I have purchased train tickets for my trip in Italy over the Trenitalia website. The tickets that you print are just plain paper with the train number, schedule and names on them. I know a train ticket purchased in Italy looks a lot different. My question is I know some tickets have to be validated. Do you have to validate the internet ticket and if so how do you do that since it is just a regular piece of paper? Thank you.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
You do not have to validate it, since the paper won't fit in the machine, and since the ticket is already dated.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32406 posts
Meredith,
The tickets you purchased online are most likely for the fast trains which require a compulsory seat reservation. Those tickets will be specific for only one train, date and departure time so they don't need to be validated since they can only be used on the one train listed on the ticket. The tickets will have a PNR code that is provided to the rail staff when they check tickets.
Tickets for Regionale trains are only offered for sale one week prior to each departure, and if purchased online they come with restrictions. They are pre-validated but must be used within four hours of the departure time that is booked. I always suggest that Regionale tickets be purchased in Italy from a Kiosk or staffed ticket office, as there's no price benefit when buying them in advance. If buying locally, Regionale tickets MUST be validated prior to boarding the train on the day of travel, or hefty fines may result.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Tickets that need to be validated will, a) fit into the machine, and b) say "Convalidare" across the top of the ticket. You are good to go, just get to the correct carrozza and posti (carriage and seats).