My journey through Europe with FIP and International vouchers

[Rab Smith]

Hello,
Thought I would share my rail trip through Italy and onwards using my staff FIP and vouchers. I flew into Venice on Monday night and after a good days sightseeing (I won't bore you with my actual days, moreover, just the rail parts) I moved on to Florence on Tuesday evening. Booking tickets wasn't a problem but remember to take a deli ticket to get served as I forgot first time round and was told to get back and take a ticket!
After the second time, I got a very pleasant young lady with very good English who basically told me free travel on Italian Railways is fine if you're prepared to do Regionale which requires slow trains and multiple changes. The result was two reservation bookings for the Frecciarossa between Venice Florence and Florence and Rome. Both legs costing €25 each.
As always, trains in Italy run very good to schedule and Venice to Florence was on time.
Thought while I was in Florence I would book my next leg, Rome to Milan. Got on the fastest train of the evening at just over 3 hours. This cost me €51.50.
I have just boarded the Florence to Rome train so will report back in a couple of days after I try head for Zurich from Milan.
35 deg today in Florence! Lovely!

OK, so when in Rome.....
Was early for my train so went along to the ticket office to buy the next leg of my journey, Milan to Zurich. After another disappearing act by the booking office lady, she returned mob handed with a supervisor chatting in very quick Italian. Job done, train tomorrow, €11.
Currently on the Frecciarossa doing 250kph through the Italian countryside.
Excellent!

 

[YorkshireBear]

So did you get discounts with FIP on the higher speed stuff? I am very interested in how FIP works as I may be about to be eligible for it. And also have a trip to Italy via Zurich planned.

 

[92002]

So did you get discounts with FIP on the higher speed stuff? I am very interested in how FIP works as I may be about to be eligible for it. And also have a trip to Italy via Zurich

The fast frecciarossa and blanca traims or red and white arrow trains are globally priced trains. Just like booking Eurostar staff tickets in the UK. You get a discount but need to pay a supplement. Prices vary by the class of travel, time of train, days of the week and are quota controlled . Similar arrangements apply for interail pass holders.

 

[rvdborgt]

In Italy, with FIP coupons, you pay the difference between the regional train full fare and the Freccia* / IC full fare. Those prices do not vary. What varies is the commercial fare, which for Frecciarossa can be lower than said difference.

 

[Rab Smith]

So did you get discounts with FIP on the higher speed stuff? I am very interested in how FIP works as I may be about to be eligible for it. And also have a trip to Italy via Zurich planned.

I'm sure I did but never checked. €25 from Venice to Florence / Florence to Rome each seems cheaper than any ticket possible for this time of year. I did think Rome to Milan was a little expensive at €51.
I'm in Zurich now so ready to find out how 'free' my vouchers are here in Switzerland.

Edit.. Yes, they are completely free!

 

[Andypandy1968]

Yes free in Switzerland. Presume you went over the old Gotthard route and not through the boring new tunnel?!

 

[TravellingPhil]

I'm off to Switzerland myself in October.

Need to travel from St Moritz to Grindelwald in one day (7 hours+ journey I know!). I'll be using coupons (SP and SBB...maybe BLS), but will be getting the FIP discount for my wife.

Silly question, but if I buy her the FIP discounted point to point ticket from St Moritz to Grindelwald, I'm assuming we can still jump on any train on the route we like, break the journey for lunch etc?

Looks lovely and easy to use FIP facilities and getting hold of the tickets in Switzerland anyway...looking forward to it!

 

[Rab Smith]

Yes free in Switzerland. Presume you went over the old Gotthard route and not through the boring new tunnel?!

Nope, boring old me just wanted to plank my bag in the hotel and go exploring! Did Chur and back with a wee walk round the city.

I'm off to Switzerland myself in October.

Need to travel from St Moritz to Grindelwald in one day (7 hours+ journey I know!). I'll be using coupons (SP and SBB...maybe BLS), but will be getting the FIP discount for my wife.

Silly question, but if I buy her the FIP discounted point to point ticket from St Moritz to Grindelwald, I'm assuming we can still jump on any train on the route we like, break the journey for lunch etc?

