Elilje
Traveller
11 comments
Posted 7 years ago
Hi again!
I\'m checking and double checking every detail about our trip to Italy in June/July. I\'ve got a few questions about the connection between Milano and Diano Marina. When I\'m looking at Bahn it seems to be an ordinary EC train from Milano to Diano Marina (11.10-14.17 on June 23), but when I double check with Trenitalia it says it\'s a Thello train. I remember from last time that our Interrail cards weren\'t valid on Thello. Do you know if there are just Thello trains on this connection?
On our way home again we would like to travel from Diano Marina sometime during the day on July 3, to be in time for a night train from Milano 20.40. Bahn tells me that there are no connections whatsoever, but only a few days earlier (in June) there are trains (Thello, I suppose?) at 15.43 daily. Do you think I\'m right in assuming that the timetables for July isn\'t available yet, or don\'t these Thello train run in July? Trenitalia says there\'s an intercity train at 11.40. I don\'t know what to believe in...?
Another question... We were thinking of a day trip from Diano Marina to Menton (on a day last week in June, I\'m not sure when). When I\'m looking at Bahn that seem possible (ie 10.19 from Diano M to Ventimiglia, 11.06 from there to Menton, and the return trip from Menton 18.11, changing in Ventimiglia again, and returning to Diano M at 19.41), but thinking about that now makes me think that this would mean Thello again (which would be more expensive considering that our Interrail passes aren\'t valid on that train...) Are the Interrail passes valid on the train from Ventimiglia to Menton and back? Are there other options available? And do we need to pre-book and reserve tickets for such a day trip?
I\'m sorry to bother you with all these questions, but I seem to be stuck here.
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
It\'s good that you ask - we run the forum for questions like that. ;)
The "EC" train is indeed a Thello train; Interrail pass holders get a discount on Thello services only so you should take another connection since you will be using your Interrail ticket for other trains on that day too, right?
If you would only use Thello trains you would not need to use a travel day since you only get a discount with Interrail. But since you will be arriving with the nightjet from Munich you should look into other connections...which is easier said than done unfortunately... :(
These Thello trains are not the best option for Interrailers...
The next connection without Thello would be at 12:25, arriving in Diano at 17:05 with changes in Genova PP and Savona. Personally, I would think about getting an even later connection and spending the day in Milan.
Regarding the other connections: you are right, many trains for the summer are not available yet on [ux]http://plan.rail.cc/[/ux] and may neither be available on Trenitalia. The timetable change is in mid june (June 11), so I\'m wondering why you find timings for June 23 already. Anyway, you should go with Trenitalia as they are usually first in uploading the new timetable. Bahn and other schedule planners will follow later when they receive the updated information from Trenitalia.
There will be Thello-free connections for you to reach the night train but again these might be more awkard and time consuming than the direct Thello (unfortunately).
The last possible connection without Thello in the current timetable would be Diano 13:07 - 17:35 Milano with a change in Genova.
Regarding your day trip to Menton; there are plenty of regional trains which you can use from Diano to Ventimiglia and even more from there to Menton (and onwards towards Nice). Tickets are available locally, no need to buy in advance - or simply travel with your Interrail tickets if you have a spare travel day.
You can even use IC trains to get from Diano to Ventimiglia, simply avoid the EC/Thello trains.
Elilje
Traveller
11 comments
Thank you!!! I\'m feeling a lot calmer now, because it actually felt totally hopeless there for a while... :)
The day trip would not be a problem then, and I\'m sure we could find a connection (with or without Thello, although it would be better without it) for the connection to and from Diano Marina.
I know it\'s still early, but since there\'s a discount on the Interrail passes in March I started stressing over this. But I suppose that I could buy the Interrail passes now, and get the seat reservations later on. How long in advance do you think it would be advisable to book seat reservation (and couchette reservations) for a family of six?
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
OK I see. It can often be quite confusing with different schedule planners saying different things, train names not being consistent (EC/Thello) etc... ;)
The day trip to Menton wont be a problem, plenty of connections with regional trains are available.
Regarding the reservations...the nightjets Munich - Milano consists of one sleeper, one couchette and one seating car only, so I would recommend to book early - I\'d say one month in advance latest to get a cabin on your own.
Please keep also in mind that the discounted Interrail passes are not refundable nor exchangable: [ux]https://rail.cc/blog/interrail-promo-2017/[/ux]
Elilje
Traveller
11 comments
Thank you again! I certainly wish that I had found this site years ago! It would have saved me lots of time and trouble! :)
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
That\'s too kind, thank you! :)
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