Originally Posted by sambagrrl07

I'm reporting back that I successfully negotiated the trains from MXP to Milano Centrale to Bologna Centrale. You do indeed exit the Malpensa Express right onto the shared waiting area for all platforms and there is no need to exit to the main station hall. I purchased my Malpensa Express ticket via the Trainline app on my phone as I was talking to the airport station and the Frecciarossa ticket from Milan to Bologna via the Trenitalia app as I was standing in the waiting area at Milano Centrale. It was all very seamless.

I did have trouble using Trainline at Milano Centrale (I thought I'd try an Italo train since I had booked my return from Bologna to Milan on Trenitalia), so I ended up on Trenitalia.