Once in a while, it happens: you miss your scheduled Trenitalia train (for which you are holding a seat reservation), for example because your incoming flight, ferry boat, hydrofoil or connecting train arrives late, or because your taxi gets stuck in traffic to the train station. What happens to your ticket and your seat reservation?
Here are the current rules whenever you MISS your scheduled train (for which you hold a seat reservation):
A. If you have a "Standard" ticket:
You are allowed to switch your seat reservation to a LATER train departing within three (3) hours of the scheduled departure time of the train on which you were originally booked (the train you missed). There is no cost for the switch, but you must pay any difference in "standard" fare if the substitute train is of a higher category (e.g. an ES train instead of an ICP train).
B. If you have a discounted "AMICA" fare ticket:
You are NOT allowed to switch your seat RESERVATION to a later departing train. Nevertheless, you may "hop on" any train departing up to three (3) hours after the departure time of the train on which you were orginally booked (the train you missed). You will NOT have a guaranteed seat, although many reserved trains now have one railcar of unreserved seats (per class of service) to accommodate "hop on" travellers (ask the ticket agent to direct you to this railcar). You will be responsible to pay a "surcharge" of 8 Euros, PLUS the difference in fare (if any) between the cost of a "standard" ticket for the new train, and what you paid for the "AMICA" ticket for the train you just missed.
ADVICE: If you manage to secure a discounted "AMICA" ticket in advance for one of the fast trains, great. Otherwise, buy a "standard" fare ticket, which gives you the possibility to switch your seat reservation, within the 3-hour grace period, to a later-departing train at no additional cost (if same train category). For maximum flexibility, buy a "Flexi" ticket (costs 20% MORE than the "standard" ticket), but which gives you a 24-hour grace period to re-book to a later departing train. Otherwise, simply wait to buy the ticket when you arrive at the train station, and take the first available train for which there are reservable seats. Or, consider taking one of the super-cheap "Regionale" trains, for which seat reservations are not available.
HINT: If you're arriving by plane at Rome Fiumicino Airport, you can purchase your train ticket at the airport (either an airport authorized travel agency or at the airport train station). If you're arriving at Milano Malpensa Airport, you can purchase your train ticket at an airport authorized travel agency. In either case, be sure to allow sufficient time to reach the train station in Rome or Milan, as the case may be.
NOTE: There are "sportello veloce" manned ticket station window(s) at the larger Italian train stations, which may be used if the train for which you are buying a ticket departs within 15 minutes. These lines are usually shorter than the "regular" line for manned ticket windows. Of course, you can always buy your ticket at an automated kiosk, many of which also accept credit cards.
BEWARE: If you have an electronic (and not a paper) ticket, you may NOT travel on a "Regionale" train in substitution of the train you missed. You may, however, travel on any other category of train (AV, ES-Fast, ES, ICP, IC), following the rules set forth above.
Here are the rules as reported on the Trenitalia website:
Thanks GAC, very useful! I was going to buy the Amica fare for my first train ride after arrival in Rome, but now I will get the standard fare just in case my flight is late or something happens.
On April Fool's Day, Trenitalia created three "brand new" discounted promotional fares, which have different "rules" for reservation changes, ticket exchanges, "hop-on privileges" and refunds. In some cases, the rules are similar (but not idential) to the rules for the "Flexi", "Standard" and "Amica" tickets. Here is a summary of the rules for each of these tickets, in the case you MISS your reserved train:
A. "Flexi" ticket:
You are allowed to switch your seat reservation to a LATER train departing within twenty-four (24) hours of the scheduled departure time of the train on which you were originally booked (the train you missed). There is no cost for the switch, but you must pay any difference in fare if the substitute train is of a higher category (e.g. an ES train instead of an ICP train).
B. "Standard" ticket:
You are allowed to switch your seat reservation to a LATER train departing within three (3) hours of the scheduled departure time of the train on which you were originally booked (the train you missed). There is no cost for the switch, but you must pay any difference in "standard" fare if the substitute train is of a higher category (e.g. an ES train instead of an ICP train).
C. "Amica" ticket (24-hour advance purchase):
You are NOT allowed to switch your seat RESERVATION to a later departing train.
Nevertheless, you may "hop on" any train OF EQUAL OR LOWER CATEGORY departing up to three (3) hours after the departure time of the train on which you were orginally booked (the train you missed). You will NOT have a guaranteed seat, although many reserved trains now have one railcar of unreserved seats (per class of service) to accommodate "hop on" travellers (ask the ticket agent to direct you to this railcar). You will be responsible to pay a "surcharge" of 8 Euros, PLUS the difference in fare (if any) between the cost of a "standard" ticket for the new train, and what you paid for the discounted ticket for the train you just missed.
