Train from Orvieto to Rome

It is indeed because it is a Regionale. You no doubt bought a ticket on an Intercity for the 24th, but tickets on the Regionali trains are only sold 7 days in advance. As there is not reserved seating on a Regionale, you can just buy at the station prior to departure.

I am confused.

Yes, the 08:59 is a Regionale (R2305) and because it is a Regionale and the date you want is more than 7 days out you can't buy it.

But how will going to Roma Tiburtina help you? Are you then intending to take another train from there to the airport? It can certainly be done, but it is not how most people would do it. Did you know that the 08:59 doesn't call at Termini?

What time is your flight? What exact day?

Did you know that (for the day I picked - 3 Sep) you could take a Euronight at 0802 which arrives in Termini at 9:22, 90 minutes earlier than the one you were looking at?

Or the 07:31 InterCity which takes less than an hour, arriving Termini 08:26. This one and the EuroCity require reservations and are a couple of Euro more expensive but not much.

Or is you want an earlier Regionale, there is one at 06:57, arr 08:21 which does go to Termini.

At Termini you can get the Leonardo Express....

Ah, Nigel, such a thorough reply and good questions!

Wow, didn't know I had options! We are leaving Rome on Saturday, September 12 on a 3:15 p.m. flight. Our plan was to take the 8:59 to Termini, and then another train to the airport. We are staying at an agriturismo near Orvieto until that morning, when we will be returning our rental car across the street from the Orvieto train station. We'd prefer to leave Oriveto not much earlier than 8:00 if possible. Where did you find this information on these options? I was just going on the trenitalia website. Thank you so much!

The night train seems problematic as it is the last leg of the Vienna-Rome night train operated by OEBB. It shows unavailable for on-line pruchase on the Trenitalia site. Don't know how that works.

OP's route seems perfectly acceptable way to get to Fiumicino shortly before noon (for a 3 pm flight?). It is the lowest cost way, since the airport trains from Tiburtina cost less than the Leonardo Express trains, although they do take a bit longer since they make more stops along the way. On the plus side, they go every 15 minutes on weekdays. 15.10 euro for Orvieto to Fiumicino.

True, Sam.

And they all show on Trenitalia, I have it open as we speak. I start looking around 6 or 7 in the morning and then look later.

The InterCity has Super Economy seats available at the minute for €9 pp as far as Termini, FYI.

What time does the car place open on a Saturday? Do you know, Phyllis?

(Or, have you considered driving to the airport, since you already have the car?)

I must have put in a time on the trenitalia site that wasn't showing me the earlier trains. It looks like there is one that leaves Orvieto at 8:02, arriving at Roma Termini at 9:22, then goes from Termini to the airport, arriving at 10:07, but the first leg of that is the Euro Night - so that is unreliable? I may consider taking the 8:02 and then hanging out in Rome for breakfast and catch a later train to the airport, which could be nice. Thanks everyone for all of this great info!

Nigel, the rental place doesn't open until 8:30, but we can leave the car and keys in a drop box, so we're good there. We really want to avoid driving to the airport - between using a stick shift which we aren't that comfortable with, the traffic, and the crazy driving we've been told about, we figured taking the train was much more relaxing.

Keep in mind that the Hertz office in Orvieto opens at 8:30 on Saturdays. You might check what their policies are on dropping it off early. The space in front of the office is tiny, so you also might ask where to put the car if the spots are full. You don't want to stress when you are trying to catch a train!

The problem with that Euronight, is both the ticketing, but mostly that it will have come all way from Vienna and had all night to perhaps lose its schedule, plus it will be rigged for night, and you would perhaps have to go into a chair car, and that train is usually a very long one and sod's law says the car you need would be at the other end of the train from where you are.

The Regionale (actually a Regionale Veloce), as identified by Sam, is probably a decent choice, with the connection at Tiburtina onto the local train to the airport.

But it is probably your last possible combination to get to the airport with less stress.

I work on the British railways - different I know, but I do know that things happen - and I usually like to go earlier than I need to so that if things do have problems I keep my stress level down.

I don't rent cars, but I have heard that if you drop your car when the office is closed, take plenty of photos.

Fair play if you don't want to drive to the airport. But you will have had practice diving in Umbria (and maybe a bit of Toscana?) and motorway driving is motorway driving pretty much anywhere. 90 minutes, virtually all motorway, and you're there. I wouldn't be concerned on a Saturday morning, but I'm not you.

It is nice that you have choices. I love Orvieto. You're lucky to be going there....

This is all amazing advice! Thanks everyone so much!

I would not take an Intercity the day I need to fly out, they are notoriously late. I agree about the night train, too.

Can I purchase for the 7:31 intercity, but if it's that late, then take the 8:59 regional? Are the tickets interchangeable? Would the 7:31 be THAT late?

Well according to ViaggiaTreno http://www.viaggiatreno.it/viaggiatrenonew/index.jsp it was right on time this morning.

Sometimes InterCities are indeed late, mostly the ones which run most of the length of the country and get caught up in several delays along the way.

The one you are looking at only originates in Firenze.

You can follow its progress for several days, if you have patience, to see trends, however nobody can predict a particular day.

By the way, the Regional Veloce you first asked about arrived at Tiburtina 2 minutes early today.

No, your ticket for the Intercity will not be valid on any other train, it is specific to one teain.

Nigel is right, it depends on where the Intercity originates.

On Friday, all trains have left Orvieto this morning (Italy time) on time. The IC is on its way to Rome and is currently 4 minutes late, having lost a few moments on the way into Rome.

Thanks Nigel! I bought tickets for the 7:31 - just to Termini, since there are plenty of trains throughout the morning to the airport and that will allow us to grab a late breakfast in Rome. So even if it's running an hour late, we'll be fine. Thanks again to everyone for all of the advice.