Validating train tickets in Italy

If you buy a ticket that has a reserved seat number (and carriage number), you do not need to validate the ticket; this applies to all the fast trains (Freccia Rossa, Freccia Bianca, Freccia Argento, InterCity). This is true for first and second class tickets. If you buy a ticket on a "regionale" train (a slower train), it will not have a seat reservation number, and before you board the train you must find a little box (old ones are yellow, newer ones are blue/grey), stick the ticket into the box (you'll hear a click and/or see a green light if there's a light button), pull the ticket out and make sure there's a date/time stamp on the ticket (even with the sound and light, the machine can run out of ink). When the conductor asks for tickets, if your ticket is not validated ("convalidated"), there will be a hefty fine. The RonInRome site has a step-by-step explanation with pictures, the same process applies all over Italy.

JR, Tickets for Regionale (and some other) trains are sold for a particular date range, so can be used at any time within that range. These must be validated with a time & date stamp prior to boarding the train. This prevents unscrupulous passengers from simply buying one ticket and using the same ticket every day. Validation is done by inserrting the ticket into a machine, which will be located on the platforms or beside the tracks. The older machines are rectangular yellow, while newer ones that I've seen are oval-shaped blue and gray. Both types have a digital display showing the time and date. Have a look at this page on the Ron In Rome website for an example. Compulsory reservations means that reservations are mandatory for a particular train. The high speed trains such as the EuroStar Italia / Freccia trains all require reservations. Those travelling with a Railpass must buy the reservation separately, while P-P tickets include the reservation if it's required. These don't have to be validated as the tickets are specific for a particular train and departure time (although I've validated them in the past). If you miss that particular train the ticket and reservation is worthless and you'll have to buy another. Those who fail to validate tickets or don't have valid reservations will probably be fined on the spot, and it's not cheap (about €50 PP) and the Conductors are not usually too receptive to excuses (although I've seen a few sympathetic Conducts simply sell the reservations on the spot, without a fine - that doesn't happen often though, in my experience). If the fine isn't paid on the spot, it doubles and then increases from there. Cheers!

If you buy a point to point ticket on a Regionale train (the one that stops everywhere) you need to validate it at the little machine on a post near the platform. Pop the ticket in and it makes a crunchy noise and when you pull the ticket out it will be stamped. Do that just before you get on the train. If you get on the same Regionale train with a valid train pass you don't need to validate but your pass must be valid on that date. Seat reservations are not available for Regionale trains. If you take anything fancier or faster in Italy you need a mandatory seat reservation. If you buy a point to point ticket on those trains the reservation, for a particular seat in a particular carriage on a particular train, will be included in the price, and as the train is specified the ticket does not need to be validated. If you use a rail-pass on those faster trains you won't have the mandatory reservation so you need to buy it, buying a seperate reservation for each leg on the journey. So if, for example, you changed trains at Milan on faster trains you need to buy reservations for both trains. No reservation on a train which requires one = a large on the spot fine. Same for a ticket on a Regionale which has not been validated = large on the spot fine.

Any ticket you purchase for the Inter-city or any of the high-speed trains will have a specific travel date, train number, departure time and seat reservation. At this point, you have complied with the "compulsory reservervation" requirement. Compulsory reservation simply means that you must have a valid ticket with seat reservation before boarding the train. Same for the airplane that you will be flying to get to Italy. The Regionale trains are different. When you buy a ticket on the Regionale train, it's an open ticket good for 60 days (at least it was when I was last there). No train, travel date or seat reservation is shown on the ticket. You can pick the train and travel time you want during the 60 days. Being normal human beings, the Italians long ago learned to ride several trains on the same ticket over the 60 days. Thus, you now have to time stamp (validate) the ticket before you get on. It's an instant 50Euro fine if you are caught without a valid ticket with a time stamp. Here's a link to a picture of what the validation box looks like. You will still find the yellow boxes but they are changing to newer blue/gray boxes. http://gyazo.com/806909cc32936a8d295ceca4fedef162