Train from Milan to Padua

Brenda, approximately 50 trains a day go from Milan to Padua on the way to Venice. Only the slower regional (R) trains do not require a seat reservation. The tickets for this category of train are open and you can hop on any one you wish (in your class - 1st or 2nd) and take a seat. Just be sure to validate your ticket before getting on.

All other train categories (IC, ICPlus, EC, ES, AV CIS and others) require a mandatory reservation. This is nothing more buying a ticket. The carriage number and seat assignment comes with the ticket. This type of ticket will have the date, time, train class, carriage number and seat number on it.

You might be able to ask for specific seats in a specific carriage if you know what your doing but in general, the ticket agent or the self-service machine will do this for you. It's really simple.

I should also add that it isn't uncommon for someone to already be sitting in your reserved seats, esp. if the train started somewhere else and you're getting on at a stop. They saw an empty seat and took it. Just show them your ticket with the seat reservation and they'll move to another empty seat.

Brenda, it depends on what type of train you are taking. Buy your ticket at the electronic machines in the Milan train station; it has an english menu and is really easy to use. After you tell it what day you want to travel it will show you the train times. If you pick a train that has reservations available then it will ask you essentially aisle or window and whether you want side-by-side or facing seats and make the reservation for you. Its much easier than it sounds. On the ticket if you have seat reservations it will show the car number and the seat number. Near the car door will be the car number; just hop on the right car and find your seat(s).

A few words: carrozza – carriage posto – seat binario - platform

Thanks for your help and especially the translations! Sounds like it should be pretty easy.