(This was already part of another question but thought I'd ask it as it's own topic:)
Do Italian trains ever fill up (2nd class)? Can we be assured of getting two seats "on the fly?"
A. Train from Venice to Firenze
B. Train Firenze to Cinque Terre (La Spezia?)
C. (Cinque Terre trains/ferries) Train from Cinque Terre to Assisi
D. Train from Assisi to Roma
Thanks!
Pete & Robyn
Yes, Italian trains do fill up, especially 2nd class. I usually make reservations to be guaranteed a seat.
Peter, many of the trains that you will be on will be Regionale trains. The runs from Florence to Assisi (yes you will change trains in Florence from the CT), the runs from Assisi to Rome and most runs from Florence to the CT are on Regionale trains. No seat reservations are possible on the R trains. Its like your local bus. You buy a ticket, hop on and find your seat. If no seats you stand. Wait until you see the zoo on the R trains in the CT. The trains are packed. Just get on. Note on the runs I mentioned above, you will see the occasional ICPlus train or a ES*fast train. These will require seat reservations. Use the www.trenitalia.com website to plan your travel schedule and you will see which trains are which on these different runs.
I am more in Larry's camp. I have never encountered a full second class train in June or July in Italy. I have seen them crowded but always found a seat but we have not traveled in the CT area. We have done Rome, Florence, Milan, Venice but a number of others in those general areas.
