Venice train stations
 

I'm a bit confused regarding making train reservations for our September trip.
There is a train that will take us from Milan to Venice on 09/18 that lists Venezia Mestre as the destination. When we leave on 09/21 our train back to Rome is listed as departing from VE S.L. Mestre. Are these the same or two different stations? If they are different, how far apart are they and will it make travel more difficult? Should I change either one?
Thank you so much for any assistance you can offer.
Take care, LisaS

VE S L is Santa Lucia station, right in the heart of Venice - you come out the front exit and canal boats are waiting to whisk you away.

VE Mestre is the other main station but it's in Mestre, across the lagoon from Venice proper and S L station.

Frequent trains shuttle between the two stations, about five miles apart.

Some trains coming from the north going south only serve Mestre so they don't have to go into the deadend S L station, saving time

All trains going to and from Venezia SL pass through and probably stop in Venezia Mestre.

As PalenQ said, some don't go all the way across the water to SL and stop only in Mestre.

Hi L,

Train schedules and prices from Venezia Mestre to Venezia San Lucia are at http://www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html

((I))

And no, there is no need to change your plans. You can just hop on the next train to Santa Lucia when you arrive in Mestre.

IMO, it makes more sense to book a train that takes you all the way to Santa Lucia, unless you are not staying in Venice proper. Why change trains if you don't have to?

Reading this reminds me of our trip to Venice too long ago. Guess there were two stations then also. We did not have a clue. Trying to get assistance at the station and speaking only English, the only help we rec'd was "read the schedule." We had to change trains in Bologna. If it had not been for an American law student, we would still be in Bologna today (maybe not a bad thing). We were trying to get to Florence. So Lisa, I'm sure you will do fine as you are getting help before you need it. Happy travels!