The Trenitalia website.....

Thanks, Ken. I keep checking for the new schedules, too.

English sites have also changed.

Unfortunately, this redesign has (apparently) created a glitch that's preventing the site from working on iPads now.
I'd booked a ticket a week ago, no trouble. But I've tried every day for past 3-4 days, and no go.

Thanks for the notice, Ken!

I guess we have to get used to the new & improved website... hummm...
I seemed to recall that the double arrows between the 2 stations were in place before the change though, oh well...

I tried to get on and book today and it says the timetable has not been released yet, but it was on there 2 days ago! I have made a couple of bookings for june and if I look at those same routes and same days now it says those have not been released yet!?!?

Priscilla,

I'm sure the double arrow for checking returns was there before, but I don't often use it. It was coincidental that I needed to check a return route at that time.

Ken,

I wonder why the new train schedules (beyond June 13th) have not been posted?

I'm sure many travelers are waiting for those schedules to try to get the super-economy tickets!

Priscilla,

I believe the "official" date for posting the new schedules is 14 June (second Sunday). Although in past years I vaguely recall some were posted before that day, they may not have the new schedules finalized yet which is why we're not able to see anything beyond 13 June.

Ken,

It's puzzling to me because one can usually buy tickets 120 days in advance, so I though the schedules for say, June 22, would be available already.

I guess we have to wait...

Priscilla,

I'd probably check every day, as I don't know when schedules beyond 13 June might be posted. I'm sure they're aware that passengers will want to buy the cheapest tickets at the 120 day mark, so they may post some of the new schedules early?

Hah, gotta love the difference between the Swiss SBB website & Trenitalia's. I love Italy (and I'm Italian as well) but digitally or in person it's, 'uh...maybe today...or maybe tomorrow!'. The SBB site--where I booked my Paris/Lucerne & Lucerne/Milan legs in advance--was perfect, the best transportation website I've encountered.

I am very confused. I just checked the Trenitalia website and schedule for June 14th is available but it is showing all economy and super economy tickets are sold out. Sunday the schedules were not available. Will these be released later or did I miss the boat by not checking the website last night?

I just bought a ticket for June 16, but the super-economy fares showed "sold out" except on the InterCity train.

The start date for new schedules is June 14, but they will be posted some time before then - not 120 days, but for the last two years they have been posted at least 30-60 days ahead of June 14.

High speed trains called Freccia-something are bookable 120 days in advance. Today you can book till the 24th of June, after you can only check the schedules. I've just booked two discounted tickets to Bologna for June 23.
About local trains: 98% of Trenitalia's customers are Italians who don't need/want/pretend to know anything about Regional trains so soon.
I'm very happy that today the Swiss site works better than Trenitalia's (awful) one, a few years ago I used to go to Zurich and Luzern every given month and it was a real mess. No "print at home", no PNR system, you could book only within 90 days from the departure date etc. etc.
But instead of smiling and saying: "This is Switzerland" they were enough smart to say: "Your fault, our website is perfect as everything else here in the Confederation".

I am very confused. I just checked the Trenitalia website and schedule for June 14th is available but it is showing all economy and super economy tickets are sold out.

Tickets for the 14th of June went on sale on the 15th, discounted tickets could actually be sold out after a week.
Trenitalia's algorithm works much like that of the airlines: in some cases, if a block of trains on a certain date does not have a profitable load factor (or a Breakeven one) the system may issue some new discounted fares to "see" what happens.
It's quite rare in summer, but in theory is mathematically possible and it did happen in the past.
On the other hand, if a train is historically very busy the system may issue immediately very few discounted fares that consequently run out on the very day of issue.
We are talking about an algorithm programmed to fill the trains and make Trenitalia get more money.

Yes, but again, for Milan to Venice, only full fares are showing for the third week in June (through the 24th) whereas super-economy and economy are available for earlier dates. I, too, was checking every day, and unless they soldout really quickly, no super-economy tickets were ever available. Will they become available?

I checked Trenitalia and Italiarail sites on Sunday 2/22 for a train from Florence to Rome on 6/14. Both sites said that schedules were not available for that date. That was past the 120 day mark but there were still no schedules posted. I have read somewhere that timetables change the 2nd Sunday of June and December so there is some delay with posting those dates. All of a sudden today the schedules were posted without economy or super economy available. Seems strange to change that quickly esp when tickets for the week before are available. Do I buy now and bite the bullet or wait to see if economy will be released at a later date? Thanks

I've just checked on www.trenitalia.com . I clicked the UK flag and then wrote 7 in the hour box. On June 14 there are SuperEconomy fares left on every Freccia train leaving from Firenze S.M. Novella to Roma Termini.
It's 19 € per person, one way. I really don't know why you can't see them.

Edit: http://goo.gl/mIBRJ7

They are up now but were not this morning. With this weather here in Chicago I'm getting very antsy for June! Thanks for all your help.

I've been monitoring Trenitalia website and knew exactly when the June 14 tickets went on sale. Unfortunately only the full base fares were initially loaded. Those people who thought the super cheap tickets had already sold out were mistaken because just today and just a little while ago the super low price June 14 tickets were loaded. I just bought mine. If you've already purchased your tix thinking the low fares were already gone then what's done is done. However, if you've been waiting now is the time to buy.

This is one of those things that you have to just shrug and say "it's Italy." You have to game the system by checking constantly, hourly if necessary to score the prized super-econ fares.

