Train Travel by Steam Locomotive and other Italy Transportation Tips

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: www.railtouritalia.com is a web site that hosts information and links for associations that put on special train trips in Italy, where the locomotives are usually steam-powered and the cars are old-style.

Note that these trains are specially engaged, not regular routes, and some of them are only open to members of train fan clubs.

However, some of the scheduled trains look really interesting, and would provide an interesting alternative for those people who want to see a little of Italy from a different perspective.

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Website: www.railtouritalia.com

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: I have discovered a URL within trenitalia that shows you the arrivals and departures in one hour increments, apparently from any train station that trenitalia has access to, including non-Italian ones.

I got to this URL by accident, and realized that it shows, for example, every train that is departing Roma Termini between 9 and 10 a.m. - quite similar to what you see on the wall at the station itself (except I don't see track numbers here, oh well...).

Go to http://orarioint.trenitalia.com/bin/stboard.exe/en. Type in the name of a station, such as "Roma Termini", and then select a timeframe (like "from 09:00 h"). Then click on "Show" (the top one).

You'll be presented a timetable, like at the station. Note that it will work also with non-Italian stations (try "Muenchen HBF" - the main train station in Munich).

I have tried playing around with the URL, but there doesn't seem to be a corresponding page that is not international (but that doesn't matter since this page does both Italian and international stations), and there is not an equivalent page in Italian (I changed the "en" to "it").

I also don't know how you get to this page normally...I got to it when I tried to plot the solution of St. Moritz to Venice, and I got an error page, which gave me a link to this page...but I don't know how one does this normally...

Also look at forum discussion http://forum.virtualtourist.com/discussion-334317-1-1-Travel-0-51-Italy-discussion.html - it appears that this feature is also available at the German rail website...

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Website: www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: Someone recently asked about Eurailpass versus point to point tickets in Italy...here is a comparison of Rome to Florence, Florence to Venice, and Venice to Rome - versus the 3 day Italy pass from Eurail...

***

When I looked at raileurope a few minutes ago, the 3 day second class pass was $190 and the 3 day first class pass was $238 (hmmn, 1st class tickets are generally a 40%-50% premium over second class, so this looks odd already).

So I planned 3 trips: Rome to Florence, Florence to Venice, and Venice back to Rome (assuming you are flying to/from Rome). Here's what I found:

(Note: all numbers without markings are in euro)
rome - florence
Eurostar 33.00 2nd class 47.00 first class - direct
EuroCity 26.50 2nd class 35.00 first class - direct
espresso 17.90 2nd class - from Tiburtina to Campo di Marte
regional 14.90 2nd class - direct

florence - venice
Eurostar 30.00 2nd class 44.00 first class - direct
(change) 23.20 2nd class 34.10 first class - Eurostar to Bologna, diretto to Venice (2nd class only)
InterCity 23.50 2nd class 30.50 first class - Campo di Marte to Mestre
espresso 15.90 2nd class

Venice to Rome
(change) 58.00 2nd class 81.50 first class - IC to Bologna, Eurostar to Rome (varies slightly during the day)
Eurostar 51.00 2nd class 74.00 first class - direct or change in Bologna
InterCity 40.50 2nd class 55.00 first class - direct

(continued in next tip)

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Website: http://www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: (continued)

Note that faster trains are generally more expensive, so the trains from Rome to Florence can be from 1.5 hours to nearly 4 hours. You need to research these more closely at http://www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html which I encourage you to get used to.

The most expensive routing here is first class all the way:
rome - florence = 47.00
florence - venice = 44.00
venice - rome = 81.50
172.50 = $231.15
The first class Eurail pass is $238 - almost a wash.

most expensive 2nd class
rome - florence = 33.00
florence - venice = 30.00
venice to rome = 58.00
121.00 = $162.14
The second class Eurail pass is $190 - hmmmn....

You see, while the first class pass is almost a wash (I thought the pricing for the first class pass was oddly low), the pass is nearly $30 more expensive than the most expensive 2nd class point to point tickets...and over $100 more expensive than the cheapest 2nd class routing.

Now, your results will vary based on time constraints (some of the slower trains really are a lot slower...but some aren't very much slower), when the trains leave, whether you want to take side trips, how many days you actually are going to take the train, the phase of the moon, and so on...but for the routing you have suggested, point to point is cheaper - especially in 2nd class (and there's no real reason to take first class for these trips).

Bill

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Website: http://www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: People are often confused by the numbers of types of trains in Italy. Note that even though the vast majority of trains in Italy are by the national railroad (Trenitalia or old name of FS), there are many different types of trains, that vary based on speed, types of carriages, sleeping accommodations, number of stops, etc.

