First time train travel in Italy. We're traveling from Varenna to Venice with a change in Milan Central. Tickets have already been purchased. We have 20 minutes to get from Varenna train to our Venice train. Any suggestions of navigating Milan Central? Am I able to look up what track we'll arrive on from Varenna and what track we'll depart from?
Are there specific instructions to follow for boarding?
debra,
You didn't say where you would be prior to Varenna, but it's likely you'll have to navigate Milano Centrale to get there. It's a busy place with lots of tracks, but not especially difficult. When you disembark from the train from Varenna, check the electronic board for the binario (track no.) of your next train (which will likely be a high speed version).
Specific instructions for boarding - check your ticket for the Carozza (Coach) no. and Posti (seat) no's. The compulsory seat reservations on the high speed trains are specific to train, date and departure time, so check the train number listed on the ticket also. Hoist your luggage on board the appropriate Coach, find your seats and sit down. You can place larger luggage items in the rack at the end of the car (but keep an eye on it during the journey) and smaller carry-on items on the rack over your seat.
You may find it helpful to have a look at this video.....
I need to know the specific train you will be taking from Varenna to Milano C.le and the one you will be taking from Milano C.le to Venezia Santa Lucia in order for me to give you the scheduled arrival track number and the scheduled departure track number. Those are however "scheduled" tracks, and like gates at an airport, they may be subject to change, therefore you still need to check the big electronic board or the various departure monitors.
We are using a taxi from Milan to Varenna. Therefore our train travel begins in Varenna.
Varenna-Esinao to Milano Centrale is Regionale 2563
Milano Centrale to Venezia S. Lucia is EuroCity 37
Your train from Varenna is scheduled to arrive at track no. 12
Your train to Venice is scheduled to depart from track no. 5
The map of the station is below. Track 12 is somewhat in the middle (there are 24 tracks at Milano Centrale). No. 5 is on the left side.
http://www.milanocentrale.it/it/map
Even if there is a track change the change in track location will not be dramatic, due to technical reasons which I will not bore you with (I worked at the Florence Santa Maria Novella station in youth), so for example instead of no. 12 you might arrive at no. 11 but not no. 1. Your departure track might change from no.5 to no. 4 or 6, but it won't change to no. 22. In any case you need to check the electronic board and all the displays to make sure you board the right train, in case there is a track change for the departure train to Venezia.
To expedite the transfer, when you depart from Varenna, try to board the train in the front cars (the ones closest to the engine). Regional trains have open seating so therefore you sit wherever you find the seat first. No specific seats are reserved.
All tracks are on one level, no stairs or elevators to navigate, so you just need to count track numbers. The departure information goes on the electronic Partenza board twenty minutes (usually more) before arriving. The track sign will also show where approximately your carriage will stop, so you can be at that spot ready to board.
Roberto thank you for your "insider" tips. Looking at the map I see why it will be helpful to board the regional train from Varenna at the front for the quickest exit at the track. So, one gets from one track to another by exiting train, walking to the front of track, finding reader board, confirming our departure track, finding our departure track number, then continuing until we find our track number... correct?
Are the track numbers identified?
Will the train be identified?
To Venice, our tickets are coach and seat specific. Do we need to board our specific coach? If so, how do we know where to line up prior to train arrival?
I'm sorry, it looks like Zoe already answered that the track is identified and she also said "carriage" location is identified which is probably the same as my question about "coach specific" and where to stand while waiting for arrival.
Debra, Yes the tracks are all numbered and they have electronic boards which indicate the trains and their final destinations. There will also be two large electronic boards, one for departures and one for arrivals, indicating trains and tracks.
Here is a rather long video which will familiarize you with Milano Centrale Stazione. Starting around the 9 minute mark is where the video clip focuses on arrival and departure of trains.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgvcgMp41gI
oops Zoe already answered this question.
Each carriage will have its number, some will have a sign stating which seats are closest to that entrance, and a sign giving the departure and destination cities. The electronic boards (both the large departures board and the smaller board at the track) will run a list of each stop and the time the train arrives at that stop. Note that stops are a minute or two. If you are the first person in line to depart, standing at the door, you may have to push the green button for the door to open (freccia trains), other trains may have a handle opening.
Thank you Roberto, Zoe, jkc and Ken. Your answers were very specific and helpful.
We're leaving in a couple days and it just hit me that train travel and station navigation is far different than checking into a gate at an airport. Especially in a country I've never been and with a language I don't speak.
Thanks to you folks I feel prepared to make this connection in Milano Centrale... I think!?! ;)
20 minutes is plenty of time. You shouldn't have any issues with 10 minutes either. Now having the trains arrive on time is another story.
debra,
You're very welcome!
The video that I linked in my earlier reply shows the interior of the station, including the digital displays at the end of each track and also the larger video monitors for Partenze (departures) and Arrivi (arrivals). I suspect it will all become clear once you're actually there.
One thing that's not shown in that video or many others, is that there are large glass "gates" now installed between the trackside area and the front part of the station. If coming from outside, only passengers with tickets can get through the "gates" to access the trains. If you stay on the train side when changing, you won't have to deal with this.
If you have any doubt about the train you're boarding, there should be a Conductor standing beside it so just ask.
