Intercity Notte training boarding time
Nov 22nd, 2016, 12:16 PM
#1
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Intercity Notte training boarding time
I have a InterCity Notte train from Rome to Milan departing at 23:15. It seems quite late in the evening. Does anybody know when one can board the train? It is possible to board early to settle down? Thanks.
Nov 22nd, 2016, 12:36 PM
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Is the train coming from somewhere else before Rome? If so you may only have 15 minutes or so
But IME if originating in Rome it may be there sometime before but no standard rule I believe - this after taking zillions of night trains in Europe.
Night trains are not for everyone - light sleepers especially but I've never had much of a problem with a little vino with that but there is a cacophony of noise at times in stations - when wheels screech to a halt, etc. And if in a couchette the ubiquitous snorer.
For lots on night trains and trains in general check www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.
Feel free to bring any food or drink aboard- there may be an attendant selling drinks and snacks but at a high price.
the train may also at its terminus let you stay on board if it is a really early arrival but don't count on it - I've had sheets literally ripped out from under me by staff eager to get their jobs done and be out.
Have you ever taken overnight trains before?
But IME if originating in Rome it may be there sometime before but no standard rule I believe - this after taking zillions of night trains in Europe.
Night trains are not for everyone - light sleepers especially but I've never had much of a problem with a little vino with that but there is a cacophony of noise at times in stations - when wheels screech to a halt, etc. And if in a couchette the ubiquitous snorer.
For lots on night trains and trains in general check www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.
Feel free to bring any food or drink aboard- there may be an attendant selling drinks and snacks but at a high price.
the train may also at its terminus let you stay on board if it is a really early arrival but don't count on it - I've had sheets literally ripped out from under me by staff eager to get their jobs done and be out.
Have you ever taken overnight trains before?
Nov 22nd, 2016, 12:36 PM
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You did not mention the exact train in question. Is it
ICN35398 23:15-7:11 Roma Tiburtina - Milano Porta Garibaldi?
If this is your train, when you go to www.bahn.com, look up this train, and click "ICN35398" in the details section, you find that the full route of this train is Salerno-Torino Porta Nuova.
If you look at the itinerary, you notice:
Roma Tiburtina arrival 23:13.
Roma Tiburtina departure 23:15.
The train is in platform for 2 minutes to unload and load passengers at Roma Tiburtina.
Any reason why you don't want to take an earlier high speed train doing Roma Termini-Milano Centrale in less than 3 hours?
ICN35398 23:15-7:11 Roma Tiburtina - Milano Porta Garibaldi?
If this is your train, when you go to www.bahn.com, look up this train, and click "ICN35398" in the details section, you find that the full route of this train is Salerno-Torino Porta Nuova.
If you look at the itinerary, you notice:
Roma Tiburtina arrival 23:13.
Roma Tiburtina departure 23:15.
The train is in platform for 2 minutes to unload and load passengers at Roma Tiburtina.
Any reason why you don't want to take an earlier high speed train doing Roma Termini-Milano Centrale in less than 3 hours?
Nov 23rd, 2016, 09:59 AM
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Any reason why you don't want to take an earlier high speed train doing Roma Termini-Milano Centrale in less than 3 hours?>
Save money on a hotel and even 3 hrs daytime travel time and to experience a night train- all good reasons though waiting in Rome until 11 pm does not make this the most convenient night train.
I've almost always had nicer experiences on night trains and enjoyed them very much - having a private compartment helps the enjoyment though being with strangers in a couchette can be neat too.
Save money on a hotel and even 3 hrs daytime travel time and to experience a night train- all good reasons though waiting in Rome until 11 pm does not make this the most convenient night train.
I've almost always had nicer experiences on night trains and enjoyed them very much - having a private compartment helps the enjoyment though being with strangers in a couchette can be neat too.
Nov 23rd, 2016, 12:43 PM
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The reason is that the ticket was purchased a while ago (LOL), and the trip is about to happen in a few days while I am currently traveling in another country.
First time traveling via train in Europe at anytime. I will probably bite the bullet this time.
