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How early are Italian Train Tickets available?

Posted by Ray (Tigard, OR, USA) on 04/15/10 06:37 AM

I prefer traveling by train in Europe and it works out well for me. I was on Trentitaliano website looking around and I had a few questions. When I type in a trip between two cities... say Pisa and Florence, for next week, the trips are listed. When I check for the dates we will be there (in Sept.) it says something like "no solution." So how early can you pre-purchase tickets? Also, is there any good place which shows rail lines and schedules for Italy (without typing in each individual trip?) TIA

ps I have RS Italy 2010 Book and his downloadable Rail Map among other things

Posted by Frank

Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA

04/15/10 07:06 AM

23626 posts

The better rail experts will be along shortly. Rail schedules are load about 90 days in advance sometimes less. There is very little change from time to time. It is very difficult for Americans to purchase over the internet from Italian rail. Don't like our credit cards. The ONLY advantage to purchasing earlier is some discounts that may be available. In all of our travels in Italy during summer months we never found a full train. So you really do not need to worry about not getting a seat. bahn.de is a good site for rail trip planning. Buy you Italian train tickets the day you hit the ground in Italy.

Posted by Tim

Minneapolis, MN, USA

04/15/10 07:36 AM

8700 posts

Listen to Frank. Buy your tickets when you get to Italy. Trenitalia's site rejects US credit cards, but your card will work in the ticket machines at the station and at the ticket window.

Normally you can see timetables on the Trenitalia site up to 90 days in advance. However, new timetables will go into effect throughout much of Europe on 13 June and Trenitalia is always the last national rail company to upload theirs. And until they do so, the German rail site, which has timetables for most of Europe, can't show them for Italy.

Posted by Norm

Ottawa, Canada

04/15/10 07:59 AM

4555 posts

If you have an Amex card, some have recently reported sucess by contacting an Amex office in Italy and asking them to book it for them.

Posted by Ray OP

Tigard, OR, USA

04/15/10 08:06 AM

1068 posts

Many thanks for the replies. I will follow the advice. I have run into a few full trains before (not in Italy... first time there!) usually when I travel during "business times" like 7:30am or something. I will do my best to control my anxiety and wait to buy the tickets!

Posted by elaine

washington, dc

04/16/10 05:30 PM

395 posts

unless things have changed, you can't buy trenitalia.com tickets with an US Credit card. The best thing to do is go to an Italian travel agency (same price as at the station) as soon as you get there and buy tickets, in case there is still a discounted fare available. Be prepared, those low rates were gone for us in Sept and it was full fare for all major trains. Also, if it is Pisa-Florence, there's a train every hr and it's about $10 or so--just walk up and buy one.

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