A search on here turned up that the bus between MXP and Milan Central station takes ~ 45 min.

My flight from YYZ arrives at 07:35, what would be a good margin to allow myself to book my train from Milan to Rome? Is 10:00 a.m. too soon or would I be better off with 11:00 a.m.? It will be a Tuesday, if that matters.

Also, if I book the Eurostar, can I get on an earlier train if I get there early, or conversely standby for a later train?

Thank you kindly for your help.

A search on here turned up that the bus between MXP and Milan Central station takes ~ 45 min.

My flight from YYZ arrives at 07:35, what would be a good margin to allow myself to book my train from Milan to Rome? Is 10:00 a.m. too soon or would I be better off with 11:00 a.m.? It will be a Tuesday, if that matters.


The trip between MXP and Milan Central station usually takes about 1 hour, so if you flight will be on time the train on 10 a.m. will be ok.
I always buy tickets at Milan station using automatic self-service tickets machine (it takes 10 minutes, you can pay by cc) before trip.

Regards,
ddoliwa

The Malpensa Express train leaves from inside the terminal.

Here are a couple links:
http://www.sea-aeroportimilano.it/newsea/index.php?url=en/malp_treno.shtml

http://www.ferrovienord.it/webmxp/

€11.00 one way to Cadorna station, which is perhaps 2 km from Centrale

For the trains to Rome, see the trenitalia site:
http://www.trenitalia.it/
You have to enter the Cadorna station as "MILANO NORD CADORNA" for the trenitalia site to find it. Search trains from there to Roma Termini, It will show you the trains with a transfer at Milano Centrale (shown on the chart as MI C.LE). The trip to Rome will take 5 hours from Cadorna.

First class doesn't cost much more than coach. However, try to reserve a seat when you buy the ticket- a first class ticket doesn't guarantee a first class seat. In the summer coach can be standing room (i.e. sitting on suitcases in the corridor) only, although it might be better on a Eurostar.

Ok so then I should just purchase a ticket from Cadorna to Rome, not go to the Centrale and then get a ticket to Rome?

Oops second question. Am I safe pre-purchasing the 10 a.m. train from Milano Nord Cadorna or would you go for the 11 a.m.?

I could be wrong, but I wasn't aware of any Rome-bound through train (EuroStar, InterCity, etc) that went through Cadorna.

AFAIK the connection between Cadorna and Centrale is via the Metropolitana (underground) - IIRC it is a few stops on the green line from Cadorna to Centrale

I plugged some sample trips into the Trenitalia online purchase screen, and every trips shown departed from Centrale (it seemed to indicate a connection from Cadorna via "U".

The great advantage to the busses is, once you are deposited outside of Centrale, you merely walk in, take the "up" escalator, and the platforms are right there, on your right.

You can buy your ticket (and make your seating reservation online (you get an e-mail with a code that you provide on-board). The website also has a feature that allows holders of a ticketless reservation to make changes within one hour of the scheduled departure:

http://www.trenitalia.com/en/orari_biglietti/cambio_prenotazione.html

There is a train from Cadorna to Rome (leaves hourly) but says 1 change is required somewhere enroute. It is available for 39 euros in F, with a reserved seat.

I am going to book that, the only question is 10 a.m. too early to book and should I go with 11? I arrive at 7:35 on the Alitalia flight from YYZ

Even if the immigration and security lines are long, you should have your Malpensa Express ticket in hand by 8:15. Still, I wouldn't count on making the 8:23 train (even though you'll probably make it), I would count on the 8:53. That hits Cardorna at 9:33. A little tight for the 10:00 out of Centrale, but do-able, especially if you already have a ticket. The 11 is very safe.

Actually, if it was me, I'd go for the 10:00, but I'm used to MXP and speak the language. Trenitalia tix are refundable and exchangable, so I think (can someone confirm this?) that the 10:00 ticket can be used for the 11:00 train. If not you'll have to stop at the ticket office to exchange it.

Remember- train tickets have to be validated before boarding, or you can be hit with a large fine. There are yellow boxes on the platforms or at the entries to tunnels/stairs/passageways to the platforms- stick the ticket in there to get it timestamped (validated). On trips over 200km, it is valid for 24 hours from the time it is stamped. (I've done stops along the way, then reboarded and continued my voyage; I don't know if that is the case with Eurostar).

I don't know MXP at all having never been there before. To be safe, I will purchase the 11 a.m. out of Cardona.

Gargoyle you mention Centrale yet my ticket will be from Cardona... am I purchasing the wrong thing or is that just where I will change trains?

Gargoyle you mention Centrale yet my ticket will be from Cardona... am I purchasing the wrong thing or is that just where I will change trains?Yes, I would like to know this as well, for future reference.

When I played with the Trenitalia site, I was only able to bring up Eurostar trips (over €70- in 1.class, €46,- in 2.class).


