OK I'm a bit confused. I plan to travel from Rome to Venice by train. I get it that I should purchase the tickets in Italy in advance . But some websites state that certain tickets or certain trains require a mchine validation of the ticket after you have legally purchased them.And that a conductor will assess a mandatory fine. Would this pertain to a presumably fast train from Rome to Venice?Wouldn't the specific train # and departure time on the ticket be sufficient to prove you're entitled to that seat? Does this have something to do with having a reservation but not a ticket. Somebody advise. Thanks.
Posted by
Los Angeles
425 posts
Validation of tickets by inserting them in the little yellow/orange machines at the train station is now mandatory ONLY for the slow "regionale" trains used by commuters, for which seat reservations are NOT POSSIBLE. ALL OTHER TRAINS (having mandatory seat reservations) are exempted from the requirement of "validation" (but you may do so anyway if you feel like doing it).
Posted by
OP
Williamsville, NY
2 posts
Thanks for the quick reply.
Posted by
montepulciano, SIENA
21 posts
Yes, Gac is right!! But if you want to avoid any problem, print the tickets just before getting on the train inserting them in the small jellow boxes you'll find on the main entrance of the train station. Do not care if some tkts need this and others do not.... just print them all!!!!
ciao
Serena
Posted by
Atlanta
3250 posts
It's soooo easy to forget in rush to get on the train--try to find a trick for reminding yourself to validate at the yellow box before you board!
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23300 posts
You cannot have reservation without a ticket. There are really two type of tickets. An open ticket that you can buy anytime to be used anytime. Those ticket have to be validated for the time period you are traveling. Once validated, I think, they are good for 24 hours. The other is specific for train and seat and do not have to be validated because the ticket is only good for that train and seat. If you want to go on a different train then you would need to get a ticket for that train and seat. The Leonard Express is a good example of a ticket that needs to be validated since most people buy an open seating, 2nd class ticket. Now some folks recommend you get in the habit of validating everything so that you don't forget.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23300 posts
Of course, a rail pass IS A TICKET !!!!!
Posted by
Portland, Oregon, USA
306 posts
To avoid confusion just validate everything. There is a yellow timestamp box on each platform. It is real easy. I validate all my tickets. Better safe than sorry.
Posted by
Columbus, OH, USA
2026 posts
I never trusted myself to really understand any rail ticket I had and became obsessed with validating every one. Surely unnecessary but I felt better and safer than sorrier too.
Posted by
Norfolk, USA
255 posts
My understanding is that Eurostar tickets with a reservation for a certain day/train/seat do not need to be validated. However, I am of the school that validated everything on our second trip. We forgot to validate one of our regional tickets on our first trip and received a fine of about 5 euros (exchange rate was about 87 cents in those days so no big deal). From something I saw on this website some time back, I think those fines are now about 25 euros or $35.