I purchased two frecca train tickets online early for June to save money. One from Florence to Venice one from Venice to Milan. I have a two part question. First, for the Florence to Venice journey we will actually be coming from Vernazza to Florence in the morning to catch that train and my plan was to buy the regional tickets from Vernazza to florence a few days before, is this ok? Second, they sent me PDF files with what looks like the tickets that I printed out. They have a PRN number and bar code. I'm assuming these are what we need to board the train. Do I need to validate these somehow before boarding the train and if so how?
Posted by
Escondido, CA, USA
16 posts
It's my understanding (and I hope someone confirms this), that all you need is to show the conductor the PRN code. Please verify!
Posted by
Toronto, Canada
415 posts
Yes - you need the PRN and the bar code. You don't need to validate these in advance because they are for a specific date, time, train and seat. I generally just take the PDF printed out from home and show it to the conductor when he comes along for tickets.
The regional ticket you will get from Vernazza to Florence will not be for a specific date or time and that's why you have to validate it before you get on the train. You are essentially cancelling the ticket so it can't be used again for another trip.
Posted by
Los Angeles
2 posts
We were in Italy a few weeks ago and travelled by train many times. Just print your PDF file tickets with the PRN number and bar code. There's noting to validate. Just show them to the conductor when he/she comes 'round checking tickets. Enjoy your travels!
Posted by
Pittsburgh, Pa, USA
28 posts
Italiarail instructed us as follows: You are traveling on an e Ticket, no paper ticket is needed prior to boarding the train. You simply provide the ticket number(PNR) to the conductor for validation. Please note your train car(carriage) and seat number(s) below..." These are on your email confirmation.
We are simply going to show the email receipt with this info to our conductor AFTER boarding.
Bob
Posted by
OP
Kennewick, Wa
63 posts
I LOVE THIS FORUM!! Thanks EVERYONE for your help.
Posted by
32 posts
Thank you this helps me too. Is it necessary to register to purchase tickets? If I don't register will they still email me tickets to print out? Thank you
Posted by
Pa and Italy
4152 posts
You do not need to register to buy tickets. Yes, you will still get the email with the PNR code.
Tammy, yes, you should just buy your regional tickets from Vernazza to Florence at the train station the day of travel. There is no need to buy them in advance for a regional train. These tickets will need to be validated.
Donna
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
I recommend taking a printout of your e-ricket to show the conductor. If you rely on the e-ticket alone and for any reason technology fails, you are riding without a ticket - big fine.
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
I read Bob's reply above. True all you need is the PNR number. But, I've never been without my paper print out with the PNR number shown on the paper. Note that the paper version has a QR scan code. The conductor simply scans the code with his handheld PDA. This ticket does not need to be validated. If by chance, you have purchased tickets for a journey that includes a Freccia fast train and a regionale train, you will receive the ticket for the regionale train as well. The regionale train ticket will be pre-validated as opposed to a ticket you buy at the train station in Italy which must be validated before boarding. It will say so on the paper you print out. Note, however, that the regionale train ticket will not have the 6-digit PNR code. It will have an 8-digit number.
Posted by
Martinez, CA, USA
1558 posts
We just returned from Italy and we brought a print out of the tickets (what you have already printed). We showed this to the conductor who scanned the bar code.