First time traveling via train in Europe at anytime. I will probably bite the bullet this time.
Nov 23rd, 2016, 01:08 PM
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What kind of berth did you get -in multi-person couchette or other shared compartment or just regular seats (if any on that train).
If noise bothers you get some ear plugs.
Otherwise enjoy it - it's kind of neat taking a night train IME.
If noise bothers you get some ear plugs.
Otherwise enjoy it - it's kind of neat taking a night train IME.
Nov 24th, 2016, 08:30 AM
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It's a 2-person couchette. When flying long distance, I use a good noise cancelling phone and play white noise sound. I will do the same.>
Tiburtina is a main station however and to me nicer than the much more hectic Termini one and just as easy to get to from anywhere in Rome.
Tiburtina is a main station however and to me nicer than the much more hectic Termini one and just as easy to get to from anywhere in Rome.
Dec 3rd, 2016, 07:46 AM
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I took the train a few days ago. Thanks for the replies, I kind of knew what I got myself into, and did not get disoriented at the station.
Initially, I considered to buy a lounge access at the Tiburtina station since the train departed so late, but both lounges would close at 9:30 PM. It did not make sense.
I arrived at the station at around 10 PM. All stores/restaurants were closed. There was no place to sit on the departure floor, which was rather strange to me. I walked around and found chairs at the restaurant area. It's not terrible for a short wait.
The train information that was displayed at the station was rather confusing. My train was ICN35398. However, the huge billboard displayed as "ICN35340, from Salerno, arrival at 23:13", a small monitor near the escalator to the platform displayed as "ICN35340, to Torino, platform 17". 35398 was not seen anywhere on both places. I went to platform 17 anyway. More confusing, platform 16 had an ICN train from Torino to somewhere at the same time. While I was waiting for the train, a US couple seemed also got lost, rushed in and asked a 20-ish guy if he spoke English; the guy shook his head. In the meantime, I somehow figured out reading the printed timetable, and sort of determined that the upcoming train in the a few minutes should be ICN3539, not ICN35340. Later, I saw an old-ish guy in uniform, so I tried to get assurance from him. He stared at me upon my question. I then showed him my ticket, he responded "Si". Special thanks to Greg for looking it up, as I had no clue of the train's starting and final destinations at all. Whew!
Upon boarding, I saw one bottle of water provided in my compartment. I asked the attendant, who told me that I was the only passenger in the compartment. I did see that 2 other male passengers boarded the same carriage, I believed that they were in separate compartments too.
The pillow was in a plastic bag, the cover of the comforter seemed newly replaced. However, I wasn't sure about the bed sheet, since it looked a few shades grey off-white. The compartment felt relative warm, so I decided to sleep on top of the comforter wearing my sweater.
I took a sleep pill upon boarding. Since I was the only passenger, I did not use my noise cancelling headphone. Instead, I just played white noises (a mix sound of rain, crickets, and wind) loud from my phone. I have been playing white noise when flying long distance for a couple of years, so the noise from the train did not bother me at all once I got used to the motion. I slept for around 2 hours and was woke up due to coldness. It seemed that the heating was turned off. There was a temperature control knob near the door, but it seemed had no effect for the temperature.
Then I wore my coat and got beneath the comforter. Since I had my full cloth on, I figured that the sheet could not be dirtier than any public bench; I also did not care at that point. I fell asleep quickly and woke up at around 6:30 am, around 40 minutes ahead of arrival time.
In the morning, I saw the temperature displayed near the video monitor camera in the hallway was 16C, which was 22C when I was boarding. Also, during the waiting for arrival, I noticed that temperature increased slowly. So it seemed that the heating was indeed turned off in the midnight.
Other than the cold temperature, my train ride seemed OK. I would consider night train again in Europe if the total travel time is longer than 10 hours for a good sleep.
Initially, I considered to buy a lounge access at the Tiburtina station since the train departed so late, but both lounges would close at 9:30 PM. It did not make sense.
I arrived at the station at around 10 PM. All stores/restaurants were closed. There was no place to sit on the departure floor, which was rather strange to me. I walked around and found chairs at the restaurant area. It's not terrible for a short wait.