Looks lovely and easy to use FIP facilities and getting hold of the tickets in Switzerland anyway...looking forward to it!

I assume you can because it's possible on a full price ticket.
I'll certainly ask for you.

 

[rvdborgt]

Silly question, but if I buy her the FIP discounted point to point ticket from St Moritz to Grindelwald, I'm assuming we can still jump on any train on the route we like, break the journey for lunch etc?

Yes you can. It will be a normal, flexible ticket with 50% FIP discount.

 

[Rab Smith]

So, after a couple of days completely free travel on most trains in Switzerland, I booked the TGV from Zurich to Paris Gare du Lyon which cost me chf31 which is roughly £29.
Couple of days coming up using my SNCF voucher, hoping to get up to Le Havre tomorrow using the regional trains.
Just had to say though, Switzerland is an absolute shining example on how an integrated travel system should be run. It is fabulous! It is a must to visit if you like stunning scenery!

Disaster strikes. Rather naively, I thought I would just turn up to Gare du Nord and get on a Eurostar back to London. Not so, fully booked up for the foreseeable. After a night in Paris, I decided to book a ferry from Caen. Getting to Caen not a problem using my SNCF international voucher. Train to Rouen Rive Droite and then SNCF shuttle bus to Caen.
Won't be long before I'm back on UK rails. Absolutely cracking trip, I would definitely recommend a land cruise using European rail.

 

[Watershed]

So, after a couple of days completely free travel on most trains in Switzerland, I booked the TGV from Zurich to Paris Gare du Lyon which cost me chf31 which is roughly £29.
Couple of days coming up using my SNCF voucher, hoping to get up to Le Havre tomorrow using the regional trains.
Just had to say though, Switzerland is an absolute shining example on how an integrated travel system should be run. It is fabulous! It is a must to visit if you like stunning scenery!

Disaster strikes. Rather naively, I thought I would just turn up to Gare du Nord and get on a Eurostar back to London. Not so, fully booked up for the foreseeable. After a night in Paris, I decided to book a ferry from Caen. Getting to Caen not a problem using my SNCF international voucher. Train to Rouen Rive Droite and then SNCF shuttle bus to Caen.
Won't be long before I'm back on UK rails. Absolutely cracking trip, I would definitely recommend a land cruise using European rail.

Glad to hear you found an alternative. I must say, walking up to the Eurostar ticket office and hoping for availability does strike me as rather "courageous"!

 

[Taunton]

Glad to hear you found an alternative. I must say, walking up to the Eurostar ticket office and hoping for availability does strike me as rather "courageous"!

It was how the original Channel Tunnel project was sold, as it was just like normal rail travel across the UK at the time.

I did once meet an American couple who were visiting London, and had found out about a day trip to Paris, so they took an early taxi from their hotel to St Pancras and asked for two Day Returns. I think it was more than £800 overall, they were aghast about it and walked away. I think it was the same as their airfare over from the USA had been.

 

[Rab Smith]

Glad to hear you found an alternative. I must say, walking up to the Eurostar ticket office and hoping for availability does strike me as rather "courageous"!

Not the term I would use now! I have never really looked into using Eurostar until recently when I did a trip back from Paris. That had all been arranged weeks before through an agent.
I know now, book well in advance!

 

[jamieP]

Hello,
Thought I would share my rail trip through Italy and onwards using my staff FIP and vouchers. I flew into Venice on Monday night and after a good days sightseeing (I won't bore you with my actual days, moreover, just the rail parts) I moved on to Florence on Tuesday evening. Booking tickets wasn't a problem but remember to take a deli ticket to get served as I forgot first time round and was told to get back and take a ticket!
After the second time, I got a very pleasant young lady with very good English who basically told me free travel on Italian Railways is fine if you're prepared to do Regionale which requires slow trains and multiple changes. The result was two reservation bookings for the Frecciarossa between Venice Florence and Florence and Rome. Both legs costing €25 each.
As always, trains in Italy run very good to schedule and Venice to Florence was on time.
Thought while I was in Florence I would book my next leg, Rome to Milan. Got on the fastest train of the evening at just over 3 hours. This cost me €51.50.
I have just boarded the Florence to Rome train so will report back in a couple of days after I try head for Zurich from Milan.
35 deg today in Florence! Lovely!

