On Trenitalia's website I'm trying to purchase train tickets Vernazza to Rome. I transfer in La Spezia. The next question on the website is to choose a ticket delivery. I'm so close to leaving for Italy that I don't want to choose the Home delivery option and the 2 ticketless options are not available. The only available option state: "Self service not available at the departure station". So my question is if I purchase the tickets, how do I go about validating them and not paying a fine once on the train if there is no self service at the departure station in Vernazza? Has anyone done this and what does it really mean. Thanks.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
Why not just wait and buy them once you arrive in Italy?
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
Unless you can get the mini-fares online, you might as well wait until you get there. The fares will be the same. Plus, the Regionale trains from Vernazza to La Spezia cannot be sold out. You can stand if needed. The trains in the CT do get quite crowded this time of year. I have experienced this in very late May. Also, I'm not sure that Vernazza even has a ticket office. I can't remember. You might want to buy your exit tickets to Rome before going to the CT. As long as you know your precise departure time, you can get a ticket on one of the nice Eurostars that depart La Spezia Centale for Rome.
Posted by
OP
Puget Sound
53 posts
I was told that there is no ticket station at Vernazza. I see the regional trains leaving Vernazza going to La Spezia on the trenitalia website but the website won't let me any of these trains to purchase. URGH. And then I would continue on to Rome from La Spezia. I can purchase some tickets from La Spezia to Rome Termini but need tickets from Vernazza to La Spezia as well. Help, where and how do I purchase these tickets from Vernazza to La Spezia?
Posted by
edmonton
91 posts
Regional trains are not bookable online. But you can buy a return Vernazza-La Spezia ticket in whatever station you are using to reach Vernazza. The station there is unmanned and apparently there's no ticket machine, but don't worry about validating a ticket -- that's done in a little yellow box on a wall.
Posted by
Tilburg, Netherlands
2829 posts
Exactly, buy the La Spezia-Roma section, and leave the regional trains to be bought once you arrive. Maybe if you try to purchase only the La Spezia - Roma sector, you'll find the ticketless option available.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
120 posts
There is a facility to buy train tickets at the Vernazza station, although it may not be open if you are leaving early in the morning. In that case, you just buy it the day before. Actually, there are two places at the station, but the Cinque Terre Park office is staffed more regularly (it opens at 7:00 AM). The regional trains that stop there are rarely full, so you don't have to worry about buying in advance. I just went through this procedure a week ago.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
16401 posts
When did the Vernazza station become "unmanned"? We bought tickets there last June, from an agent at the window. There was no ticket vending machine, but there definitely was an agent. I believe there was also a machine for validating them, outside by the track.