missing 7:15 P.M. vespers (hoping for Gregorian chanting)at Sant Anselmo!

galelstorm,

AND SO

If you buy tickets in Venice for a Reginale train from Perugia to Rome as ira suggests, you can take the next R on the schedule, depending on when you turn in the car since you don't have a commitment to a reserved seat on a specific train. This is another good reason to print the schedules you generate for Perugia-Rome so you know your options if your timing changes.

If I plan to travel later in the day, I always advance through the schedules to verify when the last possible train leaves so I know the possibilities if something goes wrong.

The problem with U.S. credit cards is at the website only. At travel agencies, train station ticket counters and train station ticket machines in Italy you can use your U.S. credit card with no problem.

The major train stations have touchscreen ticket machines with English. You can use your credit card in most of these machines. A few will be cash only machines and will be signed as such.