Trains in Italy - anyone any experience?

[Anon751117000]

I'm going to italy in August (yes I know its the worst time but I am restricted). I want to get the train from Milan down to Monterosso in Cinque Terre. My friend did this last year and go a direct train which was around 3 hours.
When I check Trenitalia, the same direct trains in August are over 4 hours long but only 3 in July. Looks like the first part of the route is slightly different.
Anyway, my question is..... do they release other trains nearer the time or will these be my only option? I'm looking at dates of 10-13 August.
I have no experience of trains in Italy so completely clueless as to how it works and when they release timetables.

Ive used them loads, I always use the Trainline app. Ime Italian trains are great value and excellent service!

I have used them in the past and just recently and covering an extensive area. I have found them to be reliable and the staff are helpful and courteous. Trainline is great for looking up times etc and you can either purchase your tickets very easily at the ticket machines (they have different language options and take cards or cash) at the station or queue at the ticket office. Some big stations have assistance booths if you're really stuck. They are cheaper (unless you use high speed trains) and more reliable than trains here.

Sorry re the timetables , yes some of the high speed timetables won't be released until nearer the time.

Man in Seat61 is a good source of info for train travel in Europe.

Ive also used first class a few times - sometimes it’s only a few Euros more. It’s not fancy but spacious and comfortable.

My favourite is the Frecciarossa but they are also the most expensive!!

I book via Trainline

I booked via Trainline as well. Very timely rail service and comfortable. Just be aware that the ticket inspectors expect you to sit in your assigned seat if you have one. Don't know about the timetables, sorry

Trains in Italy are punctual, comfortable and great value.
Consider downloading the Trenitalia app. We used it lots, once to book a train from Milan to Genova a few weeks in advance but it's also great for buying tickets just before travel.
I don't know about timetables and if they release more nearer the time, but via the Trenitalia app you get cheaper slow train options and the high speed ones too.
We've always been there in August and the trains were busy but still fine.
Have a great time in Italy!

the trains are pretty regular I went from Trevino-Venice-Florence-Rome over a week via trains they’re so easy to use, best bet is to get tickets from the station once there as they had tickets and prices that I couldn’t see online. There is something to be wary of though you have to ‘verify’ your tickets when you go into the train stations heading towards your train there will be little machines on the wall for you to scan your tickets, you can actually get into a lot of trouble if you don’t do this, we didn’t know this luckily someone told us when they heard us speaking English. Most trains are also double decker which are pretty cool

It’s worth checking on seat61, but I’ve found that some train tickets in Italy can’t be booked until 3 months before travel, and in some cases you can’t see the timetables either, so you might have to wait a couple of weeks OP.
seat61 has so much info, like if it’s worth booking first class, info about stations etc as well as advice on routes and prices

How weird OP - the exact same journey on the exact same intercity train (whether 665 or 6669 - it tells you on the information panel) takes an hour longer after mid July .

I would contact trenitalia and just check maybe, but it looks like the full timetable has been released and the journey is set to take longer. I see that there are some bus options, and also that journeys using the "fast" frecciarossa service (which isn't direct to Monterosso anyway and always involves getting on a regional train in the end) are scheduled to take over five and a half hours in August. Maybe there's engineering works.

Oh, there you go - it is engineering works - that's the first part of the route

Ah thank you!! I did contact Trenitalia to ask the question and their response was: 'the train timetable is currently being updated and it will be necessary to verify it later'.

@Pyew I could not have picked a worse time to go regarding trains. There are also maintenance works on the Lecco to Sondrio line which affects my trip from Milan to Como also! :-(