Newbie: Train Venice to Ravenna

The train to Ravenna is a regionale, never reserved, buy ticket at the station, either from the window or a ticket machine. Don't forget to validate it in the stamping machine.

That trip can be made via a Eurostar to Bologna then a regional train on to Ravenna (a more expensive option) or a more direct all-regional itinerary with a change in Ferrara. The second is faster as well as cheaper, and there are departures at 10:42 and 12:42. There are other possible combinations, involving Freccia or Intercity trains. Fares for the all-regional trips do not change. For any of the others, not only do the fares for the Eurostar/Freccia/Intercity legs start out higher, they are likely to increase considerably as the departure date approaches.

I have sometimes run into significant lines at Italian rail stations. I missed a train because of one such line, though usually a ticket-vending machine allows you to avoid waiting to buy from a human. Online purchase is also an option, but I have no experience with that. Even if there is no price advantage, I recommend buying your rail tickets ahead of time.

I canmot address your other questions.

You can buy a regional ticket ahead of time. Just buy it when passing thought a train station or buy it from a travel agency in Venice. Ask you hotel for a good place to buy a ticket.

The regional train times can be faster than using the Frecciarossa/regional train combo! The good thing is that regional train prices are the same if bought in advance or the same day. There are no Eurostar trains in Italy.

Regional train tickets can be bought in person or at the train station. I highly recommend you buy at the self-service ticket machines at the station. Very easy to use and has English instructions. This ticket must be time/date stamped before boarding your train. No assigned seats, sit where you like.

If you decide to buy on-line, you don't have to validate or even print it out. You show the PNR code to the conductor when they come around to check tickets. That can be on your phone, tablet, or even written on a piece of paper.

re:Vaporetto, lines 1 and 2, line 2 is quicker takes about 10 minutes. The link below has the timetable.
http://actv.avmspa.it/en/content/orari-servizio-di-navigazione-0
the stop for Santa Lucia is "Ferrovia"

The name of the vaporetto stop at the station is Ferrovia. You can take either the number 1 from Rialto, or the number 2 from Rialto (a different dock), they are both on the San Marco side, or the number 1 from Rialto Mercato next to the market on the other side of the Rialto bridge. So it depends on which side of the bridge you are on.

Number 1 destination P.LE ROMA, 5 times most hours, 19 minutes from Rialto "A" dock, 15 from Rialto Mercato.
Number 2 destination probably TRONCHETTO, first one not until after 9 :30, 5 times an hour in the summer until 8pm and fewer until end of schedule, takes 11 minutes for the two stops.

Or you could stroll there in a half hour or less from the S Marco side of the bridge.

If you ride a Regionale or Regionale Veloce train you MUST VALIDATE your tickets in the little stampy machines. No validation = big fine. It is easily done, and you walk right past the little machines.

Thank you for your responses. I have no experience with transit systems. It sounds like I will buy a regional train ticket to Ravenna and the change at Farrera is part of that ? or do I buy another ticket at Farrara for Ravenna?
I will be staying at Antica Locanda Al Gambero at Calle Bembo so which dock do I use? I can't see a line stopping at the one at the end of that street. Do I go over to "C"?
Do I buy regional for Ravenna to Sienna? I like the idea of buying online and showing the number.

To buy your tickets on-line or in person, you select your departure/arrival stations, don't need to buy it as two separate tickets.
In this case, you are departing from Venezia S. Lucia arriving in Ravenna.

Your hotel's website gives you directions just follow them in reverse to get to the vaporetto stop.
https://www.locandaalgambero.com/en/location/

If you took only regional trains Ravenna to Siena it will take 5 hours and involve 2-3 train changes. Otherwise, your route would be Ravenna to Bologna (reg), Bologna to Florence (Firenze and fast train), then bus to Siena. You can also take a regional train from Florence to Siena, but the train station is a little outside the historic center. A local bus or taxi will take to the center.

The Italian train company is Trenitalia.
http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en

When I arrive in Venice by train, I head for the ticket line-up and buy my train tickets for later trips. With ticket in hand you can arrive at the train station 10-15 minutes early to find your train. From Rialto to Ferrovia (the train station) the vaporetto won't take long. Allow an hour from your hotel (if it is in that area) to the train station. If you are nervous about missing your train, go earlier and hang out at the train station. You can shop, watch people, and have a snack while waiting for your train. The vaporettos run about every 10 minutes during the day.

So I'll take a regional train from Ravenna to Bologna. Then I'll buy a fast train ticket for Bologna to Florence at the station? Or is the Bologna to Florence ticket what I need to purchase with trenitalia ahead of time?

You can purchase a through ticket to Florence from Ravenna either on-line on www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en or at Ravenna station. There is no need to make two separate purchases or queue twice.

High speed trains to Florence depart from the underground tracks in Bologna.

You don't need to purchase any leg in advance, not in the sense that all seats could be sold out. You'd better buy in advance only if you are interested in grabbing one of the discounted tickets. Those tickets are so cheap compared to the BASE ones because they can't be changed and/or refunded.

Yes, it's a good idea to purchase even your regionale tickets ahead of time (especially in smaller stations like Ravenna) if you really want to ride a specific train. Last time I was in Ravenna (summer 2015) the ONE ticket machine in the station was out of order and there was a VERY long line for the one ticket agent (like almost half an hour).

Wow good advice. Thank you!

One more clarification please. I thought I could by a regional train ticket from Venice through to Ravenna ahead of time which would be good all day until I validate it to board any train at any time of that day I choose. I looked at the online site and there's a list of train departures to choose from.
So apparently I must buy a ticket for a specific departure time I can't just arrive and take the next train that's departing?

That's the difference now between online and in a station.

If you purchase a regionale ticket locally (at a counter, a Tobacconist shop, an automatick machine or a travel agency) you have to pick a day of travel. Then that ticket can be used on any regionale train making that route on the picked day and departing within 4 hours from the moment you time-stamp it.

A regionale ticket purchased online can be used on the booked train and on any other regionale departing within the next 4 hours.

As you are travelling from Venice to Ravenna using only regionale trains, why don't you purchase on line on the day, just before going to the station? Will you have internet access in Venice?

Yes I will have WiFi and I'm getting a SIM card for my cell.
So as I'm understanding it when I buy a ticket online it will be for a specific train at a specific time however there is a window of 4 hours after that train leaves that I could catch the next one correct should I miss it? The time of the train departure is it's validation in otherwards.

You got it right, I'd just say "when you buy a regionale ticket online" etc.

Thanks everybody. This is my first time going alone in spite of my travel anxiety. You really helped. The more I understand the better.