I'm researching a trip i am planning to Italy and I'm reviewing train schedules in an effort to plan my itinerary. I notice a train from Rome to Cinque Terre can have connections and all of the trains have me arriving at 4:59 AM. When reviewing the trip in detail, I would arrive at the station around midnight but the next train doesn't depart until 4:50AM. My questions. Am I sitting on a platform in the middle of the night by myself in Levanto for 4 hours? Can I stay on the train that got me to the station or is it leaving? Can I board the train travelling into Vernazza or does it not arrive until just before departure? Please shed some light in how connecting trains work.
Posted by
Minneapolis
1277 posts
Hi Myra. For what date and towns are you looking? Also, on trenitalia web site, to the right of the date selection, there is an hour selection. Make sure that the hour selection is set to '08', or whatever time of day you are looking to leave Roma. Sometimes it defaults to an odd hour like 21 in which case night trains will be shown. Also, if your travel is after June 12, the schedule may not be accurate; use a date prior to June 12 to get an accurate schedule. Try it again and if still questions, let us know. Enjoy your trip!
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32405 posts
Myra,
A bit of further information would help. What is your date of travel, and which website are you using to research trains?
There are numerous trains from Rome to the Cinque Terre every day, so you're not limited to travel in the wee hours of the morning. The quickest method is to take one of the direct (no changes) trains from Roma Termini to La Spezia Centrale, which have a travel time of about 3H:45M. From La Spezia it only takes a few minutes to get to the five towns of the Cinque Terre. Which town are you planning to stay in?
Posted by
Green Bay
21381 posts
I suspect that you are looking at trains after June 12, and a lot of them are not officially scheduled yet, so you are only seeing the trains that are scheduled, like night trains. For planning purposes, just look at the same day of the week you plan to travel in the next week. Schedules don't change much, but they can't post them on the internet until they are absolutely certain of the schedule.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
The Trenitalia site will default to Italian time unless you change the clock, so if you are looking for schedules at 2pm EST, the clock will show 2000 (8pm Italy time).
You must depart the train when you arrive at your connection, even if the train stays in the station. Trains generally only stop for a minute or two, but if your departing train is in the station, you can board it (once the doors are unlocked, which sometimes happens just before departure).
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
So if you actually wanted an overnight train, now you've found the reality that this is not a very comfortable or practical route for taking one because it's not long enough.
Posted by
OP
Lawrenceville
5 posts
Thanks for all of the responses guys. This is awesome!
Bob: That's a great tip
Ken: Good to know that trips to Cinque Terre are plentiful
Sam: Confession, I'm planning over a year out, so I see the issue, LOL. It is good to know they only post times that are set in stone
Zoe: I didn't realize the time zone thing. I'll note that when I check back, Thanks
Laura: So true.
Thanks again guys for all of the information. I can't wait to travel (obviously when I'm researching details like train departure times for August 2017, ROFL)