Regional Train vs. Eu Rail

We do not know what you mean by Eu rail. Trenitalia is the main passenger train operator in Italy, There are a couple of others, Italo Treno exclusively high speed trains connecting Turin, Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome, Naples. Others operate regional and suburban networks, most notably TreNord in Lombardy, and some others in the south.
If you are dealing with Rail Europe, stop right now! Go to www.Trenitalia.com You can buy high speed train tickets (nonrefundable, nable) at big discounts. Regional trains operate like busses, just buy a ticket at the station, validate it on the platform, hop on and find a seat. They are very cheap.

Minor point about validating tickets. I'm increasingly finding that the validation boxes are now in the underground tunnels connecting the various train tracks in those stations that have underground tunnels. They're no longer up on the platforms.

Hi Jamie, We really enjoy traveling by train in Italy. I purchase our tickets ahead of time on-line and print them at home. Print two copies and put one in each of your suitcases just in case. The majority of Italians are not fluent in English unless you're in the more touristy cities. We speak about 10 words of Italian and have been able to travel all over northern Italy...with some interesting stories. Anyway, the tickets are self-explanatory. The overhead reader at the train stations will tell you what Line to board the train ~15 minutes before it arrives. BE SURE TO VALIDATE/punch your ticket in the station, so you're not fined. I think the validation machines are yellow; just look at what others are doing. I will definitely recommend that you travel light, meaning bring 1 carry-on suitcase. You will be carrying your suitcase up & down flights of stairs to reach the Line, so make it enjoyable. Also, I always put everything inside my suitcase, so that I don't have a purse, bag, etc. in the other hand. I can use my free hand to jump up into the train. I don't have a reason to need "some help" that might end up being a pick-pocket. Enjoy your trip, and I hope you're seeing Venice - our favorite! We want to go back to Italy next year, too.

If by Eu Rail you are referring to the Eurail pass and the company that manages that, then maybe some information will clear things up. Eurail does not run trains or have their own schedules, lines, etc. It is merely a representitive of a consortium of rail companies that sells passes as a way to promote train travel for visitors to Europe. It is intended to make travel easy, one pass, hop on and off trains at will. At one time it was very much like that, nowadays, things are very different as many restrictions, supplemental fees, more private rail lines have complicated pass use. If you had a Eurail pass, you would travel on the very same Trenitalia trains you would buy a ticket on when over there. Some additional terminology, you mentioned Regional trains, this is one basic type of service, they are slow, cheap, and stop at nearly every little station. There are also Inter-City Trains that are faster, stop only at larger stations, and then there are the Fast trains, these may be non-stop between major cities and are obviously more expensive. The choice of train depends on where you are going, the time you have, and the cost you are willing to pay. In general, for Italy, a pass rarely is cost effective, trips are just too short and ticket prices reasonable to justify spending $50 to $70 USD a day for travel. Purchasing tickets once you arrive in Italy is a perfectly good way to go, you can also purchase on-line from Trenitalia ahead of time if you are sure of your dates. English only is not an issue, ticket kiosks have an english option, and most ticket agents and conductors speak at least some English, never have I had an issue.

Look at roninrome.com for tons or info and photos on travel hy train in Italy. By the way, most validation boxes are being switched from yellow to green/ greyish white.

Jamie, as to your question "We are two females who speak primarily English,is this going to be an issue or are the majority of Italians fluent in English also?" The answer is no and no. No, your lack of Italian will not be an issue if you stay to the main tourist sites, and no, most Italians are not fluent in English. That said, the ones who work in the tourist-related industries speak what I call "transactional English." In other words, they speak enough English to get the transaction done, whether they are waiters, ticket-sellers, hotel workers, or museum workers. Keep your English simple, slow and clear. There's no need to speak loudly. Avoid using contractions and slang. And don't expect them to carry on a long conversation with you about topics unrelated to the transaction at hand.

Jamie, As the others have mentioned, forget about using Rail Europe. If you want to pre-purchase tickets, use either the Trenitalia or Italo websites. Trenitalia (Ferrovie dello Stato) is the national rail operator in Italy, and while not all trains run 24-hours a day they do have numerous departures each day on routes throughout the country. Italo offers only high speed service to a limited number of stations, so they may or may not be an option. You can pre-purchase tickets on the high speed trains, but note that these are often non-changeable and non-refundable, so you'll be "locked into" a particular train, date and departure time. Be VERY careful with that before booking! Buy Regionale tickets at the Kiosks when in Italy (DON'T forget to validate!). Also there are some potentially expensive "caveats" to be aware of when using trains or other public transit in Italy. If you want more details, post another note. It would be easier to offer more specific suggestions if you could provide more information on where you plan on going. Again as mentioned, many people in the tourist businesses will be able to function to some extent in English. However, it's still a good idea to learn a few of the basic greetings and other words. You may find it helpful to pack along a RS Italian Phrasebook on your trip. I'd also highly recommend packing along a copy of the Italy 2014 Guidebook, which will be released on 24 October AFAIK. There's an enormous amount of information there on hotels, restaurants, sightseeing, transportation, etc. which could save you a lot of money. Good luck with your planning!

Thanks for all your tips! Much appreciated!
Ciao :)

We had a Eurail Pass and feel like we didn't save anything. Train travel in Italy is very easy, once you get the hang of it!, and easy to manage. There is often someone to help you with the ticket machines and there is usually an option for choice of language that is straightforward. Buon viaggio!

Watch out for "someone to help you with the ticket machines" unless they're wearing a Trenitalia uniform. There are all sorts of scams that operate that way. The machines are easy enough to use if you select English and carefully read each screen thoroughly. Or go to RonInRome for a step-by-step guide: Buying train tickets at a kiosk

Jamie, I agree with Michael on being vigilant for people trying to "help" you buy tickets at the Kiosks. I've encountered them on many occasions, and telling them "I don't need any help" often doesn't work. I'm sure some of them weren't necessarily scammers, but they DID want a "donation" for their efforts. If they're persistent, I'll often just cancel the transaction and go to a different machine. There's also the people that will offer to "help" haul your luggage onto the train - some of those people often wear a "pseudo uniform"). They can be persistent too! Cheers!