Italy trip questions

[JV_hunter]

A few questions for an upcoming trip to Italy:

1) Are there any benefits to using the Trenitalia app to buy regional tickets compared to using a ticket machine? I believe that online tickets don't have to be validated.

2) Are tickets bought on the app or ticket machine valid on slightly later trains? I believe you have to select a journey to purchase.

3) How are tickets purchased for buses in and around Prato? I'm mainly interested in "LAM Blu" and "LAM PO-FI" buses - not quite sure what they stand for! Can tickets be bought from the driver easily? How much are the tickets from Prato to Florence this way? On the website, I can find a table with fares for different stages/distances - how I can find which fare applies to the route I want?

4) I believe a 14-year-old can travel on a child ticket (Super Economy) on Intercity trains in Italy - is this correct? Trenitalia and Rail Europe suggest so, but Seat 61 says otherwise.

Thanks all.

 

[nathanclass323]

Hopefully, I can give you a few answers! I'm afraid I'm unable to help on question 3, though, as I've never been to Prato.

1 - They don't have to be validated, that is correct. There is no benefit in terms of cost to buying through the FS app.

2 - Tickets bought through the app must be used on the specified train, although I believe this can be changed through the FS app or website. However, when you use a ticket machine, it may depend on your departure station or the route you're travelling on. I have attached two images of FS Regionale tickets that I used last week - both bought from ticket machines at the departure station. One between Roma Termini and Napoli Centrale which was only valid on the specified train and another between Pompei and Napoli Gianturco which was valid on any train within 140 minutes of purchase.

4 - The child ages for Freccia and Intercity services is 4-14 inclusive, I believe. On the Regionale and Metropolitana services, I believe that the child ages are 4-11 inclusive. I'm sure someone with slightly more knowledge will be able to correct me if I am incorrect.

 

[rvdborgt]

2 - Tickets bought through the app must be used on the specified train, although I believe this can be changed through the FS app or website. However, when you use a ticket machine, it may depend on your departure station or the route you're travelling on. I have attached two images of FS Regionale tickets that I used last week - both bought from ticket machines at the departure station. One between Roma Termini and Napoli Centrale which was only valid on the specified train and another between Pompei and Napoli Gianturco which was valid on any train within 140 minutes of purchase.

The regions now determine fares and conditions, you there's no general answer anymore. On the tickets, you see which "Tariffa" is applicable, and the two tickets refer to different ones. I'm not sure what applies to journeys that go from one region to another.

 

[nathanclass323]

The regions now determine fares and conditions, you there's no general answer anymore. On the tickets, you see which "Tariffa" is applicable, and the two tickets refer to different ones. I'm not sure what applies to journeys that go from one region to another.

Ah thanks for that! I didn't realise that had changed! All I noticed is that the larger tickets just looked slightly different

 

[D6130]

Bus tickets in the Prato area - as in most parts of Italy - must be purchased before boarding, either from a tobacconist's shop (often to be found on the concourse of larger stations), from a bar in some cases or, where they exist, a ticket vending machine at the bus stop. If you purchase your ticket(s) from a bar or tobacconist, tell them where you are going and the should know - or be able to find out - which zone or tariff to sell you. From memory (the last time I was in Prato was last October), the buses towards Florence stop right outside Prato Centrale station. There is a ticket vending machine, but I can't remember whether it was for the LAM buses or the flat fare municipal city buses which also stop there. Are you, by any chance, planning to visit the Centro Pecci art exhibition hall, which is on the Prato-Florence route?

 

[dutchflyer]

@2: expect/take it for granted that printed tickets for REGionale must be used immediately. Unless you hit an old-fashioned type that needs to be validate-in that case there is even also a limit in which it has to be used (but this will be a few monthes)
LAM=most likely (I´l check later) Linee Automobilistica M (region starts with M) or is this Toscane? Maybe Metropolitana.
PS-several regions now have some kind of ride-at-will ´rover´tickets, notably in Lombardia, Umbria, Lazio (around Roma) for treni-regionale+autobus, but not sure for this region

 

[JV_hunter]

Bus tickets in the Prato area - as in most parts of Italy - must be purchased before boarding, either from a tobacconist's shop (often to be found on the concourse of larger stations), from a bar in some cases or, where they exist, a ticket vending machine at the bus stop. If you purchase your ticket(s) from a bar or tobacconist, tell them where you are going and the should know - or be able to find out - which zone or tariff to sell you. From memory (the last time I was in Prato was last October), the buses towards Florence stop right outside Prato Centrale station. There is a ticket vending machine, but I can't remember whether it was for the LAM buses or the flat fare municipal city buses which also stop there. Are you, by any chance, planning to visit the Centro Pecci art exhibition hall, which is on the Prato-Florence route?

