Note: this posting is copied from my most recent addition to my other thread "Trenitalia: Latest News" because I don't want the message to be "buried" (and therefore overlooked).

DANGERS OF TICKETLESS TRAVEL ON TRENITALIA TRAINS

"Ticketless" travel on Trenitalia trains is wonderful, because it allows travellers to directly board their reserved train without having to stand in line at a ticket window or electronic ticket machine to obtain a ticket and/or a seat reservation. The traveller merely brings with him the e-mail confirmation which contains the "Codice di Prenotazione" (PNR), and which identifies his train by train number, departure date and time, railcar number, and seat number. Once on the train, the ticket agent identifies the traveller by the PNR and issues him a paper ticket/receipt.

BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL DANGERS WITH TICKETLESS TRAVEL:

1. You LOSE the e-mail confirmation with PNR number.

Solution: identify yourself to the ticket agent with photo ID (passport). If the agent can find the PNR from the passenger surname, a paper ticket will be issued at no surcharge. If the passenger CANNOT be identified, he will be required to purchase a new ticket on the spot, then seek a credit card refund (of the original electronic ticket) by contacting the National Call Center no. 892021 (in Italy).

TIP: write down your PNR on a separate slip of paper and keep it in your wallet or purse, just in case you lose or misplace the e-mail confirmation.

2. You want to take a different train from the one reserved

Solution: you must request a RESERVATION CHANGE to the earlier or later departing train, either via the Trenitalia website or through the National Call Center, NO LATER THAN the departure time of the originally scheduled train. The Reservation change can be made more than once, and is free of charge (unless travelling on a promotional discount ticket, which has restrictive rules)

3. You MISS your originally scheduled train.

Solution: here the rules get tricky. If you miss your train by LESS THAN ONE HOUR, you may rebook, free of charge, on a later departing train. HOWEVER, if you miss your original train by MORE THAN ONE HOUR, you must purchase a brand new ticket! OUCH!!!!!

HINT: if you're unsure of your departure schedule, but nevertheless want to book in advance, choose a LATER departing train which gives you ample connection time (particularly if coming directly from the airport). You can always switch to an EARLIER departing train at the last moment (unless travelling on a promotional ticket, where the switch to an EARLIER departing train will usually result in a hefty surcharge).

4. You board a different train on your own WITHOUT requesting a reservation change (DON'T do this)

Consequences: you'll be fined 8 Euros per ticket for not being on the train for which you are reserved. It does NOT matter if you've DOWNGRADED yourself from Eurostar Italia (ES) to Intercity (IC). Moreover, if you UPGRADE yourself (e.g. from IC to ES), you'll also be required to pay the difference in fare in addition to the 8 Euro fine. If you board a different train more than ONE HOUR after the departure time of your originally scheduled train, you'll have to purchase a new ticket in addition to paying the 8 Euro fine!!!

5. You change travel plans and want a REFUND (not a re-booking) of your electronic ticket

Solution: as long as you're not travelling on a promotional ticket (non-refundable), you'll forfeit 20% of the fare if you cancel BEFORE the departure time of the reserved train. If you cancel within ONE HOUR AFTER departure of the train, you'll forfeit 50% of the fare. If you cancel MORE THAN ONE HOUR AFTER departure of the train, you'll forfeit 100% of the fare.
In addition, no refund will be given if the net refund is equal to or less than 8 Euros. It is not possible to elect the "bonus" (voucher for future travel) in lieu of a money refund, minus the forfeiture.

RECOMMENDATIONS: Be careful when booking electronic tickets through the Trenitalia website. Remember the timing rules summarized above, and allow yourself AMPLE time for connections. Remember that you'll need at least 15 minutes connection time (and a LONG walk) at Roma Termini between the incoming airporter train and the outgoing ES or IC train. If you're really unsure of your actual departure time (because of the uncertainty of connections), it might make more sense NOT to book electronically in advance, but rather to buy in person at the train station ticket window or electronic ticket machine. Advance purchase of tickets through the website is particularly advantageous if you're aiming for one of the promotional discount fares. But be certain to READ THE RULES for these tickets (in English on the Trenitalia website) to understand the LIMITATIONS and RESTRICTIONS if you later decide (or are forced) to change reservations or itinerary.

NOTE: you cannot select the "ticketless" option for itineraries which require back-to-back trains (but the "self-service" option is OK, meaning you must get a paper ticket at the station before boarding). "Ticketless" travel is allowed only on SINGLE ES, ICplus or IC trains. "Ticketless" is similarly NOT allowed on Artesia, Cisalpino, Eurocity (EC), Euronight (EN), Intercity Night (ICN), Espresso (EXP) night trains, Interregionale (IR), Regionale (R) or Diretto (D) trains. The "self-service" option, however, is allowed on some of these excluded trains.

