Italian train tickets & validation - an update while I’m here in Italy

Hi Jean,

Thanks for sharing this information.

Here’s the link for all the details about digital regional tickets: trenitalia.com/purchase/digital-regional-ticket

Please note. You may not want to validate your ticket at 1 AM just in case you want to make changes to it, because once validated, you cannot make any changes.

Wishing you a wonderful trip!

Glad it has all worked out for you so far! Kudos for sharing the experience with others, and I hope you have a FABULOUS trip! :O)

I actually forgot to do this. I had a short 10-minute ride ticket from Venice-Mestre to Venice-Santa Lucia, and no one checked. Then I had a 3-hour ticket from Venice-Santa Lucia to Milan-Centrale w/ transfer in Verona. Also no one checked at either segment. Thank goodness!

Good point, Priscilla!

I’ve been more worried about remembering to validate at all and not incur an expensive fine since I always bought my train tickets ahead of time from home - even the regionales, and never needed to validate anything on past trips before getting on the trains.

Thanks, Kathy! So far it’s been spectacular!

• I have a bright pink Post-It with “Validate train” on it.* Super clever! I could have used that Post-it a time or two in Italy ;-/

During our trip in Italy we just validated the ticket using the app shortly before boarding the train. In fact, mosts of the time we even just bought the ticket before boarding the train. Using an app to buy a ticket, and then just board is quickly becoming the norm in Europe.

HUH, great update Jean, it's something I would not have known, loved the 'now I'm an expert' comment, ha. Isn't that nice, trip planning pays off! Can't wait to read your TR!!

Of course you can forego all that technology, and simply purchase your regional tickets at the station for day of travel. Yep, step up to one of the many ticket machines, select your train time, use contactless pay, and then validate your ticket at one of the time/date stampers before exiting the station in search of your track number.

It's worked for years and years - no bright coloured post-it notes required. Eliminates having to add bright coloured post-it notes and other various office supplies to one's packing list.

One issue you will increasingly encounter is that, due to the popularity of apps for purchasing tickets the railways are reducing the number of ticket machines (I know for example that the Swiss Railways are doing this).
So ticket machines might become rarer...

Never noticed any change in the number of Trenitalia ticket machines on my last 4-week foray in Italy. I'm sure it will likely change down the distant road, but never completely.

Buying them at the station on the day of travel beats validating your ticket on your smartphone and then screenshot the validation - hmmm ... validating the validation.

One issue you will increasingly encounter is that, due to the
popularity of apps for purchasing tickets the railways are reducing
the number of ticket machines (I know for example that the Swiss
Railways are doing this). So ticket machines might become rarer...

Or in the case of Italy; not working. At the FCO station to get the Leonardo Express into Rome there were 6 ticket machines, but only 2 were working, and there seemed to be a lot of confusion using those two as people kept throwing up their arms in frustration. We ended up having to buy from the ticket window.

On one of our recent trips to Italy we found that the ticket machine in the station required a PIN, and our chip card does not have one. So we had to go to the window to buy our tickets for the regional train that day.

@Jean: "Suddenly I’m the expert on this -LOL!" This does not surprise me in the least! Happy others realized your depth of knowledge and research! I'm sorry you are still having wakefulness during the night. I'd recommend more gelato and cannoli, !!!

@ CWSocial: "I have a bright pink Post-It with “Validate train” on it. Super clever! I could have used that Post-it a time or two in Italy ;-/"
If you are out and about on a road trip this summer, try to come to one of our meet-ups! Jean IS the Post-it Note Queen!!

I have reserved seat tix from Termini to Lecce for a specific train # and time that I purchased on the Trenitalia site. Do I also need to validate these tix? or can we simply board the train and show our QR codes to the conductor when they pass by? Thanks.

”Buying them at the station on the day of travel sure beats waking up at 1 o'clock in the morning all in a tizzy to validate your ticket on your smartphone and then screenshot the validation - hmmm ... validating the validation - talk about unnecessary angst whilst travelling.”

WOW, sorry that I was trying to be helpful to others here since people on the train yesterday were also having issues and confused. I hate to have them pay fines when they had purchased a ticket.

I am very mellow here. Somebody needs a vacation……

To Will's question, and to add to clarify... this thread is only about validating regional tickets. Tickets that have reserved seats for a specific train do not need to be validated. Just board the train, and when the conductor comes by, show them your QR code, or even just show them or tell them your PRN number. Have a great trip!

I also take paper copies….. and also screenshots of every single ticket and document I’m bringing with me, and add them to my IPad as well as the phone.
Not everyone relies solely on a phone that could potentially be lost.
Belt and braces, especially when traveling alone.

