In looking at Trenord's website, it states that one can purchase online tickets that are valid for four hours after the date and time specified on the ticket. I am reading this to mean that if I purchase a ticket for, say, Sunday at 10:00, so long as I get on the train before Sunday at 14:00, the ticket will be valid. (Edit). My questions are, first, am I reading this correctly and, second, has anyone had any experience with this? The background for this question is a trip between Varenna and Milan. We won't be in any Italian train stations before we hit Varenna, so won't be able to buy tickets that way. I am aware that there are places in Varenna to buy tickets, but am curious if this other option is valid.
Posted by
Italy
3812 posts
To tell the truth on trenitalia.com it isn't different. But apart from that you have got how the system works. What are you worried about?
Posted by
OP
Dana Point
1226 posts
Not worried, just seeking clarification, which you provided. I appreciate it.
RE: Trenitalia vs. Trenord. I was mistaken. I thought I had read in previous posts that regionale tickets purchased from trenitalia.com had to be used in a certain time frame from the time of purchase, not the time indicated on the ticket. I went back and reread them and, obviously, I was wrong, and have edited my original post to avoid any confusion.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32405 posts
Eric,
I don't believe this is different than Trenitalia's policy. If you buy Regionale tickets online, these come pre-validated and have to be used within four hours of the time listed on the ticket. In the case of Trenitalia, it's only possible to buy these about a week before travel AFAIK, so not necessarily an option for those that want arrangements in place long before travel.
IMO, it's not necessary to pre-purchase tickets for Regionale trains as it's so easy to just buy them there, either from a Kiosk or a staffed ticket office. Just validate prior to boarding the train.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
The travel agency in Varenna sells these tickets all day long, except they close for a lunch break and close on Sundays off-season. It's on the main road below the train station, next to the hotel Albergo Beretta, and shown on Rick's map of Varenna in the guidebook. Close to Varenna's main square, Barilott bar also sells local train tickets. So you have both online and local options.