train transportation from Vernazza to La Spezia...

The trip only takes around 20 minutes. The current timetables show trains leaving Vernazza at 05:01, 06:24, and 07:16 with arrivals at La Spezia at 05:22, 06:44, and 07:34 respectively. This is for Monday-Saturday. On Sunday the first train leaves at 06:24 and the next one doesn't leave until 08:16. Taking the 07:16 train would work fine--except for Sunday when you'd need to take the 06:24 train.

Tim,
thanks very much for the info!
Jan

Tim,
One more question: did you find the train schedule for Cinque Terre "milk run" trains online? ( I'v perused the bahn.de site for other trains).

I assume I can buy tickets ( from machine) when I arrive- for trains for the following couple weeks for the major cities..Florence-LaSpezia;, LaSpezia to Venice; Venice-Milan.....not going til Sept ..

Yes, I found the timetables on bahn.de. You can also find them on trenitalia.com, the Italian Rail site.

Yes, buy all your tickets when you get to Italy. The ticket machines have an English option and accept North American credit cards.

Just in case you need it, if you want details on how to use the automated machines you can read the tutorial with photos.

I've heard the trains schedules, at least in Cinque Terre, are very relaxed & tentative. Just because a train is schedule to leave at 7:16, doesn't mean it will. I'd take an earlier one just to be safe.

Also, remember that there are a couple of trains that go straight to Pisa in the early morning. You don't want to get on one that zips past La Spezia. They speak English at the Vernazza train station, but there is often a line , so make sure you ask about whether the train stops at La Spezia.

Ah, the 7:52 from La Spezia Centrale to Bologna where you transfer to a Eurostar to Venice. It's the fastest trip of the day from the CT to Venice. We've been on it. Tim is so correct on the departure times from Vernazza. You might want to consider the 6:44 for one reason. FOOD. There's a McDonalds with two capaccino machines and another place in the La Spezia train station to buy food to take on the train. If you take the later train, you most likely won't have time. There is also the thought that the 7:16 train could be a bit late. This could make for an interesting train change.

Thank you Steven for the train ticket machine tutorial..it's great!

And, thanks for the other suggestions from other folks regarding the logistics of train travel.