Originally Posted by Perche

I've been hesitant to use my ATM card. Even with a travel notification I've had them put a hold on my card when their computer spits out something that seems like a strange purchase and I never want that to happen again. Being stuck with no cash stinks.

Am on a train from Torino to Milano, and I bought a ticket with cash. Interestingly, it was a fairly long line, and the woman in front of me couldn't complete her transaction because her credit card wasn't accepted.

On board, when they came to check for tickets, I showed mine to the official, but asked him if it's OK to board without a ticket, and just buy it on board. He said certainly, if you don't have time to buy a ticket, just get on the train and buy it onboard. But he said there's a five euro surcharge for buying the ticket aboard.

I thought I'd provide this additional info, but with a caution. I'm on a trenitalia regional, and It's possible there are differences when buying aboard between long distance and regional trains.

Still, if there's a 5E surcharge per ticket on a regional train, a party of four might think that going to a ticket machine and using euros is worth their while compared to a 20E surcharge, unless they risked missing a train or a flight.