OK, so when in Rome.....
Was early for my train so went along to the ticket office to buy the next leg of my journey, Milan to Zurich. After another disappearing act by the booking office lady, she returned mob handed with a supervisor chatting in very quick Italian. Job done, train tomorrow, €11.
Currently on the Frecciarossa doing 250kph through the Italian countryside.
Excellent!

Im going to Italy in Novemeber and im a little bit surprised by the price. Is the €25 between Florence and Rome just for the seat reservation?

 

[Rab Smith]

Im going to Italy in Novemeber and im a little bit surprised by the price. Is the €25 between Florence and Rome just for the seat reservation?

No, that's the FIP discount price to use the Frecciarossa high speed trains. Another private company, Italo run fast trains but that is a completely private set up. Free vouchers are only valid on Regionale trains which if you're hardy, can be done but involve slow trains with multiple connections.
There was no way I was trundling around Italy on them. Venice to Florence would have taken around 5 hours with 3 different trains

 

[jamieP]

No, that's the FIP discount price to use the Frecciarossa high speed trains. Another private company, Italo run fast trains but that is a completely private set up. Free vouchers are only valid on Regionale trains which if you're hardy, can be done but involve slow trains with multiple connections.
There was no way I was trundling around Italy on them. Venice to Florence would have taken around 5 hours with 3 different trains

Thats confusing. The way I read it from the RST guide is with a FIP coupon all you pay for is the seat reservation.

 

[Rab Smith]

Thats confusing. The way I read it from the RST guide is with a FIP coupon all you pay for is the seat reservation.

As I thought. I asked the lady about that and she said vouchers were not valid for high speed trains in Italy

 

[jamieP]

As I thought. I asked the lady about that and she said vouchers were not valid for high speed trains in Italy

Well thats annoying but not a big deal.

 

[Watershed]

As I thought. I asked the lady about that and she said vouchers were not valid for high speed trains in Italy

Either the lady was misinformed or Trenitalia have changed their policy since the last RSTL update! AIUI, FIP vouchers are valid on (almost) all Trenitalia trains, but you have to pay for a reservation/supplement for any train other than the R and RV stoppers. It's rather pricey at around €10 a train but generally still cheaper than a public rate Advance, or FIP discounted walk-up fare.

The big gotcha is with Trenord services in the Lombardy region. Even though it's part owned by Trenitalia (Ferrovie Nord Milano, which is mostly publicly owned, holds the remainder), there's no FIP validity whatsoever.

 

[TravellingPhil]

Either the lady was misinformed or Trenitalia have changed their policy since the last RSTL update! AIUI, FIP vouchers are valid on (almost) all Trenitalia trains, but you have to pay for a reservation/supplement for any train other than the R and RV stoppers. It's rather pricey at around €10 a train but generally still cheaper than a public rate Advance, or FIP discounted walk-up fare.

The big gotcha is with Trenord services in the Lombardy region. Even though it's part owned by Trenitalia (Ferrovie Nord Milano, which is mostly publicly owned, holds the remainder), there's no FIP validity whatsoever.

As I'm about to find out in October as I'll be entering Switzerland from Milan via Tirano. Thankfully, the ticket prices look quite reasonable so it's not too frustrating.

But yes...glad I found out before I go waving Italian coupons to the conductor when I go!

 

[Watershed]

Am I'm about to find out in October as I'll be entering Switzerland from Milan via Tirano. Thankfully, the ticket prices look quite reasonable so it's not too frustrating.

But yes...glad I found out before I go waving Italian coupons to the conductor when I go!

Yes, that's the saving grace. Region-wide day tickets are very good value for money too. Unfortunately Italy isn't brilliant for FIP.

 

[Rab Smith]

Either the lady was misinformed or Trenitalia have changed their policy since the last RSTL update! AIUI, FIP vouchers are valid on (almost) all Trenitalia trains, but you have to pay for a reservation/supplement for any train other than the R and RV stoppers. It's rather pricey at around €10 a train but generally still cheaper than a public rate Advance, or FIP discounted walk-up fare.

