Train Transfer Times

Fifteen minutes is adequate time in La Spezia, the station is not huge.

What happens if a train is late and we miss the next one?
Trains or planes. Same problem. If you are worried about the consequences of a missed connection, be prepared with a contingency alternative. Check timetable for next train or trains to your next destination and be prepared to deal with it.

...La Spezia, the station is not huge.
Question is not how long it take to get from one point to another at the station. The question appears to be about the pon-time reliability of the arriving train. If were an Amtrack where a long freight could sideline the passenger, good luck.

Fifteen minutes is pretty common especially for smaller stations. I have had five minutes where I got off the train, stood there, train leaves, wait five minutes, new train arrives, and I get on. However, you should not be slow about getting off. Most experienced riders will gather by the door, luggage in hand, a couple minutes prior to the train arrival. It is a bit of push as everyone jams to get off.

If you miss a train because it is late, what you do next depends on the type of ticket you hold. If traveling on a Regionale train ticket, then you just get on the next Regionale train. Any other ticket will need to be exchanged for a new ticket with a new seat reservation. Do not attempt to jump on the next without the proper seat reservation -- if caught, the fine is substantial and immediate. Take you old ticket and go to the ticket window for a new ticket. The ticket window will know that the train was late and it was not your fault for missing the connection.

But, depending on the station, the ticket window may have quite a line, including some people who are having lengthy conversations about planning future trips, mixed in with others who are in a hurry to catch a train right at the moment. First in line, first served, as far as I could tell.

Larry, that may be true but what is the alternative? You have to go to the window for a new seat reservation. Cannot just get on the next train. I have see all kinds of set ups from stand in single line to take a number. In smaller stations the lines generally are short simply because they do not have the business of big stations. The only place that I have seen really bad lines is Rome's termini.

Frank, thank you! Your reply was very helpful. I guess I was just wondering if the short transfer times are normal and if people can handle them on a regular basis then I should be fine...I hope!

Our transfers are in Pisa and Florence. Pisa is probably a smaller station, but I worry about Florence :(

You're right Frank, there seems to be no alternative to dealing with the lines as you find them. But I have been in long and slow lines in Milano, Napoli and Ravenna, and this was among relatively few total train trips during this past year.

The keys for us is the train number and time of departure. The departure board will show final stop and some in-between stops but not all. There when you get off the train, know the train number and time and look on the departure board. Many are now a LED display but you will still find the old water fall style. The departure board will be at the head of the platform or at the station side if a only a couple of platforms in a station where trains pass through. Florence is a termini style.

Some large train stations have a Customer Care window or office. The lines are shorter but the conversations tend to be longer.