I purchased a round trip train ticket from Milano Central to Monterosso in May 2015. I have received an order confirmation in email with the the booking Code(PNR), date and time of the train schedule. I also have reserved a seat and the seat # was included in the confirmation. Question: Do I have to reserve this train ticket? If so, where and when do I complete the reservation? Do I have to validate the eticket? For example, we have a eticket for an air flight, we do have to check in and get a boarding pass. So is there a process to check in for Train ride? Appreciate in advance for any help.
Posted by
San Francisco
993 posts
Someone more knowledgeable will chime in I'm sure, but if I remember correctly, if you have the printout with the PNR code and your seat number, you just get on, no validating or check in. Then at some point in the trip the conductor will come around and ask you for it, you show it, he scans it (I think) and you are done!
If there is a regional leg you may have do something with that - we didn't have any pre-booked regionals, so not sure.
Kim
Posted by
San Francisco
993 posts
oh and don;t forget to try and find out the ENDING destination for your whole train - that is what will likely be marked, no necessarily where you are getting off... Milan I would guess will say Milan, but Monterosso may say something else.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11339 posts
PNR is all you need.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Nothing to reserve or validate, you are good to go.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
You have a date, time, train number, car number, and seat number assigned and, if you got a discount on the ticket, your options to change it are limited. Look for that car number on the outside of the train before boarding. A conductor will come around to check your e-ticket after the train is underway. Most trains don't have any check-in procedure. See also http://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation/trains/getting-on-the-right-train.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thanks everyone for your help.
Posted by
Tampa, FL, USA
1054 posts
Just printout that email. Over the summer I saw several people had the pnr code on their phone and that worked too.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
I've seen people show the ticket on their phones, too, but I am too cowardly not to take a printed copy.
Posted by
693 posts
I would say 80% plus of the Italian passngers use their phone. I like to carry a paper copy in case my phone is lost or damaged during my travels:)
Posted by
Chicago
1949 posts
Just did this earlier in the month. Milano Centrale to Florence SMN, then to Salerno--had the printout with the PNR code and (I believe) that square box with dots (very technical!) that they scanned. I had it on my phone too, but I gave the guy the hard copy. No problem.
If I remember correctly, the PNR code came in a separate EMail from Trenitalia. Just to be safe, I printed everything out, all correspondence from them, including the itinerary.