We bought a number of our Italy train tickets on-line. For the e-tickets that we print at home or pick up at the station, do we need to validate them before getting on the train? Thank you.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
The only tickets that need to be validated are those that are not for a specific day and time. The validation process is designed to keep them from being used over and over.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32405 posts
william,
I rarely buy tickets online, but this is my understanding of how the process works.....
If the tickets are for the "premium" trains such as the Freccia or InterCity trains, no validation is necessary. These tickets will be for a specific train, date and departure time and can ONLY be used on the one train specified on the ticket. A PNR number will be provided, which you must provide to the Conductor (I'd probably print out the E-mail with the PNR no. and take it with me). If you board the wrong train, you'll be subject to hefty fines which will be collected on the spot.
If the tickets are for Regionale trains and have to be picked up at the station, they may need to be validated prior to boarding the train on the day of travel. I believe that some tickets sold online are pre-validated for a specific train, but if you have to pick the tickets up at the station (using a Kiosk is probably the easiest way to do that) this is not likely the case. Again, having unvalidated tickets will likely result in hefty fines.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thank you very much.
Posted by
Tampa, FL, USA
1054 posts
Check the ticket that your print out. I booked online and printed tickets for Venice to CT that had a high speed portion and a regionale portion. When I printed the ticket off the regionale one said the ticket was validated for 4 hours right on it. So I didn't have to validate at the station. Just check your printout