Trains on Sunday AM - Parma to La Spezia

I found these:

Parma(I) Su, 27.07.14 dep 07:48 1:57 0 R
La Spezia Centrale Su, 27.07.14 arr 09:45

Parma(I) Su, 27.07.14 dep 08:25 3:55 2 R

La Spezia Centrale Su, 27.07.14 arr 12:20

Parma(I) Su, 27.07.14 dep 10:01 4:35 3 R, IC

La Spezia Centrale Su, 27.07.14 arr 14:36

The one at 7:48 takes half the time of the other two

I did a brief search of the Trenitalia website, and found numerous departures, but there does seem to be a gap between 07:48 and 13:39. The bahn.de website shows two additional departures at 08:25 and 10:01 but they are CONSIDERABLY LONGER! I'd suggest using the 07:48 departure to La Spezia Centrale, as it's only 1H:57M with no changes. Note that you'll be riding on a Regionale train, so DON'T forget to validate your ticket prior to boarding the train on the day of travel.

UH - didn't I say that 12 hours ago?

Thank you Ken, I guess, for clearing that up!

@Christi,

Yes, you did mention that. Reading the schedules in that format was a bit hard to follow so I wanted to provide a bit of further clarification and add the caution about validating tickets.

Thanks. You guys confirmed what I thought. I will be taking trains for 1st time from Milan to Parma then La Spezia. If i understand correctly, i buy the ticket and then validate/punch/stamp the use before getting on train, correct?

I have 2 pieces of luggage (carry on & med/large). I am sure the carry on can go in overhead. What is recommended for larger piece?

thx

Tickets for Regionale trains are not specific to a particular train, so can be used on any "R" train within about a week from purchase. Therefore, you must validate the ticket prior to boarding the train in the yellow or green & gray trackside machine. If you're using one of the "premium" trains such as the Freccia high speed, then tickets do not have to be validated (although it doesn't hurt to do so). However the tickets for the faster trains are specific to a particular train, date and departure time and can only be used for the one train specified on the ticket.

Any irregularities with tickets in Italy (failing to validate, boarding the wrong premium train) will often result in hefty fines, which will be collected on the spot!

Larger luggage items are normally placed on racks at one end of each car. However if the car is only lightly loaded, you may be able to also keep the larger item at your seat, perhaps on the floor. The luggage racks tend to fill up quickly, so you may not find any available space if you're one of the last to board. THIS excellent website shows everything you'll need to know about luggage on trains.

Maybe you were probably looking at a date too far in the future. Complete train schedules are on DB at least through October. If your destination is not actually La Spezia but a different town in the Cinque Terre, then go ahead and search to your final destination.