Comfortable but late (Trenitalia)

Member Name: dangaroo

Product:	Trenitalia
Date:	01/11/08 (53 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Comfortable and relatively cheap

Disadvantages: Long delays and sometimes cancellations

Trenitalia is a much cheaper way of getting around in Italy than bus and there are plenty of connections around the country, tickets particularly on the "Regionale" trains are very reasonable - at something like 6 euros/100km. The trains are also very comfortable and at first sight even the cheaper trains are a blessing of comfort if you are used to using cheap trains in Central or Eastern Europe. There's quite a lot of room for luggage, normally plenty of seats available and the temperatures are usually just about right (apart from the time the window was stuck open and it was pouring in with rain), the staff at the station tend to be multi-lingual and relatively cheerful.

My experience with both the expensive and cheap trains is that they can be late, the thing that lets them down. There were also numerous connections cancelled (albeit trains which make regular journeys) at the last minute and the tracks were changed at the last minute too, whilst neither of these things are overly bothering, the delay of an Inter City train between Firenze and Bologna cost us big time due to the fact we were trying to get to a connecting flight. Delays of up to and over 60 minutes are not uncommon and I would not plan any connections that were too strenuous if I were you or you may just be let down. Apart from their problems with time-keeping the services they offer are more than enjoyable and good value.

At each train station, there is a little validating machine. Stick your ticket in there before entering the train, wiggle it left and right to ensure that it gets stamped as sticking it in the middle doesn't always do the job. Do this just before you board the train because if there is a delay and it effects you, you can take the ticket back to the ticket office and get a replacement ticket (I was told they could refund but seemingly couldn't)

Summary: Take them as long as you are not in a hurry