train travel from Milan Malpensa airport to Pordenone

I now see that a bus would take 7+ hours, so train it is! Is TrenItalia my only option or do other trains travel that route?

I have a few other questions. Will it be obvious where to go to pick up checked luggage? Will there be signs in English?

How much time should I allow between flight arrival and train departure? Is it even smart to buy the train ticket in advance? If my flight is delayed, the train ticket might be non-refundable. On the other hand, if I wait, there is the possibility that tickets might be sold out, or fares would be much higher.

One other thing I was toying with was the idea of putting my bags in storage for a few hours and then venturing outside for a little while. I won't have any other opportunity to see Milan. Do you think that is a good idea, or I should just head straight to my friend's house to relax after an overnight flight and long train ride?

kann,

The trip from Malpensa / MXP to Pordenone is quite straightforward, but will take some time. This is the method I'd use (assuming you're arriving at MXP Terminal 1).....

• After you've collected your luggage, head for the airport rail station. Once there buy tickets for the Malpensa Express and also for the trip to Pordenone. You can buy tickets either at staffed ticket windows or from the automated Kiosks (as it's your first trip, the staffed option might be better, although the Kiosks are easy to use). I'd suggest researching the various departure times on the Trenitalia website so you have an idea which trains you'll be able to use.
• NOTE that the Malpensa Express has two routes, one going to Milano Centrale and one to Milano Cadorna. The Milano Centrale route is the one you'll need to use. Before boarding the train, you MUST validate (time & date stamp) your ticket in the trackside machines, or you'll risk a hefty fine which will be collected on the spot! The validation machines are either bright yellow or green & light gray, with a digital display on the front and a small slot to insert the ticket.
• When you arrive at Milano Centrale, you'll likely have a short layover until your next train leaves. The first step will be to identify which track (Binario) your next train will be departing from, using the electronic sign boards (look for "Partenze"). That would also be a good time to get something to eat IF you have time. If you want to stick with "familiar" options, both McDonald's and Burger King have outlets there. I'd suggest getting €50-100 from your local Bank for "travel money" until you get settled in Pordenone. One important point to mention - watch your luggage closely at Milano Centrale, as there will be pickpockets and scammers there! Also, the washrooms (WC's) at the station are "pay-per-use" so you'll need some Euro cash if you need to use them.
• The train you'll be using from Milano Centrale to the next station (possibly Venezia Mestre) will most likely be a Freccia train. These require compulsory reservations, which will be supplied with the ticket you buy. The reservations are specific to each train, date and departure time and can ONLY be used on the ONE train specified on your ticket. If you're caught without valid reservations for the train you're riding on, again hefty fines. You'll be assigned a Car no. (Carrozza) and a Seat no. (Posti), which will be listed on the ticket.
• The final leg from Venezia Mestre to Pordenone will likely again be via Regionale train so you MUST validate the ticket prior to boarding. I'd suggest validating the ticket for that leg when you arrive at Venezia Mestre, since the tickets have a "shelf life" once validated.
• The Trenitalia website will show the composition of the trains you'll be using (ie: Freccia, Regionale). To summarize - Freccia tickets don't need to be validated as they're specific to only ONE train. Regionale tickets ALWAYS have to be validated prior to boarding the train on the day of travel. On Regionale trains there are no reserved seats. Find an open seat and sit down.

Airports always have signs in English as well as the local language (those are IATA rules, I believe). Once you get off the plane, follow the herd through Passport control and then to the luggage carousels. Many of the people on your flight will also be heading for the rail station. I would not suggest stopping for any extra sightseeing as the trip to Pordenone will be about FIVE hours from the airport - DON'T underestimate the effects of jet lag!

As it's your first trip, you might find it helpful to have a look at Europe Through The Back Door or perhaps one of the Italy Guidebooks.

Buon Viaggio!

Ken,

Thank you so much for the very thorough response! I agree with you about jet lag. It would be pushing it to try to fit in some sightseeing that day.

I feel much more confident about being able to navigate the airport and train stations now. So you definitely recommend purchasing the ticket once I arrive? When I look at schedules online, there is one that leaves 3 hours after my flight arrives for a good price. Do you think the economy seats would be all filled up if I wait?

Also, a bit of a side question, I never eat at Burger King or McDonalds. Do they use better ingredients there or is it effectively the same? I hope there are some better options!

Thanks you again!

