Big New Restrictions to Trenitalia PAPER Regionale tickets

Question

IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR TRAVELERS INTENDING TO USE TRENITALIA UNRESERVED REGIONALE TRAINS:

The Trenitalia website reports important new RESTRICTIONS concerning the purchase and use of Trenitalia UNRESERVED REGIONALE train tickets purchased in PAPER FORMAT through electronic ticket machines, staffed sales windows, or travel agencies in Italy:

WHEREAS these PAPER tickets have traditionally been valid for up to 60 days after issuance (as long as not validated), EFFECTIVE AUGUST 1, they will be utilizable ONLY THROUGH MIDNIGHT OF THE DAY SHOWN AS THE TRAVEL DATE ON THE FACE OF THE TICKET ITSELF. When purchasing a ticket, the traveler will be REQUIRED to specify a travel DATE (which may be in the future, usually up to four months). The traveler may board ANY UNRESERVED REGIONALE TRAIN OPERATING ON THAT SPECIFIED DATE (and route) by VALIDATING the ticket in the validating machine at the train station prior to boarding. Once validated, the ticket will be valid for FOUR HOURS (no longer 6 hours), but the traveler will be allowed to COMPLETE his trip (without interruptions) even if the ticket technically expires while on the train.

These paper tickets can be changed, without premium or penalty, ONCE ONLY up to 23:59 (Italy time) of the day PRIOR to the designated travel date. They can also be refunded, subject to usual restrictions.

THE KEY CHANGE TO BE NOTED (and it is a BIG change) is that these paper regionale tickets will NO LONGER be valid for up to 60 days from issue date, but will be utilizable ONLY on the SPECIFIED TRAVEL DATE.  As such, they will more closely resemble the tight restrictions of the reserved Trenitalia Frecce and Intercity trains.  GONE ARE THE DAYS when these tickets could be purchased in advance, even all at once, without being restricted to travel on any particular day during the 60-day validity period.

Trenitalia notes that these changes are designed to combat the fraudulent misuse of tickets (people travelling without validating the ticket, then re-using the ticket on a later date, even multiple times). Going forward, the opportunities for fraud are significantly reduced, since the ticket can be used only on the specified travel date.

Hyperlinked are Trenitalia webpages which explain these changes. There is presently no English-language translation, which is why I summarize the information above.

trenitalia.com/tcom/Treni-Regionali/Nuovo-bi…

trenitalia.com/cms-file/allegati/trenitalia_…

NOTE: for the moment, Trenitalia specifies that there are no changes to ELECTRONIC regionale train tickets. They too are valid for only four hours after the departure time/date noted on the ticket receipt, and must be used only on that specified travel date (without a need to validate them).

TravelGep · Accepted Answer

Maybe I'm missing the point, but I don't see where the BIG problem is. You can still buy them in advance (hence avoid missing a train because of queues at the ticket machine) and you can still use them on any train on that day.

You can still wake up in the morning in Modena and if the weather is nice go to the beach in Riccione without any previous planning required for something ridiculous like €12.

Edited: 4 years ago

GAC · Answer

It's a significant change because it removes the flexibility of being able to buy these tickets in advance (even all at once), without needing to specify the actual travel date. You were able to buy the tickets in advance, then hold them in your pocket (or purse) for up to 60 days prior to use.

TravelGep · Answer

Maybe it is a big problem, but for a very small number of people I dare to say.

If you travel by train a lot you are better off buying a weekly / monthly / annual ticket.

If you travel occasionally for tourism then you can buy the tickets in advance once you have decided where to go and which day (you still have total freedom on the time).

I really fail to see what the big problem is, but maybe because I'm in a country where people buy train / plane / holiday / concert tickets 1 year in advance, so the Italian system seems extremely flexible even with the new limitation. I guess it's all subjective.

Edited: 4 years ago

GAC · Answer

The additional restrictions will not be welcome news to those tourists who were used to be able to buy these tickets in advance without needing to plan the actual travel dates, thereby retaining nearly total flexibility. I can't say whether this affects only a "very small number" of people (perhaps so or perhaps not). It was a feature appreciated by U.S. tourists (and probably by many other nationalities). Of course for other travelers, the changes will not amount to much at all, and may even go unnoticed.

Anna M · Answer

TravelGep, here's an example of what changes:

My father doesn't use the Internet to buy tickets, he's old school. He usually goes to the station the day before leaving to buy the ticket so he won't risk missing the train on the next day due to vending machine malfunctioning or longer queues at the desk. He can't do that anymore now.

I agree that this is probably no issue for tourists, but it's still good to know.

Thank you GAC for the heads up, I had no idea.

Tabata_1973 · Answer

@Anna: if your dad travels by regional trains tell him that he can go to any tabaccheria to buy train tickets the day of travel, easy peasy and less or no queues.

PWMW · Answer

I believe it would have applied to our recent situation. Upon arrival in Milan, we bought not only our tickets to Varenna for that day, but also tickets for our ongoing trip from Varenna to Bergano several days later. So thanks, GAC, good to know for the next trip.

TravelGep · Answer

Thanks Anna, but judging by the links from the OP I think your dad will still be able to buy the ticket in advance. He just needs to specify the date of travel.

Michael S · Answer

Anna, your dad will indeed be able to buy his tickets in advance as pointed out.

TravelSmith · Answer

This is good to know, I used to purchase a bunch of regionals in advance, but now we have to specify the date, so it does limit flexibility somewhat.

But, wasn't there already a fine for riding without validated ticket, if caught by an inspector - they could check the time and date validated

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