Trains in Italy: First vs. Second class
 

Please fill me in on the differences and if it's worth it to go 1st class.

Thanks!

For me it depends on the type of train.

On an ES trains, I find 2nd class perfectly comfortable, better than most airline coach seats. 1st class has a little more room. All ES tickets come with seat reservations, so there's no scrambling for empty seats.

On IC trains, I usually opt for 1st class. IC tickets have optional reserved seats for a fee, so there is scrambling for empty seats--less scrambling in 1st class. If my trip is more than and hour, I'll pay the few euros extra to reserve a seat.

I would agree with ellenem, with the exception of travelling at busy periods (Christmas/New Year, Easter, Ferragusto especially). The trains become very crowded and it's well worth the extra euro for the guaranteed seat and comfort. Have a look at my "italy by train and bus" pages for more ideas:

http://www.hidden-italy.com/trains/train01.html

and do mail with your impressions please!

Peter

Peter,

At holiday time i would do as you describe--reserving a seat a few days ahead.

Hi d,

For less than 4 hr, I go 2 cl.

((I))

bookmarking... =)

First class seats are larger and comfier. And it is likely to be much less crowded - so more room for you and your luggage to spread out. Second class is fine, but it likely to be quite full - so you get your seat and your little luggage area on the rack.

If traveling with luggage we always do first. If doing a short trip - an hour or less, we do second.

the cost between the two is minimal.

Based upon my experience, 2nd class equals a much larger share of boisterous teenagers, small children running up and down the aisle and crying babies.

Recently we went first class from Milano to Ancona, almost five hours. It was fantastic - lots of legroom, really comfy seats, great big windows with a wonderful view and power sockets for the laptop.

And it wasn't even a Eurostar!

On some Intercity trains, first class may be a small enclosed section of one car, perhaps only 6 or 8 seats, usually air conditioned. There have been times when we've paid for first class, taken one look at that compartment jammed with 4-6 people already and too many pieces of luggage, and chosen to sit in the less-populated second class area in the same car. The ticket-checkers think we're nuts, but honestly we're more comfortable with some space around us. Generally speaking, though, we choose first class if the journey is 3-4 hours or more and definitely if the weather is very warm.

Wow! Thanks for all the great advice!

Sounds like i'll try for the first class, since we'll definitely have luggage. I hope it's not too much more since there are four of us.

Peter, that site had a lot of great tips. thanks for sharing it.

topping for Urbs

dina4 - Some trains don't have a class selection or reserved seats. It will depend on your route.

No problem dina4 - keep popping your questions here or you're most welcome to contact me via the site ("Contacts").

Everyone says you need a reservation, but how much in advance do you need these? If I'm travelling on a Saturday morning on May 16 from Rome to Siena and and buy the ticket on a Thursday evening May 14 at the train station at the airport when I get into Rome, will that work? Is a day ahead usually enough? Is there a difference in the advance one needs for first class versus second class?

Confused Richard

You can buy your tickets right up til departure time. That's what I did in Milan. I'm glad I didn't buy my tickets online from Milan to Florence. My flight was delayed 13 hours. As for first class-I always pay the extra 5-8€ to ride in first class. It's less crowded.

It's not really that the trains is less crowded for AV or ES trains because it's all reserved seats only so there won't be people standing in the aisles or anything like that. The difference in 1st and 2nd is 1st has 3 (2+1) seats across and 2nd has 4(2+2) so there is a little more space. It's also more than 5-8E on the fast trains (AV or ES), more like 15-20E.

thanks, but i did post this a year ago.
hopefully someone else will find this info helpful.

btw, i think if anyone would be perfectly happy in either. the difference is not as extreme as it is on an airplane.

oh, and when we bought last minute tickets from milan to florence, the first class amica (which was available) was about the same price as the second class full fare (which was all that was left), so we sat in first class.

we took 2nd class (amica fare bought ahead of time via email through am exp office in rome) from rome to salerno and were perfectly happy with them.