Hell All,
I have an 08:15 train departure from the Venice train station. How much time should I allow to get through security at that time on a week day? Who and when do I show my pre-printed train tickets to (they have the bar code and reservations on them) ? When I reach Milan do I need to go through security again or just switch over to the appropriate departure platform?
Thank you, Humphry

I take trains all over Europe with some frequency and have been in and out of Milan and Venice in the past year and never went through any "security" either coming or going. Just got on the train with my tickets and waited for the conductor to come by, check it and punch it. The only thing even remotely like what I would call security is boarding a Ouigo car on an SNCF train, where they do check your ticket quaiside before you board.

I'm no expert but I have been thru those train stations. I don't recall any kind of "security" check point??

Venice is not that big and was no problem to figure out. Transferring at Milan was a bit more nerve-wracking as it is so much larger, busier, more crowded, especially if you are unfamiliar with it as we were.

I agree about Milano Centrale. It's enormous and multi-storied (with a fabulous buffet on the 2nd floor, BTW). There are numerous quais, and you have to watch the billboards carefully and often to make sure where you're headed to get the next train. Be alert to the fact that Quais 1, 2, and 3 (as you face the tracks, all the way over to the left) aren't easily visible from the main track area where people wait for trains, and that to board trains on those quais you'll have to hustle more than you will from the rest of the quais.

Venice is a no-brainer.

A few very large Italian stations have a thing called platform access control. Most stations don't including Venezia St-Lucia unless they have installed one recently.

If there is a platform access control, like Rome, those entering the station from the STREET side need to show tickets showing they are passengers as opposed to other random non-passengers like pickpockets. There is a barrier and there are inspectors checking tickets. The process only takes a few minutes..The queue moves fast.
If you are transiting through one of these platform access controlled station, you can stay on the controlled side and never have to bother with the access control.inspectors.
If you are only exiting the train at these stations, you simply walk out as the control is only for those entering the platform.

I think that if you arrive at the station in Venice at 8:00 you will be fine, provided you already have your tickets.

Your pre-printed tickets should have the actual number of the train on them, so if there is any confusion you should be able to match those up with the trains showing on the departure board in the station. Along with the destination of the train and the time of departure.

Both Venice and Milan now have controlled access to the tracks. Usually in Milan, you stay behind the barriers when transiting. If both trains are Trenitalia Freccia trains, you will certainly stay behind the barrier. However, as Greg says, the checking of your ticket usually takes just seconds. Sometimes it gets a little backed up if the agent has to do some in-depth checking of a passenger.

OK, controlled access to the tracks IME just meant lining up to pass through gates onto the track area, but not having to deal with anyone checking bags or anything. We just flashed our tickets and were waved on through. Took less than a minute. Nothing like the security, for example, on Amtrak in the USA, which is of course a joke but nonetheless takes an age.

Thank you all for your help regarding the train stations. You all make it sound easy.I have had to go through luggage security check in another European city's train station so I am glad this is not the case in Venice. Happy travels!!