The big gotcha is with Trenord services in the Lombardy region. Even though it's part owned by Trenitalia (Ferrovie Nord Milano, which is mostly publicly owned, holds the remainder), there's no FIP validity whatsoever.

Tbh I was knackered and far to tired to argue the case. She did disappear through the back for a few minutes so I just assumed that what she was telling me was gospel.
I'll try find out more when I get back and possibly email them for a refund if I was wrongly charged.

 

[rvdborgt]

The way I read it from the RST guide is with a FIP coupon all you pay for is the seat reservation.

The way I read it is that you buy an upgrade ("Cambio Servizio") from regional trains to the train you want to book. It's the difference in full fares between the 2. For an IC, that's usually quite affordable but for a longer distance Frecciarossa, that can still be quite expensive and advance fares may be lower than that.

 

[jamieP]

The way I read it is that you buy an upgrade ("Cambio Servizio") from regional trains to the train you want to book. It's the difference in full fares between the 2. For an IC, that's usually quite affordable but for a longer distance Frecciarossa, that can still be quite expensive and advance fares may be lower than that.

Not how I read it. But the RST guide is often not up to date.

"On long-distance services (i.e. Frecciabianca, Frecciarossa, Frecciargento, EC, EN, IC, ICN): • With FIP coupons, seat reservations are compulsoryand supplements are payable (except on IC and ICN where FIP coupons are endorsed No Supplement Necessary) • With FIP discounted tickets, seat reservation and supplements included in the fare. • Break of journey is not permitted."

 

[rvdborgt]

Not how I read it. But the RST guide is often not up to date.

"On long-distance services (i.e. Frecciabianca, Frecciarossa, Frecciargento, EC, EN, IC, ICN): • With FIP coupons, seat reservations are compulsoryand supplements are payable (except on IC and ICN where FIP coupons are endorsed No Supplement Necessary) • With FIP discounted tickets, seat reservation and supplements included in the fare. • Break of journey is not permitted."

Now page down to the section "How to book seat reservations on FS trains if using FIP coupons".
For Frecciarossa it says: "Customers need to buy “Cambio Servizio TO/AV” (upgrade from base tariff to HS) ticket for the relevant service level. Price depends on route".
Likewise for the other long-distance trains. Last year in August this was still accurate.

 

[jamieP]

Now page down to the section "How to book seat reservations on FS trains if using FIP coupons".
For Frecciarossa it says: "Customers need to buy “Cambio Servizio TO/AV” (upgrade from base tariff to HS) ticket for the relevant service level. Price depends on route".
Likewise for the other long-distance trains. Last year in August this was still accurate.

Ahh yep I hadnt seen that bit before. My mistake

 

[Rab Smith]

Now page down to the section "How to book seat reservations on FS trains if using FIP coupons".
For Frecciarossa it says: "Customers need to buy “Cambio Servizio TO/AV” (upgrade from base tariff to HS) ticket for the relevant service level. Price depends on route".
Likewise for the other long-distance trains. Last year in August this was still accurate.

So do you think that makes sense I paid €25 Venice to Florence, €25 Florence to Rome and €51 Rome to Milan?
Would be good to know if I have been overcharged.

 

[rvdborgt]

So do you think that makes sense I paid €25 Venice to Florence, €25 Florence to Rome and €51 Rome to Milan?
Would be good to know if I have been overcharged.

Sounds about right. You can use www.trenitalia.com to check the difference between the fare of regional trains and the full fare of the trains you used. It might be a few euros off, since the routes can differ a bit but it should be a good approximation.

 

[Rab Smith]

Sounds about right. You can use www.trenitalia.com to check the difference between the fare of regional trains and the full fare of the trains you used. It might be a few euros off, since the routes can differ a bit but it should be a good approximation.

Thanks for that.

 

[jamieP]

So do you think that makes sense I paid €25 Venice to Florence, €25 Florence to Rome and €51 Rome to Milan?
Would be good to know if I have been overcharged.

So im in Italy now. Travelled Naples to Florence and the ticket office only charged me €10. I think he under charged me though as the ticket man on the train was very confused by my ticket and FIP coupon.