The train information that was displayed at the station was rather confusing. My train was ICN35398. However, the huge billboard displayed as "ICN35340, from Salerno, arrival at 23:13", a small monitor near the escalator to the platform displayed as "ICN35340, to Torino, platform 17". 35398 was not seen anywhere on both places. I went to platform 17 anyway. More confusing, platform 16 had an ICN train from Torino to somewhere at the same time. While I was waiting for the train, a US couple seemed also got lost, rushed in and asked a 20-ish guy if he spoke English; the guy shook his head. In the meantime, I somehow figured out reading the printed timetable, and sort of determined that the upcoming train in the a few minutes should be ICN3539, not ICN35340. Later, I saw an old-ish guy in uniform, so I tried to get assurance from him. He stared at me upon my question. I then showed him my ticket, he responded "Si". Special thanks to Greg for looking it up, as I had no clue of the train's starting and final destinations at all. Whew!
Upon boarding, I saw one bottle of water provided in my compartment. I asked the attendant, who told me that I was the only passenger in the compartment. I did see that 2 other male passengers boarded the same carriage, I believed that they were in separate compartments too.
The pillow was in a plastic bag, the cover of the comforter seemed newly replaced. However, I wasn't sure about the bed sheet, since it looked a few shades grey off-white. The compartment felt relative warm, so I decided to sleep on top of the comforter wearing my sweater.
I took a sleep pill upon boarding. Since I was the only passenger, I did not use my noise cancelling headphone. Instead, I just played white noises (a mix sound of rain, crickets, and wind) loud from my phone. I have been playing white noise when flying long distance for a couple of years, so the noise from the train did not bother me at all once I got used to the motion. I slept for around 2 hours and was woke up due to coldness. It seemed that the heating was turned off. There was a temperature control knob near the door, but it seemed had no effect for the temperature.
Then I wore my coat and got beneath the comforter. Since I had my full cloth on, I figured that the sheet could not be dirtier than any public bench; I also did not care at that point. I fell asleep quickly and woke up at around 6:30 am, around 40 minutes ahead of arrival time.
In the morning, I saw the temperature displayed near the video monitor camera in the hallway was 16C, which was 22C when I was boarding. Also, during the waiting for arrival, I noticed that temperature increased slowly. So it seemed that the heating was indeed turned off in the midnight.
Other than the cold temperature, my train ride seemed OK. I would consider night train again in Europe if the total travel time is longer than 10 hours for a good sleep.
Dec 9th, 2016, 12:36 PM
#17
The issue with your train numbers was planned maintenance. From Trenitalia:
From Monday, August 22 to Friday, December 9, 2016, for planned maintenance work on the lines Bologna - Florence and Bologna - Padua, the following trains will differ.
ICN 35398 SALERNO 20:06 TURIN PN 20/09 circulates new number with ICN 35340 in the nights from Sunday / Monday to Thursday / Friday 18/19 from September to December 2016. 8/9 stops remain unchanged, times and frequency.
From Monday, August 22 to Friday, December 9, 2016, for planned maintenance work on the lines Bologna - Florence and Bologna - Padua, the following trains will differ.
ICN 35398 SALERNO 20:06 TURIN PN 20/09 circulates new number with ICN 35340 in the nights from Sunday / Monday to Thursday / Friday 18/19 from September to December 2016. 8/9 stops remain unchanged, times and frequency.
Dec 10th, 2016, 04:37 AM
#18
If I'm taking a night train I travel with a lightweight silk sleep sack. It weighs practically nothing and takes up little space. Then I don't have to worry about the sheets, not that I remember doing so. I got mine from Dreamsack.
Dec 11th, 2016, 08:37 AM
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When a night train arrives at it's destination, all sheets are taken away and then the wagons are cleaned. Therefore it's impossible that a sheet from the night before remains in a compartment.
So the sheet coming directly from the laundry in late afternoon must have been dirty.
So the sheet coming directly from the laundry in late afternoon must have been dirty.
