My family is booked to take the InterCityNotte overnight train from Alessandria, Italy to southern Italy in late October. A overnight train was a request of one of my children.
Our train departs from Alessandria at around 11:00 p.m. While looking at the evening train schedule from Milan to Alessandria (I understand regional trains generally don't need to be booked in advance—I was just trying to plan ahead), I came across information suggesting that Alessandria station doesn't have an indoor waiting area or an accessible restroom late at night. Our group consists of three adults (including one elderly family member) and three children under the age of 10.
I usually prefer to arrive at stations with plenty of time to spare, especially since I've read that regional trains can occasionally be delayed. Booking a late train from Milan with very little buffer time makes me nervous in case we miss the night train. On the other hand, waiting outside in the cold at a basically closed station—or walking around Alessandria late in the evening with several young children and our luggage—doesn't seem like a great option either.
I'd really appreciate any advice or firsthand experience. Thank you!