NOTE: Don't confuse the "ticketless" travel option with the "self-service" option. BOTH are electronic, but you may board the train without a paper ticket only with the "ticketless" option. With the "self-service" option, you must still obtain a paper ticket at the train station before boarding, either at the ticket window, or at an electronic ticket machine where available.

NOTE: With the "ticketless" option, you MUST purchase a reserved seat (for a supplement of 3 Euros) if travelling on an IC or ICplus train. Travel on an ES train automatically comes with a reserved seat, at no additional charge.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: GAC,

Alice, do you have any comments on these points? Is there anything we should add to the Trains section?

www.slowtrav.com/italy/trains/

GAC - How come you know so much about trains in Italy? (Just curious...)

Just back from Tuscany, I will read this carefully. Also, I have a friend who, right now, is going through one of the above cases, having missed her 7;00 train to Rome (with ticketless). I am planning to delete the "Onboard Tickets" section and make a brand new "ticketless" section, if it's fine with you, with all the info in how to get a ticketless reservation and troubleshooting.

quote:

Originally posted by Pauline:
Alice, do you have any comments on these points? Is there anything we should add to the Trains section?

www.slowtrav.com/italy/trains/

GAC - How come you know so much about trains in Italy? (Just curious...)

Pauline: In reading the postings of foreign travellers in Italy, I have noted that there is a great deal of confusion about the rules and regulations concerning Italian trains, fares, schedules, etc., so my aim is to help people use the public transportation system in Italy with less trepidation and greater awareness. That makes travelling more enjoyable, efficient and often less expensive. I've travelled extensively in Italy for many years on trains and buses, and take great personal interest in learning the "rules" whenever I can. Alice Twain is a great resource too, and I'm sure she'll double check my postings and point out where I may have been mistaken in my commentary.

My girlfriend and I will be traveling in Italy via Eurostar using the "ticketless" system. We have tried to allow for enough time so that we dont miss any of our trains and run into the problems you have described. We will be there starting the 19th of March and will be sure to let you guys here know of our experiences with the "ticketless" system.

Thanks GAC and Alice - having input from both of you is great!!

I am just back from a ticketless disaster weekend, and can confirm that GAC's warnings are essential and to be respected. I will never again be so lazy as not to walk over to the train station and get paper tickets.

I booked a weekend in venice, travelling from florence. Everything online - trenitalia, venere for the hotel... We left saturday morning and returned sunday afternoon, it was just a quick getaway. And OK, it wasn't that bad, but i wasted money due to my stupidity and also to the inflexibility of this system.

Getting there: booked an IC at 9.30 am with the special saturday rate of 15 euros. When we got to the station the 8.30am ES to venice was running an hour late so we wanted to take that one, cuz the IS would have been equally late. But we were unable to change tickets on the spot. Nobody knew the phone number to call for customer service. When we found it, it was so incredibly expensive to call from our cell that we just waited around for our train, which was 45 minutes late. On the inter city there was no heat, electricity or lights! The controller spend about 15 minutes trying to print out our ticketless receipt. They just don't know how to use those things yet.

On the way back, i did a very stupid thing that i hesitate to confess. I didn't check properly, and booked our return tickets on the ES for the same day as my outgoing ticket. Admittedly, the computer allowed me to purchase a return ticket for before i actually got there... So, we were already on the train when we found out that we didn't have tickets. The conductor kicked us off at Rovigo and we had to buy spots on the next intercity which was an hour later. Being electronic, the 57 euros i spent for the luxury of eurostar was non refundable

Moral of the story? Paperless is inflexible. I thought it would be fine because i really intended to take just those trains. But i did not account for late trains and for my own idiocy.

Tomale: sorry to hear of your unfortunate travails.

Fellow Slow Travelers: BEWARE of the severe restrictions of Trenitalia Ticketless Travel! It can be a great bargain and convenience IF the rules are followed scrupulously. Carefully read and understand the rules and regulations on the Trenitalia website carefully before you purchase on-line, so you will avoid a loss of your money!

As more and more travelers choose Trenitalia Ticketless Travel, I fear that there will be many more sad stories like those of Tomale. But let's hope not.

We loved our ticketless travel this past month. I had brought our printed confirmations with us ... EXCEPT that rather than the confirm for Milano to Firenze, I'd brought two copies of Verona to Milano. But I had noted all of the confirmation numbers in my travel book. I merely showed the number to the conductor, he input the info into his little machine, and presto! A printout.

On our last minute trip to Rome, again, I just noted the confirmation number in my travel book and it cut down on the papertrail. On the return from Rome to Florence, I used one of those machines in Rome Termini and it was a breeze.

Here's to hoping I never have to wait in line again.