Now that the first stage of the Milano to Venezia high speed line has opened to Brescia, the rail service between Milan/Milano and Padua/Padova is provided by
When travelling between most cities by train there is only one logical option, though on other journeys there is a choice between different trains or alternative routes. If different options are available you can use the info to decide which is best for you.
1hr 57 min (approx)
Daily
Monday to Friday 10 x Frecce trains per day
Saturday 8 x Frecce trains
Sunday 10 x Frecce trains
Daily: 2 x EC trains per day
Italiarail lives up to its name by selling tickets for rail journeys within Italy and the core feature of its service is that it is primarily designed to be used by international visitors to Italy.
So the English translations of place names are used when looking up journeys and the terms and conditions for using each type of ticket are clearly explained.
It also clearly points out the additional costs of upgrading to other classes and types of tickets while spelling out the additional benefits of doing so.
Though Italiarail will charge a booking fee, typically of around €3.
The Early Bird service
Italiarail has launched an 'early bