milka_or_cadbury

I am planning to take the train from Bologna, Italy, to Milan on a Saturday afternoon. I will have a lot of luggage with me, 2 big bags on wheels and a backpack! Has anyone taken the train on this route before? Do you have any tips for me? Is there much room on the train to store your luggage? Are there stairs at Bologna or Milan train station?

I plan to go from Milan train station to Malpensa Airport and then the hotel shuttle to the hotel near the airport. Will I have any troubles getting all my luggage onto the bus, is there an extra charge for excessive luggage on the bus?

Hope you can help, thanks

Andrew

I was at the Bologna train station the other day. Yes, there are stairs - like other stations I've been to (Padua, Florence) there's an underground walkway under the tracks (walk down some stairs) and you have to walk up the stairs (not a huge number of stairs though - like half a floor down then up) to each track's boarding platform. There are sometimes lifts, however. I tried to use one at Bologna but there was a sign saying it was under maintenance during the daytime hours! (Helpful time to work on it, guys!) I also had trouble finding the lift another time. I've since given up on lifts and grunt up and down the stairs.

I had about as much stuff as you do, two bags on wheels, not light bags either. I simply took my time, closed up the handles, and lifted the bags down and up the stairs as needed. Helps greatly if you are not in a hurry, LOL!

I've been on a number of different trains in Italy, and even most of the regional trains seem to have luggage storage. I'm almost certain you'll have a place to store luggage, over the seats on racks, anyway. (That's where I usually put mine.) One train from Padua to Venice did NOT have racks over the seats but it was kind of a cattle car, full of people at rush hour. Had I had luggage (I didn't - day trip) I would probably have stood with it near the door. But I don't think you'll have that sort of train from Bologna to Milan, just a guess.

You can tell roughly what kind of train runs on the route you pick. ICPlus trains surely will have some sort of luggage rack and Eurostar trains do for sure. My Eurostar train had a place for big bags at the ends of the cars, so you wouldn't have to hike them up onto the rack over your head.

paolananni

I am from Bologna and maybe I can help you. Yes, you can go to Milano from Bologna by train. Once in Milano you will have to take the bus for Malpensa. You will pay 6 euros as you go on the bus and it will take you to Malpensa.Make sure you read" Malpensa" outside the bus as some go to other airports.
You will not have any trouble getting the luggage on the bus. There is usually plenty of room under the bus and the men usually help you load them on the bus.There is no extra charge for suitcases on the bus.
Yes, there are stairs in Bologna and no handicapped ramp.
In Milano you can go down with the escalator. It will take you to the bus section if you descend from the side and not the front of the station.
Good luck. If I can be of any further help to you, you can send me an e-mail at [email protected]

doug_stallings

Isn't it possible to take a train directly to Malpensa? It's so far from Milan, that it seems a big waste of time to me to go all the way into Milan with so much luggage.

tomassocroccante

There is a train to Malpensa from Milano, but from a different station. So it doesn't make life easier.

Haven't more than two hands filled with luggage is challenging - if possible, engage a young student to help tote one up the stairs (!) or person to watch one while you tote the other. Good luck -

imperialtopaz

You could also ask your taxi driver and pay him extra to park and help you with your luggage at the train station. He may also be able to find someone to help you. As the other poster said, those stairs up to the platform are a hassle with lots of luggage.Make sure that you are located at the correct boarding location on the platform. They are usually marked A-D on the posts or on signs that hang above the track. If Bologna is not the original point where the train begins, the train will swoosh in and you won't have lots of time to haul everything up.

milka_or_cadbury

Thanks for all the info peoples! It is going to be a mission to get from Bologna to the hotel in Milan on my own with all my stuff - shuttle from my hotel to Bologna airport, then bus from there to railway station, then train, then another bus, then a shuttle to the hotel! I wonder if it would be worth renting a car one way from Bologna to Milan to make the trip? Does anyone know of a good car company that would do a one day one way rental like that?

jim21

I am hesitant to ask the obvious but I will anyway...do you really need to take that much luggage with you? As you can see from the above responses, most trains and train stations are not built to accommodate multiple large bags.

Also, I have been to the station in Milan more times than I can remember...the latest being June. If I recall correctly, there are metal posts at the top of the escalators to prevent someone from trying to take too many bags on at one time. In may opinion you should seriously consider using only one suitcase or find someone to help you at the stations.

JeanneB

Are you going to be in Bologna a long time? (All that luggage, you know).

If so, I think it might be cheaper just to hire someone to drive you to your Milan hotel. Ask around.

milka_or_cadbury

I'm actually from Australia, I play professional golf and I have been overseas for a few months, so that's why I have so much stuff! Suitcase and golf bag. Anyway I found that it is quite affordable to rent a cay for one day one way in Italy, well at least from Bologna Airport to Milan anyway. No one way fees I guess because they are quite close to each other.

So now I have decided to rent a car one way, but would be dropping it off at Milan Malpensa airport around 6:00am to catch an 8:00am flight. Has anyone dropped off a car there that early before? Do you know if they have a key drop-off box for out of hours returns?

jim21

I have never driven to Malpensa but I do know that you need to be sure to go to the correct terminal. Here as link to get driving directions…just click on the appropriate terminal number and fill in your starting point.

http://www.sea-aeroportimilano.it/it...=come_arrivare

My guess is that you will need to get the drop-off information from the rental company. Here is a list of the companies, including operating hours, which serve Malpensa.

http://www.sea-aeroportimilano.it/it...to=servizi_sea

Good luck and g’day.