BTW if you opt for the bus to Centrale, they leave out of Door 14 on the MXP Terminal One arrivals level. Fare is about €5,-

Gargoyle you mention Centrale yet my ticket will be from Cardona... am I purchasing the wrong thing or is that just where I will change trains?I was basing my times/logistics on Non-NonRev's explaination of transfers from Cadorna (not Cardona- spell it wrong and you won't find it on the Trenitalia website) to Centrale; I forgot that when I looked on the Trenitalia site earlier, it showed tix from Cadorna to Rome (with a change in Centrale). So, if you get to Cadrona by 9:33 and already have a ticket, you shouldn't have a problem with a 10:00 train leaving from Cadrona. If you need to buy a ticket, lines can be long at the kiosks or ticket booths. Also, if you don't have a reserved seat, the seats could all be taken by 9:30. People board early and grab seats.

11:00 is more relaxed anyway.

The Trentalia website gives me a reserved seat for the 11 a.m. departure - only 39 euros in First class. Some promo they are running (and yes I am happy to take it).

So it will be 11 euros to Cadorna and then 39 to Rome, much better than a car or flying.

Thank you for your help. Assuming I don't get lost and end eventually find my way back home, I will post how smooth the process is from Cadorna.

Cheers
MapleLeaf

Ok this is weird, I just purchased the ticket and it gave me a seat number from Centrale to Roma, it also lists the segment from Cadorna to Centrale but does not give a train number, or a time - they are both left blank. Service is said to be provided by U. Any clues?

I did go for the 11 a.m. service, somehow I think I am safer to take the bus to Centrale. (and the other weird part is the 11 a.m. departure is for Centrale, not Cadorna even though I listed that as my departure point)

If your itinerary says something like this in the first line (with the first "U" in a box):

U......Tratta urbana non FS MILANO NORD CADORNA --:-- Milano Centrale --:-- ND


it indicates that the journey from Cadorna to Centrale is by UNDERGROUND (that's whatthe "U" inside the box means).

The reason there are no times listed is because it is up to you which Underground train you take.

Also, if my sketchy Italian is rcorrect, "tratta urbana non FS" roughly means "city transport not part of FS" (FS stands for Ferrovie dello Stato, the official name of the Italian rail system).

Close but there is no Tratta urbana non FS - the rest of the line is correct.

So I am best taking the bus to Centrale then?

So I am best taking the bus to Centrale then?I would say take the bus - AFAIK no one will check your ticket (or confirmation if you used the ticketless system) to see if you used the Underground to get to Centrale.

The main advantages to the bus over the MXP Express are:


1) The bus is a Door-to-Door service - this means no schlepping your bags from the MXP Express tracks to the Underground station:

and,

2) it's cheaper :)

I would say take the bus - AFAIK no one will check your ticket (or confirmation if you used the ticketless system) to see if you used the Underground to get to Centrale.The Italian trains are not like airlines (where, if you miss one segment, you blow the rest of the PNR). They won't know or care how you got from Cadorna to Centrale.

Non-NonRev- where does MapleLeaf buy the bus ticket?
MapleLeaf- note that bus tix (on public transit busses) have to be validated (stamped) just like I described for train tix, but the validation machine is on the bus. On shuttles you just show the ticket to the driver or conductor.

The Malpensa Shuttle, the shuttle bus, goes straight to Centrale:
http://www.malpensashuttle.it/e-default.htm
It takes about 50 minutes, and costs €5.00.
Only problem I've had with it, is it drives into Milan in the morning during rush hour, and you're stuck in traffic breathing leaded gas and diesel fumes right after an overnight TATL flight, so that is annoying.

Ok so then I should just purchase a ticket from Cadorna to Rome, not go to the Centrale and then get a ticket to Rome?

Don't bother with the MPX>Centrale rail link. Simply walk out of the MPX terminal and get on the bus. As quick as the two legs required otherwise, MPX>Cadorna>Centrale, it's simple to walk in and buy a ticket from the machine. Don't worry about the time. There's service almost every hour and the non-Euros are within minutes of matching the time of travel.

Even for 'Merkin novices, it ain't a big deal....

Non-NonRev- where does MapleLeaf buy the bus ticket?Purchase the bus ticket directly from the driver upon boarding.

Because the airport busses are NOT part of Milan's metropolitan transport system, validation of the ticket does not come into play.

More info on the bus:

http://www.malpensashuttle.it/e-default.htm

Getting through MXP is usually quite quick, and the train (Malpensa Express) is easy to find, and it's not a long walk.

I would just take the train to Cadorna, and get a cab from there to Centrale. I would estimate the cost at about €6. You will have plenty of time to catch the 10:00 am to Rome. Either way, its just a few stops north on the green metro line, but it will probably take a few minutes more than a taxi, and be more stressfull. For the difference, it's not worth it, IMHO.

I would also recommend First class on the EuroStar, it's an exellent train journey.

Have a nice trip!

If I were to arrive at MXP from FCO at 2:20PM on a Tuesday, would a train leaving at 5:15PM at Milan Centrale be too tight of a connection. I will try to travel without checked luggage.

If I were to arrive at MXP from FCO at 2:20PM on a Tuesday, would a train leaving at 5:15PM at Milan Centrale be too tight of a connection. I will try to travel without checked luggage.

I'd say that'd be plenty of time. Worse case, you're on a 3pm airport bus arriving into Centrale at 1600-1630. Lots of time.