IC train question

You might try the Bahn website. At least for German train, it shows if the train has a "bord restaurant". (If it is a route with fast trains, you might have to deselect ICEs under "Connections" to see ICs.)

I just looked up an IC from Milano to Bologna and it did not say it had a bord restaurant.

I typically end up on a lot of long bus rides when I travel to Europe. There's never food service on a bus, so I hit a small grocery store the day before and buy a packet of nuts and an apple. Well, truthfully, I usually also tend to buy a package of cookies...

If you can get to your departure station a bit early, you can put together a picnic lunch to eat on the train. By 1pm, you'll see lots of picnic lunches being unpacked.

Hi Jill. Often there is somebody that comes down the train aisle with a cart selling sandwiches, snacks, beer and soda. Enjoy your trip!

Thanks, all. I remember seeing a small cafe at the Varenna train station when we arrived-hopefully they will have some snacks we can purchase.

Ciao!

Jill,

If you have a few minutes at Milano Centrale, you can get some ready made sandwiches at Bistrot Milano Centrale right across the way from the train platforms (in front of digital arrival/departure board), on the same level as the train tracks.

jillmc,

First one point about Milano Centrale. The track area is separated from other parts of the station by a glass wall and "gates". If you have a tight connection, I'd suggest staying at track side.

There are small food Kiosks at trackside that sell sandwiches and drinks. When you disembark from your first train determine your next Binario, leave one person to watch the luggage and send the second person to the food joint to pick up a couple of Panini or whatever. Unless there's a queue, that should only take a couple of minutes.

They usually have a variety available, including ham & cheese, vegetarian. For drinks you can get a soda or ice tea. It's a method I use frequently (and will be using again tomorrow), and haven't found that food going "bad" has been a problem, as I usually consume it within an hour or so.

Some trains do have small food carts that move up & down the aisles, and those are an option too but in my experience the quality is a bit "lacking".

There's not much variety available from those carts, and I've noticed that few people buy from them. That's all the information I need to know that, if possible, it's better to carry something onto the train. It's great to be able to buy a cold drink on a long ride, though.