fdf123

Just looking for a little advice. Arriving at Milano 12:10 pm on a Sunday (clearing customs in Amsterdam but will have checked luggage) and plan to travel by train to Monterosso in 5-Terre. Is it totally unrealistic to hope to catch the 14:05 from Milano centrale (would mean catching the 12:43 from MPX to M Centrale)? There's a 12:43--> 13:35, and a 13:43-->14:30 (which would mean catching the 15:10 to Monterosso, a slower train that gets us in after our "official" check in time).

If I buy 1st class tix for the 14:05 train in advance, and we're late, can I just board the 15:10 later train or must I change my tix 1st ("Base rate" no change fee)?

Welcome any other thoughts or ideas too.

Thanks

greg

I find luggage deliver in Italy to be done, at its own speed . I don't expect able to get out of the airport until about one hour after landing.

Taking other train info is covered in their ticket option chart at Trenitalia. http://www.trenitalia.com/cms-file/h...ecce.html#BASE

With base rate, there is no cost advantage in buying before. If helps if seat availability is tight. However, on Italian trains, the seat reservation still requires asking squatters to move to their own seats

Not that it is relevant to your question, you do the passport control in Amsterdam and customs in Milan. Unless you have something to declare, the customs procedure is a 5 second event walking through a door with a green sign "Nothing to Declare." The time consuming part for you at Malpense is simply waiting for your luggage to come off the conveyor belt.

Although the time mismatch to catch your 14:05 train is too much for 14:35 arrival in Milano Centrale, I would not totally give up. While train delays is usually harmful, if 12:43 from Malpensa is late in departure or 14:05 departure from Milano Centale is unusually late, you might be saved by delays. If you have a smartphone with internet access, using an app like "Train Timetable Italy," for example, you can find out if you have an unexpected chance to catch an earlier train departing later if you have ticket in hand before getting to the station. For example, right now I see FR 9562 from Rome running 13 minutes late and would probably be leaving Firenze S.M.N. 13 minutes later than scheduled.

Unfortunately, having a checked luggage counts against you.
You still need a fallback plan to be able to arrive after the "check-in" time. Is it absolute time or after which you have to make a prior arrangement and pay late arrival fee?

PalenQ

I may wait until I reach Malpensa train station and at the ticket desk just buy a ticket for the next reasonable possible train to catch from Milan Centrale - a huge hectic station at first encounter however. IC trains rarely sell out and almost never in first class - a good buy IMO because it will likely be not that full as 2nd class can always be. Greg has given you all the details on nitty-gritty of changing, etc - full-fare ticket can I think yes be used on any similar train - IC ticket on IC train or even probably on cheaper regional trains.

If doing other Italian trains for lots of great info on Italian trains check www.seat61.com - www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

bvlenci

If you have a base price ticket, you can exchange it for no additional cost up to one hour after the scheduled departure. However, you can't just use the ticket to get on a different train.

All of the trains to Monterosso at that time of day have reserved seats, so you

sandralist

If you are flying Easy Jet you will land at Terminal 2 and it would be better to take the bus. But if you are taking the train from Terminal 1, buy tickets online and take your chances at catching the train. If you miss the train at Milano Centrale, you can change your tickets to get a seat on the next train using the machines or going to the ticket office. If you got a discount for the first ticket purchase you will lose the entire cost of the ticket and must purchases new ones. Up to you if you'd rather be safe and book the next train.

I adore 1st class train travel in Italy EXCEPT on the lines you will be taking. They are not modernized cars. Often 2d class is better than first!

There is nothing terribly confusing about Milano Centrale to 99 percent of people traveling and usually on a Sunday at 2pm it's not very busy.

bvlenci

Accidentally hit Submit...

... You would always have a seat. Sometimes other people hog all the luggage racks. However a train in the middle of the day, especially on a Sunday, is almost never crowded.

The 15:10 train you mentioned involves a change of train in Genova; from there you'd take a regional train, with no reserved seats. Tickets for regional trains have to be stamped in a little machine at the trackside; neglecting to do so entails a large fine, payable on the spot.

The next train from Milan after the 15:10, at 16:05, is a direct reserved-seat train, and gets to Monterosso only 16 minutes later than the 15:10. I would prefer to wait for that train, myself.

bvlenci

By the way, I think your chance of catching a train to Milan Centrale 33 minutes after your flight lands is close to nil.

neckervd

Are you sure that your plan will land at MALPENSA (and not Linate)?

PalenQ

Just curious if Linate - probably not because OP said MPX or Malpensa - there seems to be no train so how long would it take to get to Centrale station from that airport - by public transit that is?

DRJ

BTW, there is (or was) a bus direct from MXP to Genoa. CT is a short train ride.

PalenQ

Interesting angle - bus to Genoa - negating going into Milano Centrale and changing there - may be quicker all around and from Genoa you have more regional trains I believe to the 5 Terre and those have a flat cheap fare - just buy tickets in Genoa. Not sure how long the bus may take but Malpensa is a long way from Milan so if it goes directly to Genoa it may be a quicker route.

neckervd

There is 1 daily bus from MXP arrival level, exit 3, bus stop 6, to Genova PP railway station: MXP dp 12.30 - Genoa ar 15.30.
This bus is of no interest for the OP who will land after noon.

PalenQ

3 hour bus ride seems a lot - must take a circuitous route - once a day not practical for most - best to go into Milano Centrale and shange to IC trains or whatever trains leave next.

neckervd

3 hrs for 200 kms (125 miles) isn't that bad for Europe. The bus makes some intermediate stops along the highway: Malpensa Terminal 2, Casale Monferrato, Alessandria.
He has furthermore to go from the motorway to Genova PP railway station.

PalenQ

so besides cost it may actually be quicker to take the train to Milano Centrale and then get on a train to Genoa - 1.5 hours and small change - oh well since there is but one daily bus not useful for most and not faster it seems.

PalenQ

and if the train goes Milan Centrale to Monterosso direct via Genoa boarding at Milan where the train would probably be half empty could be better than joining the train at Genoa by which time it may be rather full or even full in 2nd class.

that said direct trains - IC trains run about only 2-3 hours apart but if you can get one of them no change in Genoa required.