After 4 nights in Venice it was time to move to Milan. We took Trenitalia for this journey, which is the first rail operator in Italy. This was our first of two prepare rides in Italy, and I used to be impressed by the consolation, worth, and punctuality, provided by Trenitalia.
Let me say upfront that Trenitalia enterprise class isn’t a lot to get enthusiastic about. Nevertheless, our subsequent prepare journey was in Trenitalia govt class, which was downright superb, so keep tuned for my evaluation of that.
Reserving Trenitalia enterprise class tickets
Trenitalia has a number of direct trains each day between Venice and Milan, which take round 2.5 hours. We determined to take a prepare that was scheduled to depart at 10:48AM and arrive at 1:15PM.
Trenitalia has every kind of fares accessible, and for our journey there was a “ME&YOU” particular, providing a reduction in case you’re touring with somebody. The full price of our enterprise class tickets for 2 folks was 89.60 Euro, which comes out to 44.80 Euro per individual. As you’ll be able to see, the premium for enterprise class is fairly modest, so we thought it was price it.
We ended up spending an additional 2 Euro per individual to pick out seats, so we may get seats going through each other with a desk within the center. Nevertheless, this ended up being pointless, because the prepare wasn’t busy.
Venice Santa Lucia prepare station
We took a water taxi from Gritti Palace to Venice’s Santa Lucia station, which took about quarter-hour. One massive benefit of taking the prepare fairly than flying is that you simply don’t have to return to the “mainland,” as this prepare station is situated within the “island” a part of town. Not your typical prepare station taxi stand, eh?
We arrived on the prepare station round half-hour earlier than departure, which was in all probability unnecessarily early (however we didn’t know what precisely to count on). The prepare station was fairly giant, however not practically as massive because the one in Milan, for instance.
There was some seating inside the doorway to the prepare station, together with every kind of outlets and eating places.
There was additionally an enormous prepare standing monitor close to the doorway. After we first arrived it didn’t but listing our departure monitor, so we waited round for that.
Roughly 20 minutes earlier than departure the monitor was up to date to mirror that we’d be departing from monitor seven. The trains have been solely a brief stroll from the doorway to the station.
As we acquired as much as the monitor there have been two guys there to do temperature checks, and we have been additionally suggested to placed on FFP2 masks, fairly than surgical masks.
As soon as on the prepare, we acquired into the primary automotive, which was one of many three devoted to enterprise class.
Trenitalia enterprise class cabin & seats
The Trenitalia enterprise class cabins are roughly what you’d count on for a regional prepare enterprise class, and have been trendy and clear. Seats have been in a 1-2 configuration, with seats in half of the cabin going through one path, and seats within the different half of the cabin going through the opposite path.
The common seats have been configured just like what you’d discover on an airplane, and had tray tables, headrests, armrests, and so forth.
Then you might have the seats with tables within the center, which is the place we sat. These are nice in case you’re touring with somebody, although much less superb in case you’re touring alone and must face a stranger, particularly since legroom is proscribed.
Every seat had each an AC and USB energy outlet, which was a lot appreciated.
When it comes to storing baggage, most luggage may simply be saved within the baggage racks above the seats.
Then at the back and front of every cabin was a baggage storage space for bigger luggage.
Every automotive additionally had a toilet, which on this case was on the far finish of the prepare.
The toilet was giant, and featured a rest room and a sink.
Trenitalia prepare punctuality & views
I used to be impressed by the punctuality of each of our Trenitalia journeys. The trains left precisely on schedule, to the second. Our first prepare ended up having a 16 minute delay enroute, however I used to be additionally pleasantly stunned by what number of updates have been offered about this.
The second we stopped there was an announcement informing us of the explanation for the delay, which was allegedly a technical fault with a prepare on one other monitor. We have been additionally offered a direct replace on how a lot our arrival into Milan was anticipated to be delayed. So when Trenitalia isn’t punctual, there’s much more effort that goes into protecting folks up to date than whenever you fly, that’s for certain. I virtually felt like I used to be in Japan
The journey had nice views all through, beginning with crossing the bridge from the “island” when departing Venice.
For a lot of the prepare journey we had stunning views of vineyards…
And naturally there have been some metropolis views blended in as nicely…
Trenitalia enterprise class meals, drinks, and repair
Our tickets have been checked by a pleasant attendant about 20 minutes after departure. We may merely present the e-mail affirmation from our tickets, so there was no have to check-in in any other case.
About 10 minutes later the inflight service started. We have been provided our alternative of three snacks, together with crackers, cookies, or biscoffs. We have been additionally provided a choice of complimentary drinks, seemingly with no limits (within the sense that they saved asking us if we needed the rest).
We every had an espresso and a water, after which one way or the other additionally ended up with a Coke Zero.
The service on this sector isn’t something to get enthusiastic about (particularly in comparison with our subsequent prepare journey), however nonetheless, for a 2.5 hour prepare journey this was greater than ample.
Trenitalia enterprise class Wi-Fi
Trenitalia gives complimentary Wi-Fi, which is simple to hook up with. I discovered the speeds to be good, and it saved me from having to tether off my cellphone.
Milan central prepare station
We arrived at Milan’s central prepare station at round 1:30PM. Milan’s prepare station is way greater than the one in Venice (as you’d count on), and it was a little bit of an journey to get out of there and right into a taxi. However I’ll speak extra in regards to the station within the installment in regards to the journey out of Milan.
It certain is a reasonably station, although!
Backside line
Trenitalia provided a terrific expertise for getting between Venice and Milan. The trains have been clear, service pleasant, and the worth was fairly good for what it was. Getting round Europe by prepare is solely a lot extra nice than flying, particularly for brief distance.
Whereas this prepare journey was good, it’s the chief class prepare journey we had a few days later that nearly turned me right into a full-on prepare fanatic, so keep tuned for that.
For those who’ve taken Trenitalia enterprise class, what was your expertise like?