Puzzle with booking train on Trenitalia, please help. Thx.

helenll,

You might try booking your tickets on https://www.trainline.eu/ as it's very user friendly. You'll need to register on the site first, including payment information.

For that particular trip, you could use either Trenitalia or Italo Treno for the first segment from Firenze SMN to Milano Centrale. The second segment will be a Regionale operated by Tre Nord. You will only be able to get discounts on the first segment. Prices for Regionale trains are always the same. One important point to note - you MUST validate locally purchased Regionale tickets prior to boarding the train on the day of travel, or risk hefty fines which will be collected on the spot!

I believe you need to be a resident to get the Senior's discount with the card. Hopefully one of the others can confirm that.

A few comments on your questions.....

1. You'll probably only have a choice between Super Economy, Economy and Base - no Seniors fares. I'd have to check further on that.
2. Answered above. I don't think showing your Mom's Passport will result in better fares.
3. I find second class in the fast trains to be perfectly adequate. The other classes aren't worth the extra money (IMO). You won't have a choice on the Regionale train, as every seat is the same.
4. Correct. There's no reason to book the Regionale online, although you can certainly do that if you wish. Regionale tickets booked online do not have to be validated, as they have a four hour "window" from the departure time specified on the ticket.

Hope this helps.

Much appreciated your detail explanation. Ken.

A) I did price search for 1st part of trip as you suggest, Firenze S.M.N - Milano Central by .Italo website.
Price for 2 adults is 35.80 euro, depart 09:25 am, arrive 11:15 am.

2nd portion is regular price at $ 35.8 euro on Trenitalia, departs at 12:20, arrives at 13:23pm. I see there is only 5 mins time to catch 2nd portion, it makes more sense to wait for an hour.

B) Per Trenitalia, Firenze.SM.N-Milano $ 85 Euro (2 ppl).

So it is way cheaper to choose option A), agree ?

My question is upon arrival at Milan Central station via Italo booking, is it at the same departing station where to catch train to Varenna-Esino ? So I would get off the station, buy ticket, then wait for the train to Varenna?

we each carry one check in luggage, there is no size restriction on luggages on trains ?

Thanks.

Yes, the Italo train at 9:25 from Firenze S.M.N. to Milano Centrale in 2nd class is 35.80 EUR "Smart" fare for 2 and is the better deal. That is a nonrefundable ticket.

The train from Milano Centrale to Varenna-Esino is 13.40 EUR for 2, 2nd class.

Yes, the Italo train arrives at the same station as the train to Varenna-Esino departs from.

You could buy the Milano Centrale to Varenna-Esino ticket when you arrive. You should be prepared to buy that ticket from a vending machine as the ticket lines at the window can be long. That ticket would have to be validated before boarding. Or you could buy on-line and get a ticket that does not have to be validated with a 4-hour time limit to be used on that date starting at 12:20. It would also be valid on the 13:20 and 14:20 trains.

You can also buy the ticket at any train station in Italy ahead of time, being careful to specify the date of Sept 20. That ticket would also have to be validated before boarding at Milano Centrale. Tickets are printed on IBM card stock and fit in the stamping machine by the platform to be validated.

we each carry one check in luggage, there is no size restriction on luggages on trains ?

Please note, there are no size restrictions for luggage on trains, BUT, there also are no porters, checked luggage, etc. You are responsible for getting your luggage onto and off of the train - up and down steps. Lighter is better!

I have paid for and received email tickets (Roma Termini - Venezia S. Lucia) with coach number and seat numbers using the RS rail link. I am assuming that my wife and I can simply board the train without additional validation at the station. Can any of you verify my assumption?

Train tickets purchased online do not Need to bè time-stamped before getting on.
On Trains with no reserved seats, the validity period starts with the departure of the booked train.

There is no reason to time-stamp a ticket valid only for a specific train with seat and car number, it can't be reused anyway.

You are free to use re-sellers' sites to get tickets, bit if the T&Cs are different from Trenitalia's, do no expect much assistance in case of troubles at the station.

When you see a Cartafreccia price listed, I believe one has to have a Cartafreccia card, which most of us average travelers do not. Also, somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but I seem to remember reading that the Senior rates are only for Italian (or maybe EU) riders.