I did a similar transfer last August. If the train gets in on time, they will be fine. If not, they will have to sort through it and will be fine. If they haven't purchased the tickets yet, they could build in more time. Personally, I think this is unnecessary as they will be able to sort this out at the station in Milan.

If my recollection is right, the Switzerland train will leave from a shorter track. This means that she will probably need to ask someone how to get to it...it’s easy to get to, but not entirely obvious. If my memory on this is incorrect, I am sure someone will take note.

The shorter tracks are the lowest numbers. The tracks run from lowest number to highest, left to right, starting at Number One. It really could not be a simpler station to find your way around, and has no stairs between tracks, making it a breeze to change trains.

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i1...lano_001_n.jpg

I passed through Centrale numerous time during my trip in June - I had no problems figuring out what track to go to (just be sure she stamps her ticket). Sometimes tracks wouldn't be posted until maybe 5 or 10 minutes before hand.

It's a very large station, but my hubby and I made it through just fine since we were traveling light!

One line sums it up - when we approached the conductor to find out where our connecting train would be, he didn't even turn his head... in perfect English, he said, "Track 5, 2 minutes."

It's now our little inside joke to tell one another to get moving!

We made it and had never been there before. If they miss it, it's not the end of the world. There will be another one before long!

Actually, they might be better off missing the 14:25! That train takes nearly 8 1/2 hours and requires a change in Geneva. The next train, at 16:10, takes just over 7 hours and is direct.

Wow! I am amazed at all these responses. Thankyou. Although I think I am more confused than ever. Just to set the story straight. My daughter and her partner are purchasing a Eurail ticket before going to Europe and will be travelling 2nd class as they will be on youth passes. We have been looking at the German and Austrian train websites to get an idea of schedules. At present the timetables only go until 13th December, so we are just assuming the schedule won't change to much. They will be leaving Venice on the 30th December and travelling as far as Brig on that day, where they have booked accommodation. They don't want to travel by night because they want to at least see some of the country. Its a bit of a rush trip but its all they could do. The following day, New Years Eve they will be taking the train from Brig to Paris where they are meeting my husband and I for New Years Eve. According to the current timetables there is only one change between Venice and Brig, which is Milan and that is why we are considering this particular train time

>> They will be leaving Venice on the 30th December<<

This is an extremely busy time for domestic Italian travel. It may be that the holiday train schedule is different.

Have you solicited much advice about whether purchasing a rail pass really saves money for their trip? Can they book Eurostar tickets with the pass and reserve seats? Can't tell from your post how many places the young people are going, but sometimes it makes more sense to buy individual tickets, especially when Italy is involved.

If the rail pass is the best idea, and they are committed to second class, they need to be prepared for very crowded trains and train station platforms. They should take a minimum of luggage, and at that time, even I might leave Venezia a bit early to make a train connection.

If the savings are marginal for a rail pass, or if it excludes Eurostar trains and reserved seats, I would consider buying Eurostar tickets with reserved seats for the Venezia-Milano leg.

If they are training thru Germany, Austria, Italy and France then i think the Eurail Select Youthpass or even Eurail Global Youth Pass is a no brainer for all that travel. Passes can be used on Eurostar Italia trains though there is a supplement/reservation fee imposed. But Venice to Milan there is no reason to take a Eurostar Italia train IMO as the many other trains are about as fast as this is not a high-speed route. With a pass they can always just hop on regional or IC trains on this route without extra charge. Sounds like these folks need to know more about European rail travel and railpasses - i always note two fine sources: www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com - two sites that give tons of objective info along with the usual pass prices and an add to cart button. The latter lets you download their free European Planning & Rail Guide, a fine primer for novices to learn the ins and out of European trains with a chapter pertinent to each country.

It's me who raised the perhaps unnecessary questions about the cost savings, not knowing the entire itinerary. But this does worry me:

>>With a pass they can always just hop on regional or IC trains on this route without extra charge. <<

There is no "hopping on" any train along the main corridors of Italy between Dec 26 and New Year's. The trains are packed to the gills during that time, and unaware travellers without reserved seats are often forced to stand for entire journeys between major cities in the unheated wells between the cars.

I know very little about youth rail passes, but if there is an option to use it to book a reserved seat, I would do it in advance, and pay a supplement if necessary. Otherwise, I might just buy a ES ticket with a reserved seat and be done with it.

With a pass you can book a seat on IC trains in Italy for 5 euros - Inter+ trains i think 5 euros as well - and they can make reservations when they buy their pass (if they go thru an agent that will do this, some like ricksteves.com will not) and your experience says they should do this - seems may be hard to book in Venice at this time. Yet having been a youth traveler even sitting on your backpack in a crowded regional or IC train may be tolerable if it came to that - i'd think they could make a reservation once in Venice.

