Using the train in Italy

1. Yes, high speed trains to Florence require a reserved assigned seat. These are classified as Freciarossa if using Trenitalia and another company Italotren runs high speed trains from Rome to Florence.
2. You will not be able to buy a ticket if it is full and if you are buying from a kiosk it will list all the trains that are already full. A live ticket agent of course will see the same.
3. All regional trains take longer and are listed with an R or RV.
4. Rome to Florence high speed trains comes with a seat assignment so you don't need to validate it. Florence to Siena you have to validate it is a regional train. Actually the bus is quicker and more convenient than the train on this route. The bus drops you inside the walls of Siena. The train requires you to take a taxi or a series of escalators and walking.
5. See answer to 1.

Hopefully the man in seat 61 will answer your questions:

https://www.seat61.com/train-travel-in-italy.htm

Hi, download the Trenitalia app, and you can easily purchase your tickets when you arrive. The cities are in Italian, so Roma Termini is the main station, and you’re going to Firenze (Florence). Depending on where your hotel is located, I prefer the bus from Florence to Siena because it drops us off in the station that’s very close to the soccer stadium & Campo. The bus station in Florence is around the corner from the SM Novella train station.

The train you want from the airport to Roma Termini is the Leonardo Express.

We have not made the train trip as you are planning. However, we can answer some of your questions based on our 2023 experience. 1. If you want reserved seats for Roma to Siena, yes. 2. You have 3 legs for the trip. The Leonardo express to/fro Roma Termini has never been a problem. Otherwise, we reserve seats where offered because years ago we did not and stood for the trip. 3. Check Rome2Rio.com, select trains and look at the "stops" category. 4. Yes as far as we recall. 5. See no. 2. The Siena train station is at the bottom of town, so either a long shlep up the escalators or take a taxi. Italy will be more crowded than your past experiences. Siena is one of our favorite cities and we have stayed at the same VRBO apartment. Enjoy your trip, safe travels AND return.

You can get a digital regional ticket from Florence to Siena and back that does not require physical validation. The conductor will just need to look at your phone and confirm the number of passengers in your group.

While the Siena station is not near the historic center, there are taxis there at the station and it is a short drive. I had a group of 5 and had no trouble getting a car big enough for 5 at the station or at the point where they drop you off in the center of town.

The Leonardo Express only goes to Rome Termini.

There is a DIRECT train from FCO right into Florence.

So you COULD have 2 legs instead of 3.

We did this in 2015. Is this still correct info ??

I would suggest going to the website Trenitalia.com and look up your date. Get familiar with what are the train options that day. Typically you know a general large window of time that you might be getting onto the first train, and you can see what are the options for the Frecciarossa faster trains between Roma Termini & Firenze SM Novella. Do a screenprint photo of it, so you can remember the gist of options, but of course, look at the actual when you arrive. I buy my train tickets ahead of time, except for any travel on arrival day.

” The Leonardo Express only goes to Rome Termini.
There is a DIRECT train from FCO right into Florence.
So you COULD have 2 legs instead of 3.
We did this in 2015. Is this still correct info ??”

It looks like everything is at least one connection to go between the Rome airport & Florence. And the Frecciarossa doesn’t go to the airport; the regionales all of that way, if that’s what you took, would be slower & stopping often, so no chance for a little nap.

There is typically only ONE direct FCO to Firenze at 1:53 pm
All others require LE to Termini then fast train to Florence

Our flight arrives about 8 am so we won't wait for the direct train to Florence.

My cellphone doesn't work in Europe unless I have wifi, so I won't be buying the ticket using my phone.

I guess the Leonardo Express to Rome Termini requires validation?

Would I be safe to buy a ticket before we depart for Italy if the train departs from Rome Termini about 11am if my flight.
Getting through customs and immigration should take about an hour, then another half hour on the Leonardo Express. That would give me 3 hours since my flight arrives a bit before 8am.

Would I be safe to buy a ticket before we depart for Italy if the train departs from Rome Termini about 11am

Only if your flight is guaranteed to arrive at 8am would I take that risk.
Otherwise you could buy the most flexible train ticket that is refundable in any case you miss the train. These usually cost significantly more.

Smarter to wait til you arrive
Just buy all your tickets at the FCO station unless you are OK losing whatever you spend on a prepurchased ticket-the savings is probably only 30 euros if that

Delays happen and no way to predict how long immigration will take