Depending on where you are going, the train might reverse itself so that forward Facing seats become backwards facing seats at some point. It happened to us on a Frecciargento train from Venice to Rome. The train reversed in Florence. Not so good for a motion sick person like me!

Here is a photo I took three days ago in 2nd class on a Frecciargento train from Venice to Rome.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...eat=directlink

People in every seat? Bags all over the place? In your fantasies, Palenq! I was the only person in a group of four seats.

I didn't want to intrude on anyone's privacy, so I took the photo at an angle that missed most of the faces, and blurred the one face that was visible. I think you can see that the passengers have plenty of leg room and that the seats are comfortable.

Here's a photo of a 1st class car that I took on the same train. I was seated in the bar car when I took it. The seats don't look much different to me except for that so-called "leather".

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...eat=directlink

This car was even more empty than the 2nd class car, because people like me vastly outnumber people who waste their money on 1st class.

so there goes one picture on one train and that is supposed to represent all trains in general - the pure blatant misinformation for whatever reason on the singificant difference between classes continues.....???

Note the angle of the first-class photo - purposefully maybe not showing the rows with one seat in them - the MAJOR difference between classes - a MAJOR difference for many like me who want an aisle and a window seat and not have to bother anyone else to get up and roam around, etc.

bvienci is a world of info on trains fares but in her words the difference between classes is only a few extra inches is so so off the mark - again the single row seats are to me and many much much more preferable and that is a significant difference of more than just 'a few extra inches of seat"!

I suggest that the fact that that 2nd class train car was so sparsely filled was an anomolay - yet bvienci tries to portray that is how every 2nd class car should be expected to be - so so off the mark - try to get a discounted ticket a couple of days apart on mainline trains and there often are not any and even not any at full price - enough said.

Palenq, you complained about KYBourbon's "stock" photo, so I gave you a real photo. Then you complain that mine represents only one day. Really, it's ridiculous. It's one day in high season, on the most heavily-beaten tourist route in Italy.

I don't go around taking photos every time I ride a train. I took all the photos at an angle to avoid invading the privacy of travelers. If someone wants to know what a single seat looks like, hold a piece of paper over the second seat.

In both directions that day, including on the more crowded morning train, I had two whole seats to myself, which is even better than a single seat. Of course that can't be guaranteed, but neither can a single seat, since two-thirds of the seats in 1st class are double seats. Anyway, if I had a seat companion, it wouldn't have been a bit of bother to me.

I got an economy fare in one direction even though I bought the tickets the day before travel. I've only once in 20 years encountered a train that was totally sold out, and that was on New Year's Eve going into Rome. And I've never been crowded on a Freccia train.

I don't usually buy tickets far enough in advance to get deep discounts. I don't mind paying full price to maintain my flexibility. It's a much better expenditure than paying 30% to 50% more for first class.

I'll be on a Frecciarossa train in a few weeks, and I'll try to take a few photos on that one as well.

To go back to one of your earlier blatherings, a 1st class rail pass won't get you on any of these trains unless you also pay €10 for a reservation.

Wow! Lots of advice and opinions. Thanks for the advice re trains, seating and the fact that you will not know which way the train is going. We've booked our seats facing each other and are happy with the train time and cost. Italy here we come!

Yes good remark about trains changing directions when they go into a terminal station like Florence S M N - the train goes in but has to reverse directions going out - this happens at only a few stations but you both may be going forward and backward 9and switch seats if it bugs one of yous too much!

Then you complain that mine represents only one day. Really, it's ridiculous. It's one day in high season, on the most heavily-beaten tourist route in Italy.>

OK let's make it clear - this is what someone can expect to find routinely on any high-speed train they may take?

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...eat=directlink

I note the lady with an empty seat to put her bags on and seats at most half full - I wish this would have been a shot down the whole aisle and not just of one tiny section which may, may have been selected to not show the whole train car?

Well I'll say if that is a typical 2nd class train car then yes I am surprised why anyone would pay even one euro extra for first class - but to me I don't believe that is a typical scene on high-speed trains - for example checking recently for trains Venice to Florence for the next day www.trenitalia.com said about half were sold out in 2nd class - enough said! I'll be back in Italy soon with camera in hand and report back.