We are a family of four (two teenagers) arriving in La Spezia from Rome via train at 15:44. We need to change trains and head to Monterosso. How much time should we allow for changing trains? There is a Regionale departing at 15:50 (15 minute ride) and an Express departing at 15:55 (22 minute ride). The next train is a Regionale at 16:15 (23 minute ride). We will each have a "larger" piece of luggage. I'd like to order these online before we leave.
Posted by
Green Bay
20977 posts
These trains are all Regionali, there are no reserved seats. If you buy the tickets on-line now, you will have seat reservations on the train from Rome, and prevalidated tickets for the train to Monterosso which have a window of several hours to use to get any Reginale to Monterosso. So if you miss the 15:50, just jump on the 15:55.
Posted by
Eastern Iowa, USA
7909 posts
Don't worry. Unless the tickets are part of a reserved ticket, you can't buy them much ahead. If you do not have them, pick them up in La Spezia and hop the next train, whatever time it is. You are on vacation, slow down and enjoy the inefficiency of the Italian train system, you will get there when you get there.
Posted by
Winooski, VT
285 posts
No need, that station is a piece of cake with only a few tracks, it's tiny. You will have no issues and the ride is super short. You could make a train in just a couple minutes if you had to.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32325 posts
td,
You should only need about five minutes to change trains at La Spezia Centrale, although if you have to haul your "larger" pieces of luggage down to the transfer tunnel and then back up, it could take slightly longer. Which train to take - the next one heading towards Monterosso.
For the trip from Rome to La Spezia, buying advance tickets will save money as that will be a Freccia or Intercity train. You won't save anything on the Regionale tickets from La Spezia to Monterosso, so it's just as easy to buy those locally. I often buy Regionale tickets the day prior to travel, using one of the Kiosks. That way I don't have to deal with it when I'm hauling luggage. All that's necessary is to validate the ticket and board the train.
If you decide to buy the Regionale tickets in advance, they will be pre-validated but must be used within four hours of the stated departure time on the ticket. One important point to note - should your train from Rome be a bit late arriving in La Spezia, there's an Intercity departure at 16:38. You can NOT use that train if you have Regionale tickets. It's important to verify which type of train you're using in relation to the tickets you have.
Posted by
OP
5 posts
Thank you all for your replies, it is much appreciated. I think I will just wait and purchase our tickets either when we are in Rome, or just wait until we arrive in La Spezia. I think I may be over-planning!!
Posted by
Minneapolis
1259 posts
Hopefully you will have to wait a few minutes in La Spezia. Then you'll have time to pop in to the track side McDonald's for an ice cream cone. Enjoy your trip!