Frustration trying to buy Italian rail tickets online!

If you had spent any time researching this question on this site you would have found that it is impossible for Am to buy tickets on line. However, the good news is that you should have no problem buying once in Italy. The exception could be Easter weekend but you indicted earlier April. You will be find waiting.

Hi Lynn,

As Kent has mentioned, this is a common problem reported here.

Will you be spending a few days in Rome (or indeed, anywhere in Italy) before you depart on the train? You can reserve your tickets once you land in Italy, at any Italian train station or at a travel agent. Additionally, if you are in any European country in advance of your travels you can often make reservations from a major train station, even though it is in a different country.

Apparently you can buy tickets online from Trenitalia with an American credit card (Visa or Master Card) see:
www.ricksteves.com/rail/comparetickets.htm#web (Buying Tickets from European Web Sites - And a less usefull Website, Italy)which says "Ticketless" online reservations require online payment, but the site only accepts credit cards if you have set up a "3D" security system, such as Verified by Visa or MasterCard SecureCode. Those plans require you to activate and use an additional password for all online purchases."

I would like to try it but I'm also having problems with VISA getting my card registered. I input the name on my card, ssn, phone number and the screen says the answers are not valid, yet both VISA and my card issuer says that information is correct.

Has anyone been able to register their card with VISA and used it to purchase tickets fro Trenitalia?

I'm not sure what you mean by "registering with visa". The 3D security system is done via the bank that issues your card. For example, I recently bought an HDTV via an online retailer. After I gave the retailer my card number, I was immediately redirected to my bank's website and it asked me to answer a special question that I had already setup; after I entered that, the transaction was approved. Thus, you need to have access to your bank's credit card website, and your bank has to participate in the "3d system". I haven't tried this with Trenitalia so I can't vouch if any of this will work with train tickets.

(I hope this post isn't too "negative")

Goto https://usa.visa.com/personal/security/vbv/index.html and you will see what I mean by activating and registering a VISA card for Verfified by Visa (3d security).

Ahh, I was able to that same thing via my own bank's website. It will probably work if you do it that way-look for the "verified by Visa logo".

I agree with Kent in that I would just wait until you get over there to buy your train tickets. It's never been a problem for me.

Enough about how to enroll in verified by VISA, VISA is supposedly talking to my credit Union. I did go to my credit unions' website found Verified by Visa, clicked on it and it took me to a VISA website showing merchants who participate and and an activate button.

Normally I would agree with you about waiting to get to Italy to purchase tickets but I would like to purchase some of my tickets early , namely for May 1 as it is one of the busiest travel days of the year.

So has anyone who has successfully registerd with Verified by Visa been able to purchase tickets from TrenItalia?

My problems with VISA and my Credit union were straightened out. I was able to purchase 2 tickets from Asti to Venice (2nd class Amica fare of course), from Trenitalia's website. I had registered with Trenitalia in 2007.

Congrats William, you've done what many had considered impossible:) Looks like "verified by Visa" will work with TrenItalia!

(There is no way this a "negative" post!)

Thanks for sharing that, William. Could you please tell us what kind of problems you had to "straighten out" in order to get your card working?

I tried to register a card from one credit union, and I found out that didn't participate in the Verified by Visa program. The second card from a diffent credit union (who does participate) had a security code different from VISA records, so the credit union issued a new card. Apparently, and I still don't know which ,there was a diffenece in one of VISA's file with my name as on the card, my ssn, or my phone number. When I got an error message that my info was inncorrect, I called Verified by Visa, I gave them my data over the phone and they said it was correct to call my credit Union. I called the Credit Union and they verified what I had input. So I called VISA Global customer service who was no help. I emailed VISA explaining my problem and they sent a canned email back explaining the program and nothing about my problem. I replied to their email, I understand the program, how about my problem. Visa responded that they would contact my credit Union and that my credit Union would call me. Somehow they straightened it out and my card is good to go.

I am not from the US, I am actually from Trinidad and I ran into the same difficulty with my mastercard not being approved. I tried several times and received an email stating the following:

Dear Customer,

the transaction has not been authorised by the payment circuit.

You can request authorisation to buy on the site of Trenitalia with your credit card by sending the documentation indicated below, by either fax (06/44104036) or e-mail (areaclienti@trenitalia.it):
- the content of this email,
- your User ID,
- a contact telephone number,
- the photocopy/scan of a valid identity document of the person associated to the User ID,
- the photocopy/scan of the tax code number

Within 48 hours you will receive the outcome of your request on your e-mail address.

I sent the required info by email (minus the tax code number as that is for Italians) and they authorised my account in a few days--not the 48 hours that they promised. After that I was able to buy my tickets.

Hope this works for you.

Please see my current post on how to do this with your Visa card.

Are you using the Italian rail site? If so, try raileurope.com? I found them easier to deal with, tho not always easy! They are more set up to deal with American travelers, it seemed to me. You can get the English language version.

P.S. If you wait until you get to Rome, check at the airport and see if there's a place for rail tickets, that would be the handiest. Or ask at your htoel when you arrive if there's anywhere nearby. If you go to the main train station, you'll often have to stand in lines which close with no warning!

Lynn,
My husband and I were in Italy in late August/early Sept 2008 and took the train everywhere. This was high tourist time and we bought tickets the day before we left during the entire 2 week period we were there. We had no problems. I think you'll be fine to wait until you get to Italy. Have a great trip!