Italy train system for beginners

1. www.trenitalia.com or www.italotreno.it. The latter is a smaller private company that operates high speed trains between Rome and Venice, among others. They don’t operate trains to Cinque Terre, so for that you need the former. www.trainline.eu is a site that show trains from both companies. They apply no extra fee, so it’s a good one to try. Tickets go on sale 120 prior to travel date. Discounted tickets are available on all high speed trains, but not on Regional commuters, which you might as well pay for at the station. High speed train tickets are specific to a date and time. No changes are permitted to discounted tickets once purchased, so be sure about travel plans. If you want full flexibility buy at the station, but full price.

No 2. See previous reply.

No. 3. Use the trenitalia website above. Enter from NAME OF CINQUE TERRE VILLAGE to FIRENZE SANTA MARIA NOVELLA.
Changing trains at Pisa is quick, Five minutes may be enough, assuming no delays. But if you miss the connection who cares. There are almost 60 regional trains between Pisa and Florence each direction. Just take the next one a few minutes later.

No 1. Again
No security, no airport style screening.
It’s like getting on a train in the NYC subway. Just hop on.

No. 2 again.
Validating a ticket means date stamp it at a machine before boarding the train.
Tutorial video below
https://youtu.be/X2rbk2a28DQ

Bonus.
If you stay near the Santa Lucia station, the best way to reach the airport is to walk to nearby Piazzale Roma and take a regular taxi (on wheels) or a bus.
If you stay far, you might need to take a vaporetto (boat bus) to Piazzale Roma, then see above.
There is also the Alilaguna Boat service to the airport. Those are like big boats that stop at specific points. Once you know where you stay, we can give better advice.
Lastly there are water taxis. These are high speed boats that carry 9 passengers. They work exactly like taxis, but they float and they are fast. They are expensive however. A ride to the airport on those will set you back 100€ to 120€.

Roberto, as usual, is providing excellent information.

A website that is also excellent as a learning tool for all things to do with European train travel is here: https://www.seat61.com

For transportation in Venice use this.

https://quickvenice.com/transportation/index-transportation.htm

3) yes, you WILL get off the train quickly. Like the subway, the train pulls in to a station, passengers exit, new passengers get on, train pulls out. You will want to move yourself (and your bags) to the door area as you approach the station (lots of people will be doing the same.) PACK LIGHT!!

Check https://europeforvisitors.com/venice/venice-warning.htm before you pick a hotel.

Heed the warning about getting on and off. Except for first and last stops, the train only stops to let passengers off and on. If you wait until the train pulls into the station to start gathering your things and heading to the door you will be caught up in passengers entering the train and never make it.

Remember, there is no check in, no checked baggage, no security and tracks are usually not announced until about 15- 20 minutes before departure at larger stations.

Yeah - what Frank said - my mom came with my husband and I in 2015 - we were pulling into Rome and I grabbed my stuff and got up by the door - for some reason my mom and husband waited in the seats (and my husband should know better - we've done this before) - and had to fight thru throngs of people trying to get on - I was waiting so long for them on the platform, I was starting to wonder if they were getting off.

When changing trains in Pisa, there are 3 possible ways to determine the track for the train departing for Florence. There may be monitors on your train from Cinque Terre that show the track numbers for connecting trains (check as you get close to Pisa). There may be an overhead monitor showing Partenze (departures) near where you get off the train in Pisa, or one between that point and the stairway to the underpass. There will definitely be monitors in the underpass you'll use to change tracks in Pisa (unless the train to Florence is on the opposite side of the platform where you arrive). The monitors also tell you whether the train to Florence is on time or running late (and by how many minutes).

BOOKMARKED!!!

Great Replies!! Loving all this awesome information! Thanks a million!

When it comes to trains, The Man In Seat 61 really does have it all. However, because of this, it can be overwhelming.

So, start with these two pages. First, a general introduction to European trains: https://www.seat61.com/Europe-train-travel.htm

Second, an introduction to Italian trains: https://www.seat61.com/Italy-trains.htm

Excellent and concise book Italy Expalined: Italian Trains.
Full disclosure: I know the author.

Since you are new to trains, I would give yourself extra time everywhere for transfers and finding the tracks at new stations.

Does anyone know about luggage storage at train station? specifically thinking we may explore Pisa on our way to Florence for half a day since we have to go there anyways on the train to get to Florence- but not if we have to lug our luggage around!

I found somewhere that Florence has lockers near track 16. Hoping that's true because we're not able to check into our hotel until a few hours after we arrive.

Pisa has a newish BagBnB.

Sami-On our first trip to Italy I was totally overwhelmed with the whole train thing. I never take trains, subways or buses or any public transportation, we drive everywhere. This and other forums and website (Seat61 and the RomeToRio websites are great!) helped me have some comfort. Once we got there we realized how EASY it all was. There will always be the unknown, which is what makes travel fun and expands your mind. Just give yourself plenty of time to get to the train station, get your bearing and find your tract. Your tract ( aka BIN) will not be displayed till about 15 mint before your train departs. Another reason to get to the train station early is to grab some sandwiches, snacks and drinks for longer journeys!

I did experience more security at the train stations between two trips that were 15 months apart. I had to show my train ticket before I was allowed to enter the BIN to show I had a valid ticket. There was also military personal that rode the trains more often than I had seen in the past.

Sami S. Regarding train from the CT to Florence (Firenze).

Going from Cinque Terre to Florence you can take a DIRECT train (weekdays) Frecciargento #8583 from La Spezia to Firenze Campo di Marte at 7:09 AM arriving in Florence at 8:40AM for €19.90. It’s early, a little more expensive, but efficient. There is another with the same DIRECT route leaving La Spezia at 20:03 PM. arriving 21:04PM Firenze Campo Di Marte Frecciabianca #8587 for €9.90. (I used September 28 as a date.) Sunday’s there’s only the late train option, although a little different time, and train number. Saturday has similar direct train times as weekdays. Check Trenitalia for the information.
**These are NOT open ticket trains; it is time and date specific, so if you miss it you will have to buy a new ticket. Also, the train station is NOT Santa Maria Novella. It’s on the other side of town.

Note: check the time the trains start running in the Cinque Terre Town you are staying in. Those trains may not leave early enough to get you to La Spezia for the 7:09 AM Train. If you choose the regional train, check the track the train will arrive on and/or depart from if you’re changing trains in Pisa. Trains change tracks all the time.