Here is the food line-up at Milano Centrale.
http://www.milanocentrale.it/en/store/index/food
Buying an advance train ticket can be a bit risky as it will become worthless if your inbound flight is delayed. You will probably best suck it up and buy the ticket at full fare when you arrive at MXP.
Edit-the difference is 37.50 euro for full fare and 19.00 euro for a nonrefundable economy fare.

kann,

Yes, I'd suggest purchasing your tickets after you arrive, although that will be a bit more expensive. As it's likely that one of the trains you'll be using will be a Freccia high speed (up to 300 kmH), the ticket will be for a specific train, date and departure time. If your flight is delayed for any reason and you miss the train listed on your ticket, it will be worthless and you'll have to buy another ticket at full price. With the Regionale tickets, there are no price breaks for pre-purchase, so really no reason to buy in advance (and it's often "awkward" to pre-purchase Regionale tickets).

Rather than planning to take a specific train, I'd just look at the available options when you arrive and take the next train. One other point to mention is that some of the connections shown on the Trenitalia website will be from the airport via Milano Cadorna, and I would NOT recommend using that as that will require a trip via "Urbano" to Milano Centrale to connect with your next train. As I recall, Urbano refers to Metro and that would be a real pain in the @#$ after coming off a long international flight and hauling luggage. Take the direct train from the airport to Milano Centrale and then continue from there.

Be sure to also do some homework on the aspect of train changes, as this often involves a trip down to a transfer tunnel (sottopassagio) to get from one platform to another, hauling luggage down and up stairs.

The main reason I suggested McDonald's or whatever, is that you may only have a short layover (depending on which trains you use), so "fast food" might be the best option as you can take it with you on the train. There are some nice Italian deli's also, such as Bar Centrale which is on the same floor as the tracks (some of the other places are on other levels of the station) where you can pick up a Panini and a drink. The menu options at American fast food chains in Italy are slightly different, although they still have many of the "usual" offerings. Products are sourced locally AFAIK. Some of the McDonald's restaurants in Italy have great coffee and pastry sections, so they offer more than burgers and fries.

Thank you again! My trip is so soon! I have some additional questions. If I want to use the bathroom in the airport or the train station, I understand there is a charge. Must I have cash in Euros on me? I'm not planning to land with any Euros, I'm planning to go to the ATM. One of my worries is that my ATM card won't work, or I won't have the proper denomination to insert into the machine, or whatever. What can I expect?

Also, if I have to use the bathroom on the train, where can I find it? And since my suitcase will probably be on a rack, can I safely leave it there while I walk away? It's a big suitcase I'm checking on the flight, so I doubt anything would happen to it, but I want to be prepared in any case.

Bath room at the airport is free, there will be a charge at the train station. Keep a few coins on hand when in Italy. 50 cent pieces work good. On the train, there will be a bathroom on every car at one end. I would not worry about your suitcase while using the facilities. If there is any danger of theft, it would be when you are stopped at a station where someone would grab it and go. Bathrooms on the new fast trains are nice, on the regional trains for the final leg, who knows.

You may need to make a small purchase at the airport to break a larger Euro bill and have some bathroom change or pay for your tickets in cash and get change back.

Making a general suggestion here, but when you print out your schedule for your long train ride, print out one with the detailed stops. I am assuming you can do this on the Italian train site altho I don't have experience with it. I did accidentally do that recently for train journeys in Belgium and Netherlands and it was so very helpful. Not only could I then verify I had gotten on the right train heading in the right direction, lol, but I could see how long I had to the next stop. If you need to go to the bathroom you will know how long you have between stops. It's on my general travel to-do list now.

You sound like you will be more than a little nervous about everything. With that in mind, I would have a couple of other suggestions. While it is nice to have everything exactly planned out, you will need to relax and develop some flexibility because it WILL NOT go as smooth as you want it to go. And remember it is Italy.

I would get at least a 100 Euro at your local bank or even a currency exchange at your departure airport. Finding an ATM is one less thing to worry about. And, my general experience is that ATMs are not as frequent or as easy to find at the airport as some claim.

Everything is in English more or less. But sometimes the English phrase is not one you are accustom to seeing. WC is the big one. That is Water Closet in English and restroom for Americans. I also do not find WC as easy to find in European airports as American airports. So watch for the signs. Can be downstairs, down long hallways, etc. Also the signage will make heavy use of the international symbols for various functions. Everyone you encounter will speak enough English to understand your question and point in the right direction. Don't be afraid to ask.

