Online train tickets need exchange for real ticket?

The online at home print tickets don't need validating they have a QR or bar code that the conductor will scan.
There is an ap also for the phone or you can use a PDF on the phone as a ticket

http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en/Purchase/Mobile-Ticketing

When was that last time?

Patti,

In my experience it's not necessary to collect paper tickets at the station, regardless of whether the tickets are for Regionale trains or the fast trains.

I normally buy online tickets using the www.trainline.eu website, as they sell tickets for both Trenitalia and Italo Treno so that provides "one stop shopping". I prefer to print the tickets and pack along the "hard copy" and have never had a problem just showing those to the Conductors.

Registration and payment details are required to use the Trainline website, but once that's done the process is very user friendlly. They also offer a smartphone app.

Thanks for the confirmation. That makes it so must easier then. I have already purchased some tickets via trentalia but will use the phone app to get a few more once there d/t timing being unknown. Thank you again!

You can use your phone to show the tickets whether you buy "on the fly" on your phone or not - as long as you can display your ticket's QR code so it can be scanned. Regional train tickets don't need to be exchanged to get paper tickets - not even sure you can. But they are good only for up to four hours after the time on the ticket.

I used the Trenit app last May to buy tickets on the fly for Trenitalia. Italo didn't serve the routes I was taking last year, but otherwise you could use www.trainline.eu as well to buy tickets for both on one website (or use their app if they have one). The Trenit app was also useful for real-time platform and delay info; if you have a tight connection, it's nice to know before you get off the train which platform you need to get to instead of having to go look it up on a monitor.

I would download the PDF files to your phone of tickets you've already bought instead of assuming you'll be able to call them up later as needed in case you lose your data connection or something - as long as you can see the QR code in the PDF version, no need to print it. You certainly can print it ahead of time if that makes you feel more secure, in case you worry about your phone or something.

I have printed what I have so far just in case, but when I do buy on the fly good tip to download the PDF ahead. Thanks for the info everyone. Much appreciated!