Tales, Trials and Tribulations - an Australian in Europe (Trains!)

Milan Central Station

MY TRAINS IN EUROPE 

• Milan to Verona
• Verona to Brescia (return)
• Verona to Venice
• Venice to Trieste
• Ljubljana to Vienna
• Vienna to Baden (return)

MILAN CENTRAL STATION

Milan Station

This is an imposing stone structure, three levels, built around 1912. International and regional trains depart/arrive at the top (main) level - the local underground network is below street level. Shops, cafes, ticket offices/machines and a McDonalds are at street level. Access to the main level is via stone steps or escalators.

The main platforms are reached from Gates - a valid ticket is frequired for in inspection for entry. This station is not a "through" station - engines are uncoupled and shunted for departing trains.

The main level also includes a money exchange, a Hungry Jacks,  cafes, and a bookshop.

A small cafe is just inside the main entrance, known as the "Line Cafe" - it offers suberb muffins!

There is a large Square outside the station - this has sculptures, statues, fountains, and small shops. The taxi rank and bike-hire racks are nearby. There is an entrance to the underground station from the Square.

Milan Station

My hotel, the Michelangelo, is immediately opposite.

There is extreme congestion on the plaftorms, due to hundreds of passengers clustered around the electronic departures/arrivals sign.  

MILAN TO VERONA 

This was a two hour ride, on a fast train! Digital Speed Indicators in the carriages showed we were travelling at over 200 km/hr. Just like V-Line back in Australia! A TV screen in each carriage showed a forward-looking real-time TV view of the track. There was free WiFi in the train. I alighted at Verona and took a taxi to my hotel, the Crown Plaza.

VERONA TO BRESCIA (return)

Brescia is a city and comune in the region of Lombardy in northern Italy. It is situated at the foot of the Alps, a few kilometres from the lakes Garda and Iseo.It is about 20 km west of Verona, and was the starting point for my free bus to the Gardaland Theme Park.

VENICE (VENEZIA MESTRE) STATION
This is a junction station in Venice's mainland frazione of Mestre. I travelled here from Verona in another very fast train and then changed to the regional train for Trieste.

VIENNA CENTRAL STATION (Wien Hauptbahnof)

Main Station Vienna

I travelled to Vienna from Ljubljana via a regional train, six hours! The station is quite new, and services international, regional and local lines, including the city underground. It is actually on Sud Tyrol Platz, and my hotel, the "Vienna Delta" was opposite. It's like a mini-city, with the main entrance leading in to a large concourse, with shops at street level and underground. Taxi ranks are adjacent. as is the Bus Station for the "Hop On, Hop Off" bus, part of the Vienna SIghtseeing network. This bus travels around the city, costs EU17 for 24-hrs. There are five routes from which to choose. The tram stop is adjacent, known simply as "Hauptbahnof"! There are two good cafes just inside the main entrance, one of which sold marvellous jelly cakes and filled rolls! It also offered non-alchoholic sparkling apple juice!

VIENNA TO BADEN

Baden Station "City Shuttle"

Baden is about 30 mins from Vienna, a town with significant history dating back to Roman times. The train is a double-decker, painted "Shuttle Bus" - very smooth and fast.

VENICE TO TRIESTE

This was a regional train, about two hours. Good views of Trieste Harbour approaching the terminus.  The station is quite old, stone, with polished floors, parts of which have been modernized. The main bus terminal is adjacent.

LJUBLJANA TO VIENNA

Ljubljana Station

Ljubjiana Central Station is an elderly brick building, next to the main Bus Station, about a block from the City Hotel, where we had stayd a few days earlier. My train to Vienna leaves from a platform at 4.00 pm on the other side of the station. The train has a Restaurant  Car, near the front. My carriage was "compartment style" each cubicle holding six people. As this was a long six hour trip, squatters without seat reservations entered the compartment at intermediate stations, helping themselves to vacant seats, only to leave those seats when passengers holding reservations boarded at later stops! The train arrived at Vienna at 10.00 pm. Sadly, the travel agency had issued me with a ticket to Wien-Meidling station, instead of Wien Central, needing a taxi.