Hi all Looking to book a train from Monaco (Monte Carlo) to Santa Margherita Ligure (nearest train stop to Portofino Italy) for June 19th 2011. According to TGV Europe, the 1017 train with a couple of stops is already booked out, the 1417 isnt However I find this hard to believe since no trains are even listed yet on TrenItalia.com Furthermore, supposedly these regional trains cant be booked online, only up to 7 days prior to departure.
Bahn.de doesnt let me book online either Does anyone know the best way to get the train that I want? Looking for the 1017 one Thanks
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
The reason you are having trouble finding all the trains for 19 June is that new timetables will go into effect on 12 June. Trenitalia is notorious for being the last national rail company to upload their timetables and bahn.de cannot show them until Trenitalia does. The new timetables should be virtually identical to the old ones. Enter 5 June as your travel date and you'll get complete timetables. You'll see that you will leave Monaco on a regional train, transfer to an IC train at Ventimiglia, and transfer to another IC train at Genova. Buy your tickets in Monaco. Seat reservations are required on IC trains and they come with the ticket. It is extremely unlikely that either IC train will be sold out. FYI, to book tickets on bahn.de your route must either be entirely within Germany or either start or end in Germany.
Posted by
OP
Sydney
7 posts
Hi I just checked the timetables for Snuday 5th June, and there seem to be more trains, but varying from 4hr to 6hr journeys. Obviously would prefer the shortest one which is at 1017. I think normal weekdays have more trains, but Sundays are more limited. I emailed TGV Europe about the 1017 being marked as "fully booked" on their website and they replied, "we confirm that teh trains are fully booked" Can these trains even be fully booked out? My understanding was that this is not possible?
If that's the case, what are TGV Europe on about then? Thanks
Posted by
OP
Sydney
7 posts
Thanks for your help Tim, very useful info I assume that I just disregard TGV Europe's email then as it sounds like Regional and Intercity trains cannot be booked out? And simply buy my ticket when I get to Monaco for the full trip to Santa Margherita Ligure?
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
Danny, Regional trains cannot sell out. If all seats are taken, you are allowed to stand. It is extremely unlikely that you will need to do that. Seat reservatiions are required on IC trains so it would be possible for a particular train to sell out, but that is extremely unlikely for the route you will be traveling. I do not understand the message you got from tgv-europe. The 10:17 train from Monaco to Ventimiglia is a regional train. No seat reservations are possible and it cannot sell out.
Posted by
OP
Sydney
7 posts
THANKS TIM! Will ignore all the stuff I am seeing on the websites and get my tickets in Monaco in the morning of the day I am leaving Monaco
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
You're welcome , Danny. I suggest that you buy your tickets as soon as you arrive in Monaco. That way you'll reduce even further the possibility of an IC train being sold out and you won't have to get to the station early on the day of departure.