The best way to travel is the Italian railways: the types of trains, timetables, the purchase of tickets

Are you going to go on a trip to Italy? Great! Pay attention - when you compose the route, you will understand that all the cities and sights of the country are exactly along the railway line. It is best to go on a trip by train, because the Italian railways stretch along the azure coast - during the journey the view outside the window will please the eye with picturesque landscapes.

History of occurrence

The first railway in Italy was built in 1839. The length of the route was 7640 kilometers. The branch connected Naples and Portici. By the end of 1890 the Italian railways had a ramified structure. They covered all the historical and cultural centers of the country. The beginning of the 21st century is characterized by the development of high-speed rail lines.

For today, the railways of Italy have a length of 16079 kilometers. The train is the most popular mode of transport for traveling around the country. Already there are about thirteen major railway stations: Turin, Venice, Milan, Verona, Genoa, Rome, Bologna, Florence, Palermo, Naples, Bari. They occupy 225 thousand square meters and a day take about 480,000 passengers.

Types of trains

Trains are divided according to class, speed and range:

1. High-speed trains. The trip to them will be the fastest and most comfortable. Tickets for high-speed trains must be bought not earlier than two months. The most popular of this series of trains is Eurostar. This is one of the fastest "long-distance" trains. Tickets are quite expensive, for a reservation they will take a separate fee.

2. Intercity trains. The trips are made between large and medium-sized cities. The places on the train are divided into first and second classes. Tickets are also purchased for 2 months. These trains include Eurocity. This train is designed for international flights, it stops only in large cities. Euronight is also a train plying between cities, its difference from Eurocity is that in the way it is at night. The cars are equipped with bunks.

3. Local trains. This is the least comfortable and cheap train. They go for short distances and make a lot of stops. The most famous of this category is the Treno Regionale. It runs only between two neighboring cities.

Many trains have bicycle facilities, and long-distance trains provide special wagons for the transport of cars. This type of service is called "treno + auto", the price depends on the size of the transport and the distance traveled. Before you set out on a journey, you need to thoroughly study the path branch, for this you will need a scheme of the Italian railways.

Travel Schedule

At each railway station in Italy is a scoreboard with a schedule, which is white and yellow-orange colors. It indicates the route and time of departure or arrival of the train. For new arrivals, a white board is displayed, for departing - yellow-orange. You can also see the train schedule on the site (see the information below).

How to buy tickets

There are several ways to purchase tickets:

• Directly at the ticket office of the station. You should go to the free window and indicate to the cashier the time and desired direction of sending the train, how many tickets you want to buy. You can pay by credit card or cash. In Italy, you may be asked to show proof of identity.
• Through a travel agency. But you have to pay a commission.
• In vending machines (if available at the station). It's quite easy to use it, but you need to know the exact name of the stations. On the monitor, select the language that is more convenient to read, click on the "buy tickets" button and indicate when and to what station you intend to go.
• Through the site of the Italian Railways (how to purchase, see below).

Buy a ticket in any convenient way, rather visit the sights, the sea, the lovely old towns of this country, and Italy will forever conquer your heart.

Railways: official website

With the help of the site you can "build" your route in advance, view the schedule of all trains, order and pay for tickets. To purchase a ticket, you need to go to the main page of the site, register under the name indicated on the credit card, as it will be paid by it. You must also specify your e-mail where the password for the login will be sent. After registration, go back to the main page and enter the number, month of the planned trip, where you are going to go from, and the destination. The system will give you several options, the most suitable one you choose. You will know the price of the ticket by clicking on the basket. Book your ticket after you have definitively determined the trip! You can also specify the desired location, for example, near the window. Click on continue. And go to payment. To buy a ticket, you can use cards: Visa Classic or Master Card. We warn that the site of the Italian railways is in English.

Composting of tickets

So, you bought a ticket. Go to the station. But do not rush to go on a journey, at first ticket in any yellow or blue apparatus. This device must print the date and time of composting. This will serve as proof of the validity of the ticket. Remember! For an uncompanyed ticket you can be charged the same fine as if you did not have one at all. Such orders in this country. If you purchased an electronic ticket, it is not necessary to insert it into the device, since it indicates the date and time of the trip.

Railways in Italy offer a wide range of services for residents and tourists. For example, a detailed schedule, comfortable trains, cargo transportation, buying tickets in a convenient way, a luggage room. Security at the station is provided by the police.