- No line ticket purchase @ Italotreno in the Rome Termini for Naples on the fast train. CC. QR code scanned by agent on train, no validations.
- Naples to Paestum purchased @ Kiosk. Cash. CC will not work. Scammer standing near by told to move it! Validation is a key punch. No date or time. Young couple had smartphone QR codes scanned by agent.
- Paestum to Salerno purchased @ Kiosk for next day. Good thing many hanging out at the kiosk the day of travel. Validation is a key punch. No date or time.
- Naples to Rome purchased via smartphone via wifi on Trentitalia. You have to be quick, the app kept on telling me the time left. QR code scanned by agent on train, no validation.
- Rome to FCO via Leonardo Express day before. Obtained line ticket to purchase with CC. Wait 20 minutes or less. Pleasant service. The gentleman inked a map on where to validate prior to boarding. Service at gate include an agent and a validation unit. Again, the validation is a key punch. No date or time.
- All tickets have QR codes. Agents carry a phone or tablet to check QR codes.
- IMO validations may change in the future. Or, carry a small key 2-3 mm key punch and compare to the validation at the station.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Why would you want to compare key punches?
This is a very confusing post. Maybe I haven't had enough coffee.Validation can be done by pre-printed tickets, which have a valid date/time; by inserting the regionale ticket into the validating machine, which not only validated the ticket but stamps the date, time and station code on it.
Posted by
OP
Salt Lake City, UT (Previous Seattle, WA)
315 posts
The validation machine at Naples, Paestum and Rome adds a very small (less than 3 mm) hole to your ticket. There is no validation of time and date. The point: "Why have a validation from a station machine?" It could be duplicated very easily with a home key punch. The agents on board are with QR code readers, which can tell if you have used your ticket. ALL TICKETS HAVE QR CODES FOR VALIDATION. I can see it is possible to have routes without agents. Therefore, a need for a validation machine at the station.
Posted by
OP
Salt Lake City, UT (Previous Seattle, WA)
315 posts
Validation stamp per machine is not putting date and time in Naples, Paestum or Rome.
Posted by
Italy
3812 posts
Sorry, but I think you are wrong. How could they check if you are travelling within the 4 hours window without a printed time?
Maybe you didn't see the stamp on the short edge. Why should they have different machines in Naples, Paestum and Rome? How could an hole prevent you from using the same ticket many times on the same day?
The all post seems a little confused and confusing: you don't need a tablet and a QR code to read date and time on a pdf. The QR code is used to avoid people buying 1 ticket online and printing ten, not to check the validity period. Who woud ever use a qr code only to print a time on a ticket?
Maybe you used stamping machines that had run out of ink and conductors either knew it or they trusted an obvious american tourist.
Out of curiosity Why do you think that validations may change in the future? You can't force millions of elder italians (and disconnected tourists) to purchase only via internet. Mostly because those italians vote and regionale trains are subsidized by the Regions.
Posted by
OP
Salt Lake City, UT (Previous Seattle, WA)
315 posts
THERE WAS NO DATE/TIME STAMP FROM THE VALIDATION MACHINE AT NAPLES, PAESTUM OR ROME. The validation machine provided a very small nearly incomplete punch hole. The agent on Leonardo Express even had a hard time seeing it, she looked high and low. Again, there was no date/time stamp from the validation machine, only a small key punch. I have stated these stations because it is possible other stations have a date/time validation stamp machine. QR codes were read by the train agents with a phone or tablet on every ticket I held or had on my phone even when stamped. There were other traveller's eyes, besides mine, looking for a date/time stamp. Why do they need a validation punch if they have an agent to read QR codes?
Posted by
OP
Salt Lake City, UT (Previous Seattle, WA)
315 posts
All train tickets have QR codes no matter how you purchase it or if you have paper in hand.