I went thru Milan between Venice and Paris. I found it VERY busy and somewhat confusing. And no people weren't standing around ready to answer questions!

20 mins. is insufficient in my opinion. and certainly not time for a cup of coffee!

I'm sure if you did this alot then it would get less confusing, but for a 1st timer, I found it a bit overwhelming. We were transfering day train to night train. And it was not all so obvious what we needed to do.

ditto to what Suze says

for a first-timer it is very very chaotic and confusing

Sometimes veteran travelers have trouble putting themselves in the role of a novice train traveler who does not know the ropes it seems - a 20 min connect planned here is foolish.

And sometimes people's one experience isn't really a basis for advising others.

Both are true.

Having been given the added info about the traveller's date of travel, they need to do more research as whether the train sked they've been looking at is the one in effect for their future travel date.

On Dec 30, I too would be more concerned about packed platforms -- and even more concerned about reserved seats.

When they know the travel sked for that day, they should avoid a connection of less than 20 minutes, and they would do well to go before noon, if possible.

That said, if somebody can't find their way easily around the Milano Centrale train, I have no idea how much time they need to feel comfortable making a connection. It is the easiest train station I can think of -- and not just in Italy!!! -- with one highly visible, centrally located board for train track departures. You can't miss it when you get off any train that pulls into the station. And it takes less than 30 seconds to figure out all the tracks are numbered in sequence, left to right, from 1 to 20.

I can understand any traveller's momentary confusion about anything -- even things right in front of their noses. But in the universe of metropolitan train stations, changing trains in Milan is easy.

Nevertheless Suze, a veteran traveler i believe, found it quite confusing and having been there many times i can understand why

esp if the overhead sign says track 16 for the Paris train and you get to track 16 and some delayed train going somewhere else is standing there, etc.

<<And sometimes people's one experience isn't really a basis for advising others>>

Well zeppole- if you think that's true then we might as well close down Fodor's travel forums!!

Because all any of us have to share is our own experiences.

And yes, I DO travel a bit. I did not find the train station in Venice confusing, or catching the vaporetto, etc.

But Milan WAS overwhelming. And I would guess that these two people who were described to us as "very inexperienced travellers" might well feel the same way I did.

Can they do it? Sure

Would it be better if they allow plenty of time? Yes

But in Milan, train tracks aren't posted until the train is ready for boarding, on its track.

Anybody can get confused -- first time traveler, veteran traveler. You can always plan your trip based on the most confused experience imaginable. Most people most of the time arriving sober in broad daylight to the Milano train station will find 20 minutes more than adequate to connect with another train. The entire station is only one city block long.

I have to say that I do think Fodor's should -- not be shut down but taking with a pound of salt -- if people are advising others on the basis of their one experience of a place without putting that into context for the person asking advice.

I didn't say don't share your travel experiences. I'm sharing mine.

But I'm sitting here trying to imagine a simpler train station track layout than Milano, and I can't. There is one very long platform. Every train arrives at that one platform, head first. They all pull up, like horses to a long trough. The train tracks are numbered 1 to 20 (or 22?) left to right. Right overhead is a big board that says lists Departures and Arrivals in real time. When you see your train posted with its corresponding track, you walk to that track. There are no stairs anywhere between the tracks.

Is there some simpler station layout?

You know, there are times in Italy when I can't remember whether it's "buon giorno" or "bon voyage" I'm supposed to say to other people.

I changed trains in Milan with my group of 18 people last May. We came into Milan on the Venice train. We had a 20 min. layover in Milan. Our Venice train was on-time but our connecting train to Arth-Goldau was 15 min. late. We knew where our car would be by finding the poster indicting the composition of the trains and their arrival point on the platform.

Some tips:

1. Your daughter will have had some experience catching trains in Venice. She'll know how to read the arrival and departure board and find her respective platform.

2. If she is travelling with a high-speed, intercity train, she'll need to reserve seats. After finding her platform number, she needs to look for the number of her car/wagon. Please go to the bottom website to find out best how to read the posted signs showing where the cars(wagons) arrives at the platform.

Tips and pictures of Italian train tickets and departure schedules:
http://www.italyheaven.co.uk/trains.html
http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/trains/station.htm
http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/...39/page11.html

How to find the reserved car at the platform:
http://www.enjoy-europe.com/hte/chap17/rail2.htm

You tube is so wonderful. Relax and enjoy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRU-QpFTV4Q

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIHcN...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVX3W...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJa17...eature=related

zeppole~~ I don't know why you insist on trying to make me seem stupid to make your point.

So then, let's leave my own experience out of it.

For YOU to tell "very inexperienced travellers" that they will have time to get a cup of coffee while making a 20 mins. transfer in the Milan train station is questionable advice, at best.