In my opinion the most important thing to know about your train ticket is your train number. It will be posted on the departure board. The last stop of your train sometimes is confusion but the train number is solid. Your train's platform will be posted on the board about 30 minutes prior to departure but it can be as late as 10 minutes. Second, don't be too eager to get to the platform because the platform number can be changed at the last minute. Will not happen often but it can happen. Yes, they will make an announcement but you will never understand it. However, if a lot of people around you start moving in a new direction, then ask someone because they understood the announcement. We generally hang around in sight of the board at the head of the platform until about ten minutes prior when move down the platform.

Ken and others are correct. Do not buy your ticket ahead of time. Assuming you are on a direct flight from the US, immigration could take anywhere from 15 mins to two hours. With customs just walk through the green door - nothing to declare.

I am troubled by your comment about a large suitcase. Just how large is large? If it is much bigger than a carryon size bag then it probably will NOT fit on the overhead rack. May have to put in the luggage storage area near the entrance to the train car. If you have a large, heavy suitcase, that just adds to your potential problems all along the trip. Get lighter. No reason you cannot fit in a carryon size bag.

Carry two debit cards tied to two different accounts just in the unlikely event that one doesn't work. We have been dependent on ATM cards only for the past 18+ years and have never had a problem but I still carry two cards. Also use both cards the first week just to make sure both are working. I am sure you know to inform your card issuers' fraud department of your travel plans.

You need to prepare for the unexpected so nothing is a shock.

If i go to the staffed window to buy the train tickets, will they print me a list with all the stops?
Thank you!

Frank, thank you for all the information! I really appreciate it. I'm really not too nervous, but I do want to be as prepared as possible. Thank you. :-)

I am not sure you want or need a list of stops for five hours. The most important is the stop before your stop. That is the only one we focus on. When we hit that we know the next should be ours. Also, in the train station are big display cases with all of the train schedules and posted on huge boards. White means incoming and yellow sheets are departure or the other way around. I can never remember. It will show your train number in time order. You could make notes from those sheets.

Here is the list of international symbols you may want to look at --
http://www.aiga.org/symbol-signs/

Also you need to know that restrooms areas can be shared. Europeans are not as up tight about bathroom functions as Americans are. The stalls will have full length doors but hand washing area is shared. Also be sure you know how to lock and unlock the door. Practice before closing the door. Sometimes it is a bit tricky. Also carry a little toilet paper in your day bag since resupply can be a little slow late in the day - especially true on trains. We take a roll from home that has about a quarter inch left and flatten it. Doesn't take up much room.

The stalls will have full length doors but hand washing area is shared.

That's how it is in most public bathrooms in the US. Once in a while you'll find stalls with sinks inside, or individual bathrooms in smaller establishments, but most places are shared.

Is there a map of train stops between Venice and Pordenone I could look at now? I couldn't find one on the trenitalia site, but I did make note of the stations on either side of Pordenone on Google maps, so I'll know when it's coming up (or when I've gone too far!)

Thanks for all the info!

The bathroom sign is a man and woman separated by a vertical line, usually with the letters WC near the figures. There are overhead signage strips with directional arrows pointing to where the service can be found. These signs are usually on a yellow background.

If you ask the train ticket agent to write down the name of the stop before yours, they will most likely be happy to do so. Or, take a smartphone to tablet photo of the Departures board (big yellow poster) entry for your train; this will show all the stops.

Have a look at roninRome.com for illustrated instructions for train and bus travel, very useful info.

If you are travelling by train, be sure to bring as little luggage as you feel confortable bringing with you when you walk and occasionally go up and down steps, or you have to raise on your own. Airport facilities are designed in a way that you do not usually have to walk for long before checking your baggage and using taxis you can actually manage as much luggage as the airline will allow (and more). Not so with trains: you are your own porter, there will be stairs, there will be baggage racks, there will be long walks within the station. Keeping luggage as small and as light as possible (and more) is wise.

Just figure it out when you get there. Not all trains follow exact the same route with same stops going from point A to point D. And depending on the level of train service (fast, intercity, regionale) the trains do not stop at all stations all the time. So looking at a map of train routes does not solve your problem. The three o'clock train might stop at a certain station while the four o'clock train does not. And the trains could take slightly different routes getting to the same end station.

When I was speaking of shared restroom facilities, I meant shared with males and females. That is not common in the US. Although I was recently in a brand new restaurant in the US where that was the situation. A bit surprising.

Good point. I will ask the person selling me the ticket. Thanks.

Ah, I see about the bathrooms. Yes, unisex bathrooms are not very common here. I'm not really concerned about that aspect of it.