Newbie Train Traveler, Help with seating arrangement/direction of seats.

No way to tell direction of travel. Cars are designed to run in either direction. And sometimes the cars may change directions in the middle of a run. Many cars have half the seats facing the middle. Only the two seats in the very middle will face each other and sometimes with a table in the middle. And some cars will have all the seats as paired seats facing each other and some with skinny tables. It is a dice roll as to what you get. If you get four seats facing each in a group then you move around in the seats as you like.

I not sure you understand premium seats. There are three levels of fares - Super Econ, Econ, and Base. And at least two class of tickets - first and second. First class is three across (xxx) and second class is four across (xxxx). First has a touch more leg room but not much and I don't think it is significant. For the most part second class is fine. Sometimes there are a couple of variations in First class -- seating is the same but you may get some additional services such as a drink or a sandwich. Business silent will require you to be silent - so no kids.

Sometimes a super econ or economy fare will be available in first class but not always. But fares and classes are separate. And remember Super Econ and Economy come with restrictions. For the most part no charge and no refund. For that a short a run, second class is fine.

The train reverses its direction in Florence, so there is no way to accomodate your request. Well, there is a way: you book two facing seats and you exchange seat in Florence with a partner that this way will be traveling backwards all the time.

We always book two facing seats. It's the only way to accommodate the one of us who gets car sick.

Check the Man In Seat 61 website. Pretty much everything you want to know about train travel.

What are you referring to as a "premium seat"?

As the others have mentioned, there's no way to guarantee which direction you'll be facing as the train can change direction at intermediate stops. As pointed out earlier, the only way you could achieve that would be to book two seats facing each other and then change seats as required during the trip. I find that the sensation of "travelling backwards" isn't really that bad. If it bothers you that much, take a short nap.

You may find this video from the experts at Seat 61 to be helpful - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4DZ-Z_6wjA .

You may enjoy this one too - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6n8rITO1Eek .

One other point to note is that you can also travel that route using the Italo high speed service, which competes with Trenitalia. You can buy tickets for either rail network using the www.trainline.eu website, which is very user friendly once you're registered on the site.

The trains all stop in Florence which is a terminus. Your last sentence guess is right on the money. AFAIK, there's really no way to ensure a forward-facing seat on any train because there are several terminus stations. Trains aren't always full, and sometimes you'll find that another passenger is willing to change seats with you.

Not possible because the train changes direction in Florence. The train is totally symetrical, no front and back.
Just because you get car-sick, doesn't mean you will get train-sick.

The best option is to get facing seats. Then you can talk to each other.

Thank you all for your help. Looks like it will be a fun adventure. I appreciate the quick responses.

If you look at the second link in Ken's post above, the youtube, it is a Nada's Italy one about trains in Italy. It is excellent because it is short and comprehensive, and shows a few views of a second class coach. You can see just how much more spacious it is than any airplane.

When Frank showed the number of seats across he left out the aisle, which allows everybody easy access to their seats. I would show it as 1st = (xx x) and 2nd = (xx xx).

I have several relatives who have had carsick problems. None of them have any problems on trains.

I just want to add to the chorus. I get car sick if I read while in a car for more than a minute or so; I've even had problems being the navigator if I'm looking at maps. But I don't get sick reading on a train - it's much smoother, and the whole experience is different, as you're much less aware of motion.

As someone who gets motion sickness easily, I will tell you guys that riding backwards can be a problem. Yes, European trains are a lot better than any other mode of travel, but still . . . . maybe it's watching the scenery rushing past?