It sounds like your trip is off to a good “mellow” start, Jean.
Have fun!

Thanks SJ, I am really enjoying southern Italy! I’m finishing up two nights in Polignano a Mare, and it’s really been a mellow itinerary! I only had a cave boat ride planned; otherwise, just enjoying being here was the plan! Fulfilled it! : )

Hi,

I just bought tickets for a journey Thursday from the Rome airport to Vernazza via ricksteves.raileurope.com and received a confirmation email from Trenitalia. There are multiple legs: Fiumicino-Roma Ostiense-Pisa Centrale-La Spezia Centrale-Vernazza. The email includes a Check-In & Barcode button. I understand I can check in anytime after midnight on the day of travel. I assume clicking the button results in a validation barcode.

Q1. Do I need to check in for each leg of the trip or does one click of the button validate all the legs?

I've also downloaded the RailEurope app and it shows my tickets, but I don't see any barcodes on them or a Check-In & Barcode button.

Q2. Is there a way to validate the tickets in the RailEurope app?

Thank you,

Peter

As a side note, there are Trenitalia ticket machines at Rome's Fiumicino Airport, not just at the adjacent train station, but actually at Arrivals level near the curb doors. Nice way to get those train tickets over with while you wait for your ride.

Peter, the Trenitalia instructions mention that you’re either validating through their app, or through an email link as you received.

When I looked at my ticket for Caserta - Bari - Polignano a Mare, it comes up in the app as one, but when I click on that reservation, it brings up the two separate tickets. I assume yours will do the same.

That’s great to know Red G. Thanks for sharing! When I went to buy the Leonardo Express ticket at the train station, the lines for each machine took awhile, mainly because people were trying to figure out how to use them.

Q1. Do I need to check in for each leg of the trip or does one click of the button validate all the legs?

My experience is that if a ticket covers multiple trains that one check in does check you in for all of them.

I've also downloaded the RailEurope app and it shows my tickets, but I
don't see any barcodes on them or a Check-In & Barcode button. Q2. Is
there a way to validate the tickets in the RailEurope app?

I hope you didn't buy regional Italian train tickets using Rail Europe. But anyway, the ticket should have a PNR code on it (like an airline ticket would) and with your name and that code you can add them to the Trenitalia app. I used that with tickets I bought from SBB.

I have reserved seat tix from Termini to Lecce for a specific train #
and time that I purchased on the Trenitalia site. Do I also need to
validate these tix? or can we simply board the train and show our QR
codes to the conductor when they pass by? Thanks

It has never been necessary to validate tickets, when you were traveling on an IRT (Integrated Reservation Ticket) ticket, and on the actual train you reserved. When you get a traditional paper ticket, printed on CIT stock, there will actually be text on it to that effect.

"If you are out and about on a road trip this summer, try to come to one of our meet-ups! Jean IS the Post-it Note Queen!!"

I've seen her travel boards ... very colorful!!

And I do need a road trip!

I’ve been remembering to validate but I sure wish there was a way to put the Regionale tickets into Wallet. It’s an extra step to login to trenitalia to validate (although easy!) and I do have an easy login set up, but darn-I’m lazy and like the one step of Wallet. Plus I can see if I actually purchased the ticket in the list of tickets I have. Reminds me, I still need to look at Regionale to Spello Jean.

When I went to buy the Leonardo Express ticket at the train station, the lines for each machine took awhile

I had the Trenitalia app installed and used it to buy our tickets both directions (to and from the airport)

I’ve been remembering to validate but I sure wish there was a way to put the Regionale tickets into Wallet. It’s an extra step to login to trenitalia to validate (although easy!) and I do have an easy login set up, but darn-I’m lazy and like the one step of Wallet. Plus I can see if I actually purchased the ticket in the list of tickets I have.

Do you have the trenitalia app? I was able to add regionale tickets to the "saved journeys" part of the app using the ticket number and email address to link it to my account. It appears that I'll be able to validate from there on the day of travel.

A young couple from Philadelphia & I had quite the entertainment at the Polignano a Mare train station waiting for our train this morning! We had the perfect view across the tracks to watch as people walked by ticket machine #1 which was taped off, walked up to ticket machine #2 which appeared to be working, but nope! That one didn’t work either. So, the queue for the third ticket machine - the only one working kept growing. So, as more people approached, they would start the cycle all over again. A kind guy with a “Cleaning Crew” vest would stop his work every five minutes and walk over to the queue at #2, the non-working one and explain & send them to ticket machine #3.

I will happily use the app!

Thanks for this very helpful information, Jean, and for the step-back perspective and reminder, Bob. Very useful post.