Hello,
I would like to know if there is such a thing as "hop on, hop off, and hop back on" trains. I will be traveling to the north of Italy, and I am interested in stopping at some of the towns where the trains stop, spending maybe a 1/2 day, and then get back on the train to continue my travels. Is there such a thing? I'm thinking there isn't, because I can't find anything on the Internet, but would love to hear if there is anything close to what I'm looking for.
Thank you.
All trains are "hop on hop off" providing they stop where you want to go and you have a valid ticket. You need to consult the relevant timetables and see what ticket(s) you need to accomplish this.
All train tickets from Trenitalia or Italo have a specific period of validity, usually 4-6 hours to complete travel to your destination, depending on the length of the journey. So stopping for a half-day could be a problem.
If your train is a fast-train (includes a seat reservation), your ticket is invalid the moment you step off the train.
Just echoing Zoe here; it isn't possible if you have tickets for a train with assigned seats. Tickets for regionale trains with no assigned seats have time limits on them for completing the journey - you have to be off the train by the time that limit runs out - so I don't see it being possible to get from Point A to B, spending 1/2 day shopping, and then re-boarding to get from Point B to C. You'd need to purchase a new ticket.
But regionales are generally very inexpensive so you won't spend much on a new ticket, and it sure beats risking the high price of a fine!
This is a google-translate from the Usage page:
Validation and durability
Travel must be completed within 4 hours of validation, subject to certain exceptions provided for by the specific regional rates.
Tickets purchased online are valid for 4 hours from the start for the selected train and do not require validation.
The traveler who is on the train on the expiry of the ticket validity period can continue the journey already started up at the destination station, without intermediate stops.
Example: You could buy a Regionale ticket from Bologna to Venice, validate it at 7:15 and board the 7:20 departure, get off at Ferrara at 7:49 and visit there for 3 hours, then get back on the 10:51 departure to Venice. As long as you are back on the train before the original validation expires at 11:15, you're OK the rest of the way to Venice if you don't get off the train again.
Look into a train pass rather than point to point tickets. Generally, people find point to point less expensive, but for your purpose a pass may work better. If I understand (remember) correctly, you can get on and off as many times as you want for each day that you use your pass. For instance, if you have a three day pass, you can use it three separate days within a certain timeframe which starts the moment you first use the pass (30 days?).
When using Regionale trains, it does not cost a whole lot more to buy separate tickets for each leg. Only a couple of EUR. Not so much with fast trains. Passes are expensive when compared to the cheap prices of Regionali. Using a pass on the fast trains requires you to get a seat reservation before boarding and often that costs.
The traveler who is on the train on the expiry of the ticket validity
period can continue the journey already started up at the destination
station, without intermediate stops.
Oops, thanks for that correction, Sam. I was pretty sure you had to be off the train by ticket expiration but apparently that's not the case. Good catch!
Regional trains are like commuter trains or city buses. No reservations needed, no seats assigned, they are on a first come first served basis (you may have to stand up if full).
As noted above, Regional train tickets have a validity of 4 hours from the moment you stamp them at the machine before boarding. You must complete the trip within that time.
Also since August last year, when you buy a Regional ticket you must specify the date you will be using that ticket. If you don't use it on that day, the ticket becomes invalid.
Hopping off and on is possible only if the entire trip is completed within 4 hours. Therefore that allows for short stops only along the way.
Freccia trains (high speed) work exactly like airplanes. The ticket is valid for a specific train and you have a specific seat assigned. You can't hop on and off them. You need a separate ticket with seat reservation for each specific high speed train you board.
A rail pass rarely makes sense in Italy, price wise.
But my question is: what's the big deal about buying a separate ticket each time? At the automatic vending machines it takes only seconds.
You must complete the trip within that time.
Roberto, can you further clarify what "complete" means? Does that mean you can get onto a train to your FINAL destination just minutes before your ticket runs out, or do you have to be at that destination and OFF the train by the time it runs out?
Just asking so I don't steer someone wrong as I very possibly did in a prior post. :O(
Under "Validity" (validità) it says that the journey must be concluded within 4 hours..
But then under "intermediate stops" (Fermate intermedie) it says that if you can make unlimited intermediate stops along the itinerary, and if you are already on the train when the 4 hours expire you can proceed to the final destination but without further intermediate stops.
The two statements appear conflicting, so interpret the regulations as you deem appropriate.
Thanks, Roberto. It's those conflicting statements which prompted my question, and why I believed the journey needed to have concluded when the ticket ran out.
My understanding is that you can stay on a train to your destination after the 4h limit expires, as long as the next train stop is your final destination (e.g., no further intermediate train stops on that train)
