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Trenitalia and Italo question / confusion August

Posted by on

I hope anyone who is familiar with the train system in Italy can help me out. We are traveling from Venice to Lake Como, for the second leg of our vacation, on August 13th. Since my wife is the type of person that likes to have everything booked and settled as far in advance as possible, I've been diligently watching the schedules. The regional schedule for our date dropped last week. Today the Frecciarossa schedule dropped. BUT there are no direct fast trains between Venice and Milan. What I find strange is all the way through July there are multiple direct trains and faster trains. ranging from 3hr34min (total time between Venice and Como) to 4h.37 mins But in August especially my date in particular there is nothing quicker than 5 hrs and they all have a stop (Bologna) before Milan. So that's the oddity with Trenitalia

For Italo it's even odder. Every train in July from Venice to Milan Centrale is a high speed direct that is 2hr and 28mins. But in August the trains released are 3hr. 50min.

So my question is , with Trenitalia are there usual more trains added as time goes on ? and with Italo will these length of times shorten up? I did read that the week we are in Italy is also the National Holiday week, so I'm concerned that this has affected the time table.

Thanks in advance

Bill

Posted by
7955 posts

I believe there is construction along the route at that time.

Search the Trenitlaia site for that info

Posted by
6342 posts

Having just returned, I'd book a private car from Milan to Lake Como- I'm assuming you're going to Bellagio or Varenna? There's track work, and I predict frustrating delays for the regional trains.
And I recommend booking first class from Venice to Milan. The price is reasonable when booked early. The comfort is wonderful.
I'll attach my recent Trip Report. Please note the ferries and regional train issues.
Enjoy!

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/italy-in-may-with-the-best-laid-plans-or-why-we-almost-came-home-after-three-days

Posted by
620 posts

On the Trenitalia app, I see 3h45m (plus or minus a few minutes) direct from Venice to Milan on Aug 13 at 8am, 9am, 11:30am, 11:48 am, 14:22, 15:48, 16:22, 17:48. There are never any direct trains from Venice all the way to Varenna without changing to Trenord in Milan. Since the train from Milan to Varenna is a regional with no advantage to advance booking, maybe you will do better by bying the 2 legs separately.

Posted by
2988 posts

August is railway maintenance month in Italy. And like last year directtrains are routed via a junction close to Bologna on the Venice - Milano route, with as a result longer travel times. And because of this you are often faster changing in Bologna.
There is no real way around it.

Since the train from Milan to Varenna is a regional with no advantage
to advance booking, maybe you will do better by bying the 2 legs
separately.

That does not make a difference, as you get two tickets, one for the high speed train, and one for the regional either way.

Posted by
2793 posts

Train track work will be ongoing from June 15-September 15 on the route from Milan up to Varenna, Colico, Sondrio and Tirano, Italy. Trains from Milan will terminate in Lecco where passengers will be transferred to buses brought in by Trenord to finish all journeys north of Lecco. This means anyone holding train tickets to Varenna-Esino and north will have to transfer themselves and their luggage to a waiting bus in Lecco on the eastern shoreline of Lake Como. Your train tickets will be honored on the buses.
This was previously announced by Trenord. Since the original announcement, two more weekends —May 23-25– and June 6-8—have been added to the schedule interruptions.
The train journey from Milan to Tirano, the terminus for the Bernina Express, is expected to add 30 minutes to the transit time making it about a 3-hour journey.
The train journey from Milan to Lecco takes about 40 minutes. The buses running from Lecco to Varenna will take a bit more time than the trains, which take 22 minutes.
Dolce far Niente!

Posted by
25 posts

Thanks everyone, I appreciate all the quick and helpful responses I ended up booking the Italo train from Venice to Milan and then the Trenod from Milan to Como.

Of course there is track construction LOL oh well better pack my patience as well. .

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