Trenitalia question

I may have found answer to my question on Trip Advisor, but nothing official on Trenitalia site. Does this sound correct? Train 1 and 2 are reserved and discounted.
trip advisor link

I'm sure the post you linked on TripAdvisor is right, but it seems it makes difficult something that's quite easy.
If you are travelling only with Trenitalia and you miss a connection because of Trenitalia, you are always protected. Discounted fare or not, it makes no difference. Two scenarios:

• You miss the high speed train from Bologna to Milan because the Intercity from Chiusi is late. Since standing is not allowed on Freccias, you must have a new seat assigned to you for free. Go upstairs and ask for help at one of the red Freccia booths.
• You missed the Regionale from Milano to Verbania because the Freccia from Bologna is late. There are no reserved seats on Regionale trains; an e-ticket is valid on the booked Regionale and on any other one running the same route and departing within the following few hours. For both reasons, if you miss the Regionale to Verbania you can freely board the next one.

If I understand your follow-up question correctly, all Intercity and Freccia trains require a seat reservation and discounted tickets are offered for those types of trains. Regional (R and RV) trains have open seating (no reserved seats) and ticket discounts are never offered. Regional tickets purchased online come pre-validated but allow at least a 4 hour window during which you can board a later regional train (but not an Intercity or Freccia).

• If it is a regional train - fixed price, no discount for advanced purchase, no reserved seats (just grab any empty seat). Tickets bought at the station are valid on any train, but you must timestamp (validate) them before getting on the train.
• Long distance trains (Frecciarossa, Intercity etc.) tickets are specific to a train. Ticket has date, time, train ID and seat number on it, only valid on that seat in that train. Large discounts for advanced purchase.

So your statement "Train 1 and 2 are reserved and discounted." is correct.

Thanks for the confirmation. Ready to book our tickets!

I think I'll wait to buy the regional tickets at the station, so we are not tied to the 4 hour window. No benefit price wise.

You can buy the Regionale ticket at any station and up to 120 days in advance. They'll ask you to choose a route and a day of travel, not a train. You won't be tied to the 4 hours window and you will avoid to exit the tracks area at Milano Centrale.

Karen,

Is there any reason we shouldn’t book the regional train to Verbania as part of this trip on Trenitalia? Or should we just purchase that leg at the Chiusi train station that morning.

You can certainly book your complete journey (Chiusi to Verbania).
You don't need to buy the Regionale ticket to Verbania separately.

The only reason one would want to book separate tickets, is if you intend to spend time in the transferring cities (Bologna or Milan in your case), however, this does not seem to be the case.

So you'll choose the following on the Trenitalia website:

• From: Chiusi-Chianciano Terme

• To: Verbania-Pallanza

Enjoy your trip!