Travel by train from Rome to Venice
 

We have bought First Class Tickets from Rome to Venice. What do we do now besides head to the train station...do they have anyone help with luggage? My husband is in a wheel chair, are we assigned seats or is it first come first served???

You have assigned seats if you are on one of the faster trains (it's on your ticket - which car/carrozza and seat numbers). You are on your own with luggage though some of the larger stations have some help but you probably need to arrange in advance.

I've seen porters at the Rome train station so you may get lucky. If there are no porters I'm sure you can find someone (another passenger) to help you get the luggage on the train.

Is this the first time using trains in Italy? The web site http://www.seat61.com/ gives a comprehensive explanation of how the travel works.

Here are some relevant info for you if you have not traveled on train in Italy.

1. Make sure you go to the correct Rome station. For high speed train, it is Roma Termini. There are other Roma stations.

2. The departure track assignment can be dynamic. Trust only what the digital display at the stations says. To match the correct train, you need the departures time, the train number, the final destination (should be Venezia S.L.) The train number is on your ticket. The track is assigned at least 15-30min before the departure, sometimes earlier for the beginning of the run trains.

3. car/Carrozza number is shown on the digital display next to the car door. They are in sequence. Double check the train info on digital display on the car and the platform.

4. Unfortunately, you need to climb steps to get into the train.

5. If you have not more than carry-on size luggage, you can keep your luggage behind/above the seat. Otherwise, you have to leave them unattended at the end of the car. For this reason, the recommendation for those traveling by train is to travel light.

6. Sometime during the trip, a fare inspector comes and check your tickets.

I have seen freelance luggage handlers at Termini station. They are not Trenitalia employees although they wear clothes that look like Trenitalia uniform and are quite aggressive trying to grab your luggage hoping to hit you with high fees later on.

Hi Carrol,

here's a link to a site about disabled travel in Rome -

http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/accessible/rome/index.htm

if you google the subject, there are other sites too. Hopefully you can find some info about how to negotiate the trains without falling prey to the folks mentioned by greg.

have a great trip!

Hi CH,

As noted, your ticket has the number of the carriage and the seat printed on it.

There are no porters at Italian train stations. There are people wearing what appear to be uniforms offering to help with luggage. They will charge you.

In general, they are not unsafe to use.

Your husband will have to negotiate about 3 steps to get from the platform onto the train. Then you will have to get the wheelchair onto the train.

I have seen spaces near the entrance where people who use wheel chairs can sit in their own chairs.

Enjoy your visit.

((I))

There are official Trenitalia porters at some of the larger stations. The info is on Trenitalia, but in Italian. I think it has to be arranged in advance. I'm in Italy now, but using an IPod touch so it's not easy for me to look up.

Hey KY,

>There are official Trenitalia porters at some of the larger stations.<

Live and learn.

Information is at
http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...003f16f90aRCRD

((I))

http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...003f16f90aRCRD
is specifically for "disabled passengers"