do most trains sell out?

Sure. We have never found a sold out train in the past fifteen years. The regionals and local trains do not take reservation so they can never be sold out. However, you might have to stand and we have only done that once until the next station when so people got off.

I agree with Frank. The only train I've ever seen that was sold out was a Eurostar going from Milan down south to Naples (via Florence, Rome), and that's when I was trying to get a seat about 15 min. before the train left. Another one left in an hour and there were still plenty of seats on it. Also, the Regionals can get crowded, but are never technically sold out. They are mainly crowded around 'rush hour', especially in the afternoon, when locals are leaving out of, say, Florence after work and heading back to their homes just outside of town. After a few stops, the crowd eases up, so if you're having to stand, you can then sit. On such crowded Regional trains, if you really want to avoid the crowd and just sit, usually the 1st class cars are still relatively empty, so you can get a 1st class ticket. But, I'd still just get a 2nd class ticket b/c with the money you'll save, all you have to do is stand for a few stops, which isn't bad at all. You'll still get to wherever you're going at the same time...

what you are thinking is what many people do. Check to make sure you're not traveling on a major holiday, and if not you'll be fine.

Even in summer I have never had any prob in second class. But if you have some time day bef I would schedule and buy your tix anyway. Be xtra aware of Italian holidays. the schedules are shown online to help also you can reserve seats (pay more)if you need many seats together.

You don't need to go to the station to get tickets. Any travel agency that displays the trenitalia logo will sell tickets with no mark ups. If you're out and about and see a travel agency just stop in to buy your tickets. If not, just get to the station a half hour or so before the train leaves to get your tickets.

Donna

If it's on a weekend you may want to buy ahead. We were in the Cinque Terre a few weeks ago and needed to go to Rome. We waited until that day to buy tickets. We could get 2 or 3 seats (split in 1st and 2nd class) but not 4 seats so we would have to go on separate trains.

We ended up getting to Rome much later than we would have liked (after 8:00 p.m.). It made for a long stressful day. After that experience, we purchased tickets a few days in advance if it was on a weekend. Our train from Florence to Rome was packed on a Saturday.

Unless it is a holiday or the day of or day following a transit strike, you should be OK. I always get to the train station early and buy my tickets at the automated kiosks located in the lobby. They are multilingual and very easy to use.