Many thanks for the general info - indeed I am planning on doing so! I'm also travelling a bit around the city to meet friends.

How large is the city boundary for the flat fare? Is the Centro Pecci and Centro Commerciale in Prato inside this zone? Are they valid on LAM buses within the city or only on numbered routes? To get to the museum, the LAM Blu bus is the best option - is the 1,50EUR flat fare valid on that route?

Also, for travel between Prato and Florence, the TABNET app lists 2 origins in Prato - "Prato" and "Prato (via Autostrada)". A single to Florence for both costs 2,60EUR - are both valid on the fast LAM PO-FI bus? See attached image. Anything I need to know about using the app, both for urban and extra-urban travel?

Hopefully, I can give you a few answers! I'm afraid I'm unable to help on question 3, though, as I've never been to Prato.

1 - They don't have to be validated, that is correct. There is no benefit in terms of cost to buying through the FS app.

2 - Tickets bought through the app must be used on the specified train, although I believe this can be changed through the FS app or website. However, when you use a ticket machine, it may depend on your departure station or the route you're travelling on. I have attached two images of FS Regionale tickets that I used last week - both bought from ticket machines at the departure station. One between Roma Termini and Napoli Centrale which was only valid on the specified train and another between Pompei and Napoli Gianturco which was valid on any train within 140 minutes of purchase.

4 - The child ages for Freccia and Intercity services is 4-14 inclusive, I believe. On the Regionale and Metropolitana services, I believe that the child ages are 4-11 inclusive. I'm sure someone with slightly more knowledge will be able to correct me if I am incorrect.

Many thanks. I believe all REG/RV trains won't sell out, so I should be able to purchase a ticket right before departure for the next train.

@2: expect/take it for granted that printed tickets for REGionale must be used immediately. Unless you hit an old-fashioned type that needs to be validate-in that case there is even also a limit in which it has to be used (but this will be a few monthes)
LAM=most likely (I´l check later) Linee Automobilistica M (region starts with M) or is this Toscane? Maybe Metropolitana.
PS-several regions now have some kind of ride-at-will ´rover´tickets, notably in Lombardia, Umbria, Lazio (around Roma) for treni-regionale+autobus, but not sure for this region

Yes, this is mainly for Tuscany and around Prato. Would there be a day ticket that covers this and the surrounding area (around Florence)?

 

[D6130]

Further local research reveals that there has been a considerable reorganisation of bus services in Tuscany since my last visit, with many services having been taken over by TransDev and increased fares. If you can give me a few days, I can find out more for you. When do you intend to travel?

 

[JV_hunter]

Further local research reveals that there has been a considerable reorganisation of bus services in Tuscany since my last visit, with many services having been taken over by TransDev and increased fares. If you can give me a few days, I can find out more for you. When do you intend to travel?

I'm travelling around the end of June.
Really appreciate the help!

 

[D6130]

I think I may have confused myself a wee bit here as LAM seem to operate the city services in Prato and Pistoia, whereas the inter-urban buses in the area are mainly operated by CAP (possibily part of the same company?). When my wife visited the Centro Pecci last year, she took a #1 LAM city bus from outside Prato Centrale station - a very impressive piece of architecture - to the exhibition hall, at a flat fare of Eu 1.20 with two tickets purchased from the machine at the bus stop outside the station (one for the outward journey and one for the return) which have to be validated on boarding the bus. We're not sure about buses onwards from Centro Pecci towards Florence, as we were continuing to Pistoia by train later in the day. Pistoia is also well worth a visit, not only for its cathedral and baptistry and other architectural and artistic works, but also - for rail enthusiasts - the former locomotive depot at the West end of the station is now the headquarters, restoration centre and operating depot for the regional section of Fondazione FS - the Italian railways' heritage section. A large number of steam, diesel and electric locos, railcars and rolling stock are there and they have public open days at least twice a year....usually in Spring and Autumn. At other times of the year it is sometimes possible to organise a private guided tour if volunteers are available. Have a look at their website if you're interested: www.fondazionefs.it On the other side of the line is the Hitachi (formerly Ansaldo-Breda work) where the GWR's IETs were 'constructed'.

With regard to Trenitalia Regionale/Regionale Veloce tickets....if purchased from a ticket office ('Biglietteria') or ticket vending machine, they are only valid on the day of issue and for a maximum of four hours from the time of validation in the green and grey machines on the station platforms.

Watch this space for further info (hopefully!).