Let's pick Rome to Florence, for example. Here you have eight (8!) different types of trains that make this run. They are (last number is price for 2nd class one way in euro):
R - Regional - 3.5 hours - 1st and 2nd class - all seats open - 14.90
ICN - InterCityNight - 2-3 hours - 1st and 2nd class seats (and sleeping accommodations) - some seats reserved and some seats open - 23.00
IC - InterCity - 2.5 hours - 1st and 2nd class - some seats reserved and some seats open - 26.50
ICplus - InterCity Plus - 2.5 hours - 1st and 2nd class - all seats reserved - 26.50
EC - EuroCity - about 2 hours - 1st and 2nd class - some seats reserved and some seats open - 27.50
EN - EuroNight - about 2 hours - 2nd class seats only (but first and second class sleeping accommodations) - all seats must be reserved - 27.50
ES* - Eurostar - 1.5 hours - 1st class, 2nd class, and business car - all seats must be reserved - 33.00
Av (sort of) - Alta Velocita' - 1.5 hours - 1st class, 2nd class, and business car - all seats must be reserved - 33.00

NOTE: some of these trains do not stop at the main stations in Rome and Florence (Roma Termini and Firenze Santa Maria Novella, respectively) but stop at secondary stations; do check for the actual stops for any given train. See www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html .

"All seats open" means that if you buy a ticket, you can get on the train so long as there is room to stand. Ditto with some seats open. Depending on the type of car, you may find pull-down seats in the aisle.

Now compare this list here to what you see on trenitalia, and you'll get a better feel for what trains go where...

Bill

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Website: www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: People often have serious difficulties buying tickets online using the Trenitalia website. It's not that you can't make it all the way to the purchase page, it's that your credit card won't be accepted for reasons that are not at all clear (even to the credit card company Help Desks).

You can use online services like www.raileurope.com to buy tickets online - and they can even ship them to you wherever you live, as opposed to Trenitalia which will mail only in Italy. However, these services are pricey in that they charge quite a premium on the ticket prices. For example, the reservation fee for a train in Italy is usally something like 3 euro (almost $4USD), but I have seen raileurope.com quote $22USD for the same thing(!).

What you may want to do is look at this link http://www.trenitalia.com/it/0f866ccf935c5010VgnVCM10000045a2e90aRCRD.shtml for a list of travel agencies outside Italy that are able to sell Trenitalia tickets, passes, and the like. I have chosen the Italian page, because the English page is not as up-to-date, and you should be able to click on the country you want and see the list of names and addresses without much trouble.

For example, if you click on "USA", you'll get a list of 16 travel agencies across the US (including one here in the Dallas, Texas area!) that can sell these tickets.

I have no experience with any of these outfits, but it may be worth your while to talk to one if it is near you and you have to buy tickets in advance.

Bill

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Website: http://www.trenitalia.com/it/0f866ccf935c5010VgnVCM10000045a2e90aRCRD-agenzieestere_USA_a.shtml

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: We frequently discuss here on VT how Eurailpasses are not a bargain within Italy.

One reason is that to use the Eurailpass on a 'premium' train, you must not only get a reservation in advance, but also pay a supplement (which includes the reservation fee). Regional (i.e., local) trains do not require this supplement.

To figure out whether a Eurailpass is worth the cost, you need to generally plan out your trip using www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html . Note the fares for the various types of trains. Then note that if you have a Eurailpass, you will have to pay the supplements listed below over and above the pass on all 'premium' trains.

"Supplements in Italy
Surcharges and/or reservation costs are required for these domestic day trains:
Eurostar Italia - 1st and 2nd class: € 15 (approx. USD 22,20 / AUD 8,75)
Eurostar Italia AV - 1st and 2nd class: € 20 (approx. USD 29,60 / AUD 35)
EurostarCity Italia - 1st and 2nd class: € 15 (approx. USD 22,20 / AUD 26,25)
TBiz - 1st and 2nd class: € 25 (approx. USD 37,00 / AUD 43,75)
InterCity Plus - 1st and 2nd class: € 5 (approx. USD 7,40 / AUD 8,75)
EC/IC Internazionali (domestic journeys) - 1st and 2nd class: € 5 (approx. USD 7,40 / AUD 8,75)
Cisalpino (domestic journeys) - 1st and 2nd class: € 5 (approx. USD 7,40 / AUD 8,75)
Artesia de Jour (domestic journeys) - 1st and 2nd class: € 5 (approx. USD 7,40 / AUD 8,75) "
(see www.eurail.com/1_reservations_supplements_domestic)

You also might want to review www.eurail.com/1_train_reservations

But the regional trains don't take reservations at all, so you can just go to the station and hop on the train with your pass and go...of course, there is a small chance you might stand or sit in a pull-down seat in the aisle, but that's all part of the adventure...;-)

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Car/Motor Home
Getting TO/AROUND: In Italy, driving on the highways is actually well-behaved. Italians tend to choose the speed they want to go, then pick the appropriate lane. Thus, all passing involves you moving to the left to get into a faster lane - there's none of this swerving around to the right into the slow lane to get ahead.

