Regional train tickets on Trainline app

Which countries and which companies? There are probably hundreds of companies in Europe that operate train and there is no general answer to your question.

For the Netherlands I personally wouldn't bother with Trainline. Never had to deal with lines at ticket counters or ticket machines, but most of the time I just used an ov-chpkaart and topped up as necessary. Now, you can also use your contactless debit card -- https://www.ns.nl/en/travel-information/check-in-check-out/debit-card.

Specifically wondering about Trenitalia RE and RV trains as I have a trip to Italy coming up. But for future reference, also curious about Belgian SNCB regional trains.

I wouldn't use Trainline, not a fan of 3rd party operators, but even more, Trainline. I had purchased tickets on Trainline for a trip that had to be cancelled due to COVID. I only purchased that way because I couldn't get the French site to accept payment. I was unable to get a refund. SNCF said I had to contact Trainline, Trainline said that I had to contact SNCF. There in lies the problem with 3rd party operators.

For both Belgium and Italy, the country specific websites and apps are super easy to use. Plus, tickets can be purchased at the station at a kiosk.

For both Trenitalia and Belgium, just download and use the official app for each company. They are easy to use, you can purchase on the fly, all on your phone, no paper tickets, going to a machine, or standing in line.

The only quirk with buying a regional ticket on the Trenitalia app, is that you are buying for a specific train, whereas a paper regional ticket is good for any train on that route for the day, but you validate before boarding. No validation is needed for the ticket on the app, though there were some changes recently that have you verify you are taking the train for the ticket you bought.

Generally, I try to purchase train tickets directly from the operator. However, I used Trainline a few times in August, 2022 in Italy without any problems whatsoever. I found it easy to use and I was able to purchase tickets on the fly while taking day trips from Florence, as well as when I had to buy a last--minute ticket from Rome to Florence.

Slight hiccup for Canadian travelers... the Trenitalia app is not available for Canadians. I suppose the website would work just as well, assuming it accepts Canadian credit cards.

In Italy I just buy tickets from the ticket vending machines. Has always worked without a problem. When you take mass transit in the US do you also use a NA equivalent of Trainline? Or do you just use the ticket machines?

There are countries where carriers do not give commissions for local transport tickets to resellers, and such tickets are not even offered by Trainline. For example, if you make a test booking for Nuremberg to Rothenburg o.d.T., only those few tickets are available where the connections include a long-distance train. For two people, a round trip is then almost four times as expensive as with a ticket from the automat of the VGN (the local carrier) and even less flexible, because the cheapest ticket on offer is train-specific.

WengenK, I usually avoid third party sellers if I can. Even on previous trips to Europe, I have used the machines or kiosk and I have not had a problem thus far. I was simply trying to plan ahead and ascertain whether or not Trainline would be a viable alternative in situations where I could not.

sla019, this is good to know. I have noticed other similar situations in the past where local routes do not appear on Trainline.

I appreciate everyone's comments and advice. It sounds like the consensus is to continue to just purchase tickets directly at the station and if for whatever reason I ever do find myself in a bind, it seems the rail company specific websites (Trenitalia, etc) are the way to go.