You're going to use a lot of public transportation here. Don't worry about it. It's easy. It's even easier if you know what you're doing. Let's talk about trains. Trains are nice. Trains are easy. Trains can easily get you anywhere. But here are some things I've learned about trains.
IMPORTANT THINGS
- Tickets are easy to buy. Most tickets you can buy right in the station at the machine. It's easier to use the machines that take money. I've noticed that some people can't use their credit cards at these machines. The machine just goes, "NO," and refuses. If you're not using the Fast Ticket machine, you can buy from a person; the windows are only open to about eight in the evening though.
- There are regional trains (designated by an 'R') and intercity ('IC') trains. Regional trains stop at every stop on the line. Intercity trains are faster and stop only the major stops.
- Sometimes you will have to switch trains. If you buy your ticket from a person, they will not tell you this. The Fast Ticket machine will though.
- Some trains will give you a seat to sit in. Sit in it. People check these things. (Same goes for first class and second class cabins.) If there's "standing room only," that's okay too. There are little seats that come out from the wall in the hall if none of the cabins are open.
- Green buttons are always good. White buttons are good. Sometimes, you will have to open the door to the station or to a different cabin. Sometimes it is a handle you have to pull/lift, other times it is a button. Green and white buttons are good.
- Never let someone load your luggage. People can be nice and may help, but sometimes people will try to scam you out of money for loading your luggage. They are not affiliated with train. If you do not give them money, they may try to hold your luggage as hostage. A few euros will usually free your bags.
- You will buy a ticket to your stop. However, only the end destination will show up on the train sign at its track. (When I go to Pavia, the sign at the train I go to says Milan because it is the last stop.) It's best to have some knowledge as to where that train is going (which I say more about in the next point).
- To find your rail/track/'binario': it will not be on your ticket. There will be a poster somewhere, usually behind glass, that says PARTENZE (leaving). On this, look for the time you will be leaving (it's always military time though). It will say the final stop (see above), the rail, and in smaller letters, all the stops the train will make. (Be positive your stop is on that list!)
- AND HOLY CHEESES THE MOST IMPORTANT THING EVER URGENT URGENT URGENT: Validate your ticket! There will be machines around the station (usually school-bus yellow, sometimes weird green/gray ones) and you need to stamp one end of your ticket there. If you don't and someone checks your ticket on the train, you can be fined fifty euros! If a machine is broken or you absolutely cannot find one before you need to board, then get on the train. Go to the front of the train, find the conductor, and tell him/her that you need your ticket validated (sometimes just handing the ticket to them will work too). That's okay too.
Okay! See? Trains are easy. You'll get used to them really quickly.
No comments:
Post a Comment