Chris_Cutler

I'm a bit concerned about trenitalia.com right now, and I hope that someone might be able to help me.

I need to get from Rome to Assisi the morning of June 25. As of right now, the only train showing is one that leaves at 19:58. The beginning of June has a train at 7:00-something.

I've noticed a number of other drastic route reductions and am wondering what's going on. Is it because they have not released the summer schedule yet? That's all I can figure out.

Anyone have any thoughts?

Thanks!

PalenQ

Trenitalia has not apparently released summer timings, as usual - be sure that there will be trains on that mainline come summer and that they will go every few hours or more and and take about 2.5 hours with one change of train usually.

And as they are Regional trains no need to buy any ticket in advance - flat-fare and no seat reservations even possible-for lots on Italian trains check www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

Assisi's train station is at the bottom of the huge hill Assisi crowns - buses and taxis take you there from the station.

michelhuebeli

Look for a Sunday in May and you see a good number of faster options (around 2 hrs) and slower up to 3.5 hrs).
Keep an eye on the website for the postings to come for June, it won't be much different.

PalenQ

and keep in mind that if it's a regional train as most seem to be- no need to book any tickets ahead of time - IC you may save a little but still not that much - wait until Rome if you find price savings on IC trains minimal - if significant book but those are train-specific and can't be changed nor refunded I believe.

bvlenci

The timetables for regional trains often are finalized very late, sometimes within a few weeks of the changeover. This is because they are partly financed by the regions, and there is a constant warfare between Trenitalia, which wants to cancel little-used trains and routes, and the region, which wants to maintain them, at the lowest cost possible.

As Michel says, you can look at the schedules for the same day of the week, but before the changeover. They rarely change much, but check the new timetables when they're out.

As Palenq says, there is no advantage (and actually a disadvantage) to buying regional tickets in advance. They don't have reserved seats, so they never sell out; and they never have discounts.

You can buy the tickets at any train station in Italy. They'll be good for any regional train on that route on the day of travel you choose. You have to stamp them in a little red, white, and green Trenitalia machine by the trackside before boarding the train, which establishes the time of travel and limits you to traveling in the next few hours. If you change your mind about the trip, up until the day before travel you can exchange them or get a refund. Failure to stamp the ticket is equivalent to traveling without a ticket, and there is a hefty fine.

If you were to buy them online, you'd have only a two-hour window in which to use the tickets, and the tickets can't be refunded or exchanged for any reason. That's the disadvantage to buying them online. The only advantage is that they don't have to be (and can't be) stamped.

kybourbon

There's also the Sulga bus that departs Rome's Tiburtina station on Sunday at 8:15 and drops you at Piazza S. Pietro in Assisi at 11:10.

http://www.sulga.it/autolinea/autolinea14.pdf

PalenQ

The only advantage is that they don't have to be (and can't be) stamped.>

Great details from bvlenci as usual. Don't worry about stamping or cancelling your tickets yourself - just stick them into a cancelling machine at the platforms and in stations - reasons NOT to buy online as bvlenci says - just buy as you go.

PalenQ

If a bus is available when you want to go an advantage is that it takes you up to the hilltown not far below it as trains do.

Chris_Cutler

michelhuebeli, PalenQ, bvlenci, and kybourbon, thank you so much for your help. I figured that was the deal, but as I have two tourists with me, I tend to get very nervous about everything. I've used the trains for years, but I've never had this happen before, so it threw me.

We're actually staying in Santa Maria degli Angeli between the basilica and train station, so everything will be fine.

Chris

kybourbon

Newer trains might list upcoming stops on a screen, but older trains don't. You need to be aware of the stop before yours so you can gather your things and be at the door to get off. The stop in Assisi is typically for 1 minute.

PalenQ

We're actually staying in Santa Maria degli Angeli between the basilica and train station, so everything will be fine.>

It's not a really long walk then or take the tram all the way.