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No Italy High Speed Train on April 11th Due to Maintenance?

  • March 11, 2026
  • 7 replies
  • 199 views
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Hi, I planned to travel from Venice (S. Lucia) to Florence on April 11th, 2026. I bought the Eurail Global Pass, but was unable to select seats for the high speed direct train:

 

I did some research, and apparently there is rail maintenance on 4/11:

https://www.reddit.com/r/ItalyTravel/comments/1qdtlff/possible_train_strike_in_april/

https://www.reddit.com/r/ItalyTravel/comments/1q8ja7c/is_there_anything_happening_on_11th_april/

 

If my travel date is already set in stone (booked tickets, hotels, etc...), is my only option to book the slower train where I have to do 2 transfers?

At least it’s still covered under the Eurail Global Pass. There’s no way this maintenance date will change, right? Thanks!

 

Best answer by rvdborgt

Regional trains can't be booked. You just add them to your pass and board.

None of the long-distance trains can be booked yet on this day, see www.trenitalia.com (you can't book pass holder reservations there but it's useful for information).

So just wait and try regularly. Trains in Italy are unlikely to be fully booked more than a few days in advance, if at all. Once they can be booked, tickets.oebb.at will be cheaper than Eurail, since Eurail always adds a booking fee.

7 replies

R
Railmaster
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  • rvdborgt
  • Railmaster
  • Answer
  • March 11, 2026

Regional trains can't be booked. You just add them to your pass and board.

None of the long-distance trains can be booked yet on this day, see www.trenitalia.com (you can't book pass holder reservations there but it's useful for information).

So just wait and try regularly. Trains in Italy are unlikely to be fully booked more than a few days in advance, if at all. Once they can be booked, tickets.oebb.at will be cheaper than Eurail, since Eurail always adds a booking fee.

Please ask questions in the community and not via a private message. That's the quickest way to get a response. I don't work for Eurail/Interrail.
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    • boltupqb17
    • Author
    • Right on track
    • March 11, 2026

    But I’m able to book seats the day before on April 10th. So it seems like it’s an limitation specific to April 11th?

     

    www.trenitalia.com is showing the same thing. A lot of availability for high speed train on April 10th, but none available on April 11th.

    R
    Railmaster
    Forum|alt.badge.img+10
    • rvdborgt
    • Railmaster
    • March 11, 2026

    But I’m able to book seats the day before on April 10th. So it seems like it’s an limitation specific to April 11th?

    As usual, engineering works mostly take place during the weekend.

    www.trenitalia.com is showing the same thing. A lot of availability for high speed train on April 10th, but none available on April 11th.

    That's what I already wrote. Keep trying regularly. Reservations will most probably open in the near future.

    Please ask questions in the community and not via a private message. That's the quickest way to get a response. I don't work for Eurail/Interrail.
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    • boltupqb17
    • Author
    • Right on track
    • March 12, 2026

    Ah got it. Ok, will keep checking closer to the date if they open it up. For now, will plan for the slower 4hr train. Thanks for the help!

    Angelo
    Railmaster
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    • Angelo
    • Railmaster
    • March 13, 2026

    Due to works on the high-speed line between Firenze and Rome the high speed trains will take the old railway line with longer time to be planned. 

    The updated timetable should be online in the next weeks.

    Do you have any questions? Feel free to ask in the community! Known languages: Deutsch, Italiano, English.
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      • boltupqb17
      • Author
      • Right on track
      • March 16, 2026

      Looks like the 3h 24m train with 1 transfer is now available! (Which is much better than the 4h 4m train with 2 transfers.) Also verified on trenitalia. Any guidance on whether I should just go with this itinerary and make seat reservations for my family? Or should I wait a little longer? I know seat reservations are non-refundable, but changes are allowed? Is it possible to change to the direct 2h 13m train if it does become available later?

      R
      Railmaster
      Forum|alt.badge.img+10
      • rvdborgt
      • Railmaster
      • March 17, 2026

      Reservations for Italy can be changed free of charge before departure time. They're 80% refundable before departure time if booked via Eurail or Rail Europe. Both have an extra non-refundable booking fee of €2 per person and train.

      Italian reservations booked via tickets.oebb.at are fully refundable until 15 days before the travel date, and then 50% before the travel date. No extra booking fee.

      The direct train at 11:26 is not shown on trenitalia.com so I doubt it will run. There is a direct train at 13:26, but that may be a bit late.

      Please ask questions in the community and not via a private message. That's the quickest way to get a response. I don't work for Eurail/Interrail.
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