Hi Everyone,

When we hit Italy in October we will be taking the train from Rome to La Spezia. From looking at the train site, it looks as though we can go through Florence or take a coastal route, unfortunately when I do a search it doesn't say which line it is. So how can I tell?

Also with this type of trip, can we get off the train in Pisa to see the tower for a couple of hours and then just jump on a later train to finish the rest of the journey, or does hopping and stopping require a special rail pass?

Thanks
Vickie

Train ticket must be validated by stamping them in the yellow boxes on the platforms before you board the train. The tickets for short trips are valid for about 6 hours after validation, while for longer trips, the tickets are valid for 24 hours.....(I think those are the right amount of times ...someone will probably update this info for you if my info is out of date.)

You should be able to stop off in Pisa and see the tower on the way to Cinque Terre.

Bill

I don't think any Rome-La Spezia direct trains go through Florence; they all take the coastal route. On the Trenitalia site, you can click on the train number and it shows the stops on the way.

Re-boarding in Pisa within 6 hours after you stamped the ticket in Rome should work; there are odd restrictions on the 24-hour validity, one being that it can't be done on Regionali going between different regions. So you could buy an Intercity ticket, where reservations are advised but not required, get off in Pisa, then take another Intercity without a reservation (I'm going from memory on these restrictions). You might see how the fare compares with getting separate tickets for the two segments.

Ditto Bill and Andrew's excellent advice. I cannot imagine a la Spezia train going through Florence, although it would be possible to take that detour if one wanted to. I would only add that the finer "rules" of Italian train travel are confusing. I have traveled with native Italians who have been confused. You may risk a penalty from the conductor if you try to bundle your trip on one ticket and make the wrong choice. If it were me, I would split the trip on two tickets as Andrew suggests. You can buy your Pisa/la Spezia leg when you get to Pisa Centrale and it might afford you more options and less rush.