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Train Geek (Me) Is Happy Today

I have to share this with people I know will understand...after daily visits to the Italian train sites trying to wish open the dates I wanted, one finally did open. I was able to purchase the first train leg for my June trip in Italy today, Milan to Florence. On ItaloTreno, which will be new to me. I am travelling solo, so I treated myself to Prima for an extra $15. I'm so excited that I may sleep with the confirmation page under my pillow tonight. Yup, that's the definition of a train geek. I trust I'm not the only one here...anyone else have stories about stalking train or airline sites waiting for the "perfect" date/fare/seat?

Before you comment - no, it's not on my date of arrival from North America, so I'm not worried about missing the train. I'm spending a week near and then at Lake Orta first. But this will be the first train ride of the trip. On a fast, shiny red train!

Posted by
5294 posts

Nelly,
Congratulations!
I did the same thing for my trip to Spain last year, but my story was not as successful as yours.
I had been searching the Renfe website for our AVE tickets from Sevilla to Madrid.
One night I found the tickets for the date & time I wanted, but didn't purchase them right there & then because my family & I were on a summer vacation at the beach. We were busy enjoying our last day of vacation and I thought to myself, I'll buy them tomorrow when we get home.... Well... big mistake!
The train I'd wanted to take was completely full!
So... I just purchased tickets for a much earlier train instead... And.., we arrived earlier to our next destination, so it all worked out in the end :-)

Enjoy your trip!!!

Posted by
1634 posts

Phred if you haven't read the Parks book, you should. Very unique and absorbing.

Posted by
1088 posts

I've read it and loved it. Can't say the same for his book about following the Verona soccer team around Italy one season, but the train book was so. I have fun.

Posted by
32353 posts

Nelly,

It's great to hear that you now have one of your tickets. Be sure you're clear on which station you're using in Milan, as Italo sometimes uses Milano Rogoredo station.

Posted by
1088 posts

Thanks, Ken, for the heads up. This one goes from Milano Centrale, but I believe it stops at Rogoredo. I'm looking forward to seeing the train station, it sounds amazing. That will likely be my only sightseeing in Milan, bit it'll do for this trip. I appreciate all you do for this board.

Posted by
32353 posts

Nelly,

Which station are you looking forward to seeing?

Posted by
1088 posts

Milano Centrale. I said I was a train geek...I've read the station is one of those great "age of Industry" behemoths. I love seeing all the tracks coming in and out and the imposing architecture. I loved going through Grand Central every day when I lived in New York. I got absolutely giddy riding a train across the Hohenzollern bridge into Cologne when I lived there. I think it's partly the thought of "all the places you'll go" as Dr. Seuss said, and partly all the nooks and crannies to explore.

Posted by
32353 posts

Nelly,

To provide some anticipation for the trip, you might enjoy watching a preview.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kB1UGpjFHc

If you'd rather be surprised, don't watch the preview.

One point to note is that there's now a glass wall and "gates" between the back part of the station where the tracks are, and the front part. If coming from the outside, only passengers with tickets can access the tracks.

Posted by
17442 posts

The Italo trains are very nice, especially in Prima. Congratulations!

Posted by
5294 posts

Nelly,

Have you seen the train station in Toledo, Spain?

It's a very small station, but the architecture is so amazingly beautiful!

Enjoy your trip!