We've tried to buy train tickets online at Trenitalia.com and at ItaliaRail.com and we get "sold out" for every time on Sunday, September 21, for the Lucca to Vernazza route. We've heard that trains rarely sell out especially on non-holidays and during "shoulder season." Do we need to change our schedule around, or could something be wrong with the websites? Should we just wait until we get over to Italy to buy tickets if we can't get them here? Thanks for any help!!!
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15156 posts
That line is served almost exclusively by regional trains, which are commuter trains that don't sell out. You don't need to buy in advance, since there are no discounts for doing so on regional commuter trains. From Viareggio to La Spezia you might be on an intercity, but the segment is short so the discount would be just spare change. Just buy them at the station the day you go. If you want to check schedules online enter a date within the next 7 days, as schedules for regional trains are loaded only for a week ahead (e.g. next Sunday). That is probably the reason why you are getting those odd messages.
The trip will involve two train changes: in Viareggio and in La Spezia. However if you depart Lucca with the 8:30 train, you will have to change only once (in Viareggio) and it's all on regional trains therefore no chance of selling out.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
I see that the Frecciabianca stage of the 9:30 Vernazza-Lucca trip does say that it is completely sold out. However, there is another train from 11:30 to 13:50 that is not sold out, nor will it, since the Viareggio to La Spezia leg is not a Freccia train but is rather an Intercity.