We want to take the train from Siena to Pisa, which requires a transfer in Empoli. For many of the trips shown on Trenitalia, the available time from arrival in Empoli from Siena to departure from Empoli to Pisa is 7 or 8 minutes. Is that enough time to transfer when we are carrying luggage, or do we need to plan for 20 minutes for a transfer?
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11680 posts
We have made this transfer with roll aboards and day packs. It is a very small station. Just be ready to get off the train as soon as it stops. Get your stuff and wait by the door as it pulls into the station and go directly to the departure platform.
Posted by
Italy
3812 posts
Isn't the train from Empoli to Pisa a Regionale?
If so booking the later train wouldn't make sense.
Book the regionale departing after 8 minutes, if you miss it you can freely board the next Regionale running the same route. Taking a train leaving earlier than the one you booked, on the other hand, is forbidden.
Posted by
WPB, FL & Firenze
3112 posts
Only regional trains run that route, so your best option is to buy your tickets at a kiosk or ticket window in Siena. Those tickets will be good for ANY regional train on your day of travel. You'll just need to validate them before boarding. For such a short trip, you could even validate both tickets (if issued more than one) in Siena, and they would still be valid for the entire journey even if you missed the 8-minute connection in Empoli.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15900 posts
If you miss the connection, take the next train. There is one every 20 min on average. Regional trains are like subway trains in NYC.
The layout of the Empoli station is as follows (north to south)
STATION BUILDING
PLATFORM 1
TRACK 1
TRACK 2
PLATFORM 2
TRACK 3
Trains from Siena stop at Track 3
Trains to Pisa stop at Track 2
In either case, you will be descending on the same sidewalk from which you board the next train (Platform 2), therefore you don’t have to go up and down the stairs on an underpass. You just stay put on the same platform where you descend from the first train and board the next train from the track 2 across the same platform. Total walking distance: about 10 feet (3 seconds)
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Many thanks for your most helpful replies. Understanding how the Empoli station is laid out and recognizing that we can, in the worst of circumstances, take the next train gives us confidence that a 7-minute transfer can be easily accomplished.