I have put off getting my train ticket from Bologna to Bellagio (well, really Varenna, then ferry) until arriving next week in Bologna next Monday but am now concerned that I may have trouble getting a seat. I checked trenitalia and it looks like only the 10:15am eurostar has seats and all else is not available. RailEurope seems to have seats/reservations on other trains. I either want to leave Bologna around 10am or on the 12ish train.

Suggestions? I arrive in Bologna a week from Monday but many travel agencies will be closed because of the holiday and that next week.......If i do RailEurope, should I do 2nd class---and is that a seat as well as reservation? I'm in a confused state of mind so thanks for help!!

If I understand prperly you intend to travel on Monday August 16.

I have looked at both Trenitalia and the excellent Swiss site http://fahrplan.sbb.ch/bin/query.exe/en?

I see no 10.15 train but no problem with seats.

There are trains every xx.40

You can buy your ticket in the train station at Bologna. I am seeing a 10:40 departure and change in Milan to a regional train and arrive in Varenna at 13:23. I have never bought my tickets in advance.

the trains from Milan-Varenna run every two hours; don't bother with First on that segment..not worth it and buy tix at the train station in Milan for that portion if necessary

Thanks to you both---I stated things incorrectly I am going from Bologna to Verona on the 18th and that was what was showing lack of availability..... I go to Varenna from Verona on the 20th but it was the Bologna-Verona portion I was questioning buying in advance online.

Sorry for the confusion on my part!

There are ES trains from Bologna to Milan twice an hour all day long - the 10:40 will not sell out.

The train from Milan to Varenna is a regional train - impossible to sell out.

Most of the trains you see from Bologna to Verona are regional trains - that's the reason you see N/A on trenitalia.

You can't buy tickets more than 7 days in advance online, assuming you could buy online in the first place. There are no reserved seats on regional trains, so it's impossible for them to sell out.

On Trenitalia, enter a date within 7 days for all the train schedules/prices to show. It will not show regional prices past 7 days. They will say N/A even though the trains are available.

Great info---now I know why it shows N/A and will buy there. Thanks for the answers and am all set now.