D. "Premium" ticket (7-day advance purchase):
You MAY BE allowed to switch your seat reservation to a LATER train departing within three (3) hours of the scheduled departure time of the train on which you were originally booked (the train you missed). There is no cost for the switch, but you'll be allowed the switch ONLY if there is seat availability at the discounted rate on the later train.
You may ALSO "hop on" any train OF EQUAL OR LOWER CATEGORY departing up to three (3) hours after the departure time of the train on which you were orginally booked (the train you missed). You will NOT have a guaranteed seat, although many reserved trains now have one railcar of unreserved seats (per class of service) to accommodate "hop on" travellers (ask the ticket agent to direct you to this railcar). You will be responsible to pay a "surcharge" of 8 Euros, PLUS the difference in fare (if any) between the cost of a "standard" ticket for the new train, and what you paid for the discounted ticket for the train you just missed.
E. "Special" ticket (15-day advance purchase):
You're OUT OF LUCK: you are NOT allowed to change your reservation, nor are you allowed to "hop on" a later departing train. YOU MUST PURCHASE A BRAND NEW TICKET
F. "Super" ticket (30-day advance purchase):
You're OUT OF LUCK: you are NOT allowed to change your reservation, nor are you allowed to "hop on" a later departing train. YOU MUST PURCHASE A BRAND NEW TICKET
COMMENT: Be very careful not to miss your train if you hold a "Special" or "Super" ticket. If you miss your train, and are holding an "Amica" or a "Premium" ticket, be prepared to "hop on" a later departing train (within the limitations explained above) and without a confirmed new seat. If you miss your train, and hold a "Flexi" or a "Standard" ticket, you have the CHOICE of getting a new seat reservation, or simply "hopping on" a later departing train, within the limitations explained above. Obviously, you're much better off getting a new seat reservation rather than "hopping on" the later train (which is why I did not even mention the "hop on" option in the discussion above for the "Flexi" and the "Standard" tickets). I DO NOT recommend "hopping on" a later departing train when you qualify for a reservation change.
I'm flying into Rome in June and immediately catching the train to Parma. I've been looking at the Trenitalia schedule and considering whether I should buy a ticket for the 1:50 p.m. Eurostar in the hopes I might make it, or book the 3:45 p.m.
It's good to know that with the standard fare, I can try for a later train if I miss the 1:50.
I think that I finally understand the differences among all these fares. Now I feel I can buy a ticket a day or so in advance with confidence that I know the rules.
The three new promotional fares (Premium-Special-Super) are valid only from April 1 through June 30, 2009 (unless the promotion is extended).
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS concerning "hopping on" a later-departing train of equal or lesser category (when allowed by the rules of the fare): you must in all cases "validate" your ticket (date/time stamp it in the little yellow machines by the rail track) before boarding the substitute train. This is contrary to the general rule that you don't need to "validate" tickets for which you hold a seat reservation, such as for AV, ES and ICP trains. Failure to do so subjects you to a "fine" of 8 Euros (in addition to the surcharge explained below). Even after you validate the ticket, you will still be responsible to pay the 8 Euro "surcharge" PLUS the difference in fare, if any, between the cost of a "standard" ticket for the train you board, and the fare you actually paid for the ticket for the train you missed. As noted above, I do not recommend you "hop on" if you are allowed to change your reservation for the later-departing train. You must also be careful that the train you "hop on" is of equal or lesser category than the train you missed.
BEWARE: If you have an ELECTRONIC ticket (and not a "paper" ticket), you may NOT "hop on" a "Regionale" train or any international train (e.g. Eurocity, Eurocity night). This is because ticket agents on these trains do not have the hand-held devices necessary to validate your electronic ticket. This prohibition does not apply if you have a traditional "paper" ticket.
Finally, you are allowed to "hop on" a train of equal or lesser category even AFTER the 3-hour "grace period" has elapsed, in cases where there are no such train departures to your destination WITHIN the 3-hour grace period. For example, if you miss your Eurostar train scheduled to depart at 12 noon, and the NEXT train departure to your destination of equal or lesser category is at 15:30, you'll be allowed to "hop on" this later train (but only on this train, and NOT on any subsequent train).
Now, can you REMEMBER all these "rules"?????....
and will the Trenitalia ticket agent who contols your ticket on the train also keep all these rules straight?
Slow Travel Talk 
