kybourbon

Pazza22 - Sapito's comment is very misleading for those people not familiar with Italian trains. If you are traveling on AV, ES, ICplus trains, crowding is not a factor since you must have a reserved seat to ride.

If you are traveling on other trains (IC, R, D, etc.)there can be crowding with people standing in the aisles. It's not possible to reserve a seat on R or D trains at all, although you can purchase a ticket for 1st or 2nd class cars. That ticket will just allow you on, but not guarantee a seat.

SUMMAGOLD

Thanks for all your posts. Very helpful in planning our latest trip to Italy. Purchasing point to point train tickets makes a whole lot of sense. But, is buying them in advance the way to go? Or are we risking not being able to get on if we just buy them once we get to the train station? I just hate to commit to a time schedule.

dina4

"It’s nice to know I'm not the only one struggling to understand this website."

Me too!!

I am grateful for all these little bits of info that seem very helpful. Am also hopeful that i can figure this out, too.

kybourbon

Slow Trav has a great page explaining trains in Italy with pictures of ticket machines, how to read tickets, how to purchase, etc. Click on the various links (but not the RailEurope one as it's an ad).
http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/trains/index.htm

ira

Hi Sum,

>is buying them in advance the way to go?

If you will be traveling on weekends and holidays.

SUMMAGOLD

hey kybourbon,

thanks for the link. It helps!