On the other hand, driving in the cities is as chaotic as it is orderly on the highways ;-) Some rules I learned from living and driving in Rome:

1. There is no such thing as a lane; there are merely two flows of traffic. Your car can exist anywhere in your flow of traffic, and a little bit across the center line into the other flow. Yes, there are lanes marked, but pay them no attention. You will especially see this at stop lights, where three lanes in one direction is occupied by 5 small Italian cars.

2. The horn is used much more for communication than for insults. For example, a number of red lights are so poorly placed in the intersection that the lead car in a line of cars stopped for the light actually can't see the light. Thus, the driver of the lead car may read the paper or check out girls on the sidewalk or whatever, because he is safe in knowing that someone behind him who can actually see the traffic light will honk the horn very briefly to let him know that the light has changed. Yes, I really did observe this in Rome.

3. Another example of horn communication is when you are on a road that has two lanes in your direction, and you are in the left lane, approaching a pair of cars (one behind the other) in the right lane. As you approach the blind spot of the rear car, you sound your horn very briefly to let the driver of the rear car know that you are about to pass, so that he won't pull out in front of you to pass on his own. Again, these are very brief soundings of the horn, unlike in the US where honking the horn is loud and long and usually accompanied by obscenities.

4. Most cities have laws against honking at night, so Italians use their highbeams instead (the highbeams are on a spring on the steering column, thus very easy to flash rapidly).

5. There are many places where the two or more lanes in your direction are reduced to one lane, such as passing under a Roman arch. Naturally, traffic slows and is often controlled by a light. So all these drivers are trying to cram into one lane at a very slow speed. The other drivers will play "chicken" with you, in that they will slowly creep closer and closer to your car. A North American driver would assume that the other car is about to hit him, but that won't happen. The rule is "whosever's bumper is in front, wins". That is, as long as you keep your bumper in front of the other guy as you merge, such that the only way he can get ahead of you is by hitting you, you win. The important thing to remember is don't chicken out; hold your position and be assertive...the other drivers will respect that. Note, this is about the time my wife started closing her eyes; she trusted my driving but her nerves couldn't take it ;-)

6. At all times, you must assume that there is a Vespa or motorcycle or scooter immediately next to you car (i.e., don't suddenly change lanes, I mean, your position in the flow). 2 wheeled vehicles are even less limited by the concept of lanes than the 4 wheeled type. When the cars stop for a traffic light, all the space between the cars will be filled almost immediately by scooters. This means that you shouldn't just hang your arm out the window, it's likely to be hit. In your mirror when you are stopped at the light, you will see scooters coming up behind you between the cars, weaving constantly. Why weaving? Because the cars are so close together that the scooter driver is moving back and forth to avoid the outside mirrors. They hate it when two cars' mirrors are lined up and block them ;-)

7. Use scooters to your advantage. At intersections when the light turns green, you will note that the scooters on either side of you have already started driving through the intersection. Thus, they run the risk of someone getting run over by a red light runner, not you (this was my wife's observation, when she opened her eyes).

8. Assume that if there is an open space on a crowded road, someone will race into it. It's very common to see people rev up to 50+ miles an hour on a crowded road, just because a small open space came available.

9. Italian drivers generally know exactly how wide their car is and will go through spaces that are only infinitesimally larger. This is the only way that we can park in such small spaces or get through narrow streets with cars parked on both sides (actually, if the cars weren't already halfway on the sidewalk, you'd never get through ;-) ). This means that Italian drivers may come much closer to you than you think is safe.

10. In cities, pedestrians cross the street anywhere. This means that not only must you assume that your blind spots are filled with scooters and that cars will be racing just inches away from you, but that pedestrians will step out in front of you at any moment. Driving in Rome is like viewing a Driver's Education film, because every 5 seconds, somebody really does pull or step out in front of you ;-).
Note: when a pedestrian crosses the street in front of you, (1) don't slow down, (2) swerve very slightly to avoid the pedestrian, and (3) most importantly, you must not look at the pedestrian or even acknowledge that he/she exists. For their part, the pedestrians must (1) step out in front of a car that actually has enough space to miss them, (2) walk at a constant pace, and (3) most importantly, never look at the driver or even acknowledge that there are cars on the road at all.
Many visitors find crossing the street one of the most intimidating things about Rome. They often find it helpful to wait until a little old lady fearlessly steps out, then they cross the street in her shadow.

