Train - Rome to Milan overnight

Ya, I did miss that. Even pushing everything forward two hours doesn't make it very workable. Only sightly more workable. It has been many years since we flew out of Milan but two hours could be a little tight for an international flight.

Thanks for the info - I'll also go back and look at the train sched. I thought I saw a train or 2 that arrived in Milan with plenty of time to get to the airport. I appreciate the responses.

Don't do that. Night trains are notoriously late on that route, particularly those coming from Southern cities in 12h, 14h, 16h journeys. Trenitalia is also reducing a number of night trains, starting December. You don't have a reason, in any case, to take a BUS at 8AM (rush hour) to Malpensa, when there is a new train service (well, it's almost one year old already) connecting Milano Central with Malpensa every 30 minutes (33-42 minutes of travel time). Take a late afternoon train in Rome, book yourself a room in Milano and avoid last-minute problems. Might sound unnecessary, but losing a return flight is a big deal and a big hassle (at least for me).

Others will have advice about the night train - I wouldn't do it so my advice won't help with that. Oh, and the only night train I saw gets to Milano after 8, because there is something like a 6 hour change of trains in Florence, but here goes ... do you know that you can leave Rome (Termini) as late as 8:15pm and still get to Milan for 23:40 (20 to midnight) on a normal ES train? That's probably what I'd do, bed down, then up and at 'em.

Don't really think that is workable. With an 8AM (assuming direct to the US) departure you need to be there around 5 to 5:30 AM. Would to check to see if the shuttle bus or train is operating at that time. If so, it is 45 minutes to a hour which means you need to be in the Centrale station by 4 AM. The train from Rome is about six hours if that long. (Working from memory so check schedules later and adjust if necessary.) Personally I would take a mid afternoon train from Rome and stay need the airport.

Frank, from the OP his departure is 10:00.

I see a night train that arrives in Milan at 6:55 am. ICN 1910. But why turn a nice 3-hour ride from Rome to Milan into an 8-hour night train journey? You have been well-advised above: take the fast train the afternoon before, and spend a night in Milan. It is a nice city.

Thank you all so much for the information. I will be in Milan for 4 days before the start of a Rick Steves tour that ends in Rome. Since I am flying on airline miles that are in and out of Milan, I need to return to Milan for my AM departure.
It is so nice to be able to get good info from all of you travelers - I was thinking that the overnight train ride would be less than a night in a hotel in Milan. Thanks again for all your great advice.

I really wouldn't recommend the attempt to get to Malpensa from Rome just in tiime to check in for your 10:00am flight. This is somewhat similar to travelers trying to get to Rome-FCO from Florence early in the morning. The train schedules in the late evening or early morning just won't work. Too many opportunities for things to go wrong that you can't control. I see the same ICN night train as Lola that gets you to Milan Centrale at 06:55. But, you would probably have to take a private taxi to make to Malpensa by 08:00. Even 08:00 is very tight for international travel. I also agree that you should spend your last evening in Milan or at a hotel at the airport.

Also think about what you are going to do in Rome untilnthe train departs, around 11 pm. You will have to check out of your hotel, go to the train station to store your bags, and then find things to do until the late departure. I don't know what a sleeper compartment costs for a single, but it may not save much over a hotel room in Milan.

Frances, I agree with the others that it would probably be better to travel from Rome to Milan the day prior to your flight and stay one night. That way you'll have good rest prior to your flight, and have lots of time to take a relaxed journey to MXP. In that situation I'd probably stay somewhere close to Cadorna station and take the Malpensa Express. That way there won't be any issues with morning rush hour traffic, and it's an easy trip to the airport. Which RS tour are you taking? Happy travels!

Grazie - I'm doing a MyTrip tour - the unguided tour of Italy. I've been on several RS tours (love them) and years ago he used to have something called BB&B (Bed, Breakfast, & Bus), the MyTrips sound very similar. Also LOVE LOVE LOVE Italy.
I'll definitely go to Milan the night before and the tip about the other train station is great - thanks