Recently I was looking for tickets 120 days out and they were not popping up (for June 11). Then magically one morning they started to appear, hour-by-hour they were released. At 8:59AM the tickets for 9:00AM 120 days out were not available, at 9:00 they were.

.Italo is better for advanced purchase if it suits your route and schedule, but the prices are not always as low.

Even better than the Super Economy ticket is the Bimbi Gratis ticket. Kids < 15 years travel free with a paying adult in groups of 2 to 5. That means 4 kids < 15 travel free as long as there is 1 paying adult. It's a super deal if you have kids in tow.

I'm still not seeing a 10:30 am train from Roma Termini to Orvieto for June 23, 2015 on the Trenitalia website. Any suggestions other than just keep trying? Thanks.

Dan, it is because it is a regional train and schedules for those are only posted seven days in advance. If you want to know what the likely schedule will be on the day you would like to travel to Orvieto just check that day of the week with in the next 7 days.

Also, because it is a regional train do not bother to buy the ticket till you are in Italy.

Hi, I'm looking to book a train from Rome to Cinque Terra and would like to take the train up the coast but have not been able to figure out how to do that. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Nell

nel,

Could you clarify whether you've been searching for routes using the name "Cinque Terre", or using the specific name of one of the five towns? That will have a big difference on whether you'll be able to find solutions.

I'd suggest using one of the direct trains from Roma Termini to La Spezia Centrale, and you'll be able to pre-purchase those tickets. However, from La Spezia to each of the five towns may be via Regionale trains, and it's awkward to purchase those online. I'd suggest just buying them locally from one of the Kiosks at Roma Termini, preferable the day prior to travel. There's no price break for those so no reason to buy them in advance. However, you MUST validate Regionale tickets prior to boarding the train on the day of travel, or you'll risk hefty fines which will be collected on the spot!

(FWIW, I've noticed that the Trenitalia website has been somewhat "erratic" the last few days. Sometimes, it works and sometimes it doesn't. If you get an error message, try again later).

Dan,

The schedules for the latter part of the year will be posted on 14 June, so that's probably why you're not seeing any solutions for 23 June. I'd suggest just researching a time in the next week or so, using the same day-of-the-week that you'll be travelling and that should provide a good idea of your travel options.

As I mentioned above, the Trenitalia website hasn't been working well the last few days, but I checked the Bahn.de website and that indicates a departure from Roma Termini at 10:30, arriving Orvieto at 11:43. That train is an InterCity, which means compulsory reservations. You can pre-purchase the ticket for that, as long as you're willing to commit to a specific train, date and departure time.

Ah thanks. I was able to find a train from Roma Termini to La Spezia Centrale. what I would like to know is how can I find a train that travels the rail line along the coast as opposed to the line that is inland and travels through Florence. Do you know how to get that information?

Nell

Yes, I'm able to see the Intercity train I want for 2 wks prior (June 9) but not for June 23. I was under the impression you could book these up to 120 days prior. Maybe its just the website. I'll keep trying. I hope I don't have to wait until June 14. I'd prefer to have the tickets in hand since I have a rental car reserved in Orvieto.

Thanks!

nel,

I believe the direct trains all travel along the coast. There's a direct departure at 09:57 and I believe that's as much "on the coast" as is possible (although it does zig-zag inland in a couple of places). The stops at Civitavecchia, Follonica, Livorno and Massa are pretty much on the coast. You can see the route by clicking "Show Intermediate Stops" and all the stations will be shown.

Dan,

In "normal" conditions you would be able to pre-purchase up to 120 days in advance. However, as your trip is after the 14 June schedule change, this is somewhat "uncharted territory" and I'm not sure what to suggest. They seem to be working on the website, as I've also found it to be somewhat problematic in the last few days. It's possible when they finish whatever they're doing, purchases after 14 June will be possible?

A suggestion - try and make your purchase through Italia Rail and that should work (although you may pay a "fee" for their services).

In any case, whether you pre-purchase or not, you should have no trouble getting to Orvieto to collect your rental car.

Nell,

You may want to take the Intercity train (# 510) that travels from Roma Termini to La Spezia.

This train stops at many of the cities along the coast & it will take about 4 hours to get to La Spezia.

When you check the trenitalia website, type the following:

From: Roma Termini

To: La Spezia Centrale

Once you get to the train schedules, look for the times that offers the Intercity train #510,
then click on the tiny grey i icon (information) below the train number, to see all stops that particular train will make.

For example, there is an Intercity train leaving Roma Termini at 9:57am & arriving at La Spezia at 13:58.

Here are all the stops that train will make:

Arrival Departure Station

09:57 Roma Termini

10:05 10:07 Roma Ostiense

10:45 10:47 Civitavecchia

11:36 11:39 Grosseto

11:56 11:58 Follonica

12:07 12:09 Campiglia Marittima
12:43 12:45 Livorno Centrale

13:00 13:03 Pisa Centrale

13:16 13:18 Viareggio

13:29 13:31 Massa Centro

13:37 13:39 Carrara-Avenza

13:58 La Spezia Centrale

I have not taken this particular train, so I don't know what the scenery will be like.

Hope this is helpful to you!

I have taken the train from La Spezia to Rome a couple of times. Reasonably certain it would be the "coastal" route. My recollection is that you really don't see much coast and that you spend a significant about of time passing through industrial zoned areas, especially after you leave La Spezia and before you turn inland on the approach to Rome. You do get to see the marble quarries of Carrara from a distance.