Bill

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: Most train travel in Italy requires walking up steep steps on the train, but there are a few trains and train stations that are nominally wheelchair friendly. Please note that what I am going to tell you is based solely from the Trenitalia website (the national railroad), so you'll want to take it with a grain of salt...note that this was originally a forum reply for Livorno to Pisa, but the links will be invaluable everywhere.

http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=fb9011e84819a110VgnVCM1000003f16f90aRCRD
has information for wheelchair passengers.

More information on the "Blue Hall" for disabled passengers:
http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=052ff172e719a110VgnVCM1000003f16f90aRCRD

See http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=dadc82b0368ea110VgnVCM1000003f16f90aRCRD
for a listing of facilities of stations in Tuscany, including Livorno and Pisa Centrale.
NOTE: "lift van" apparently means a vehicle that will lift the wheelchair and occupant to the train, not a ramp or elevator. Note that the Italian page does NOT list a ramp or elevator at Livorno, while the English page does list it. In any case, both pages list the "lift van" at Livorno and Pisa, and the ramp/elevator at Pisa.

assistenzaclientidisabili.fi@trenitalia.it
is the email address for information for disabled traveling on the railroad.

Once you are in Italy, there is a National Helpline at
http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=da3f11e84819a110VgnVCM1000003f16f90aRCRD

Trains that are listed as carrying wheelchair passengers from Livorno to Pisa:
IC #654
Livorno Centrale 05:26
Pisa Centrale 05:41

IC #504
Livorno Centrale 06:32
Pisa Centrale 06:46

ES*City #9790
Livorno Centrale 10:42
Pisa Centrale 10:57

IC #606
Livorno Centrale 11:26
Pisa Centrale 11:41

IC #516
Livorno Centrale 12:42
Pisa Centrale 12:57

IC #664
Livorno Centrale 13:26
Pisa Centrale 13:41

ES*City #9794
Livorno Centrale 14:42
Pisa Centrale 14:57

ES*City #9798
Livorno Centrale 16:42
Pisa Centrale 16:57

IC #672
Livorno Centrale 17:26
Pisa Centrale 17:41

IC #538
Livorno Centrale 18:42
Pisa Centrale 18:57

Eurostar*Fast #9308
Livorno Centrale 20:13
Pisa Centrale 20:25

ES*City #9796
Livorno Centrale 20:42
Pisa Centrale 20:57

IC #546
Livorno Centrale 22:47
Pisa Centrale 23:01

Note that the majority of trains along this route are regional trains. These trains typically say "Treno con servizio di trasporto di invalidi su sedie a rotelle" (Train with transport services for the handicapped on wheelchairs), but I don't know what this means, since the other webpages don't refer to regional trains at all. In looking around, I don't see any references to handicapped travel on regional trains...I am guessing that this means that there is a place on the train to tie down a wheelchair, but not necessarily a way to get the wheelchair and its occupant on the train...but I am not sure...

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Website: http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=052ff172e719a110VgnVCM1000003f16f90aRCRD

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: Cheap transportation in Italy means regional trains. So go to my Italy page where I describe how to use the Trenitalia website (national railroad - about 95% of trains nationwide) and also see the Transportation Tips at the bottom of that page where I go into more details.

Note that the Trenitalia website gives solutions, not all possible trains. If A to B has a bunch of direct trains, the website may or may not give you additional trip solutions using connecting trains. This is true even if you use the "All Solutions" button (you'll see it when you ask for a trip solution for A to B). Using this button may increase the number of trip solutions provided, but it won't give you all of them, since, after all, the website has to draw the line somewhere.

Regional trains are operated primarily in a region (duh). Thus, relatively few regional trains go long distances. Thus, to get from A to B, if A and B are in different regions, you may or may not get the Trenitalia website to give you a solution using non-premium (i.e., more expensive) trains. There is a way to get the German rail website to do this - see my tip at http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/2ebbe/1/9/. However, note that the German rail website can't give you pricing in Italy; only the Trenitalia website can do that. Still, armed with the information that you can get from A to B by going A to C then C to D then D to B, all on regional trains, you can look up each segment on Trenitalia and price it.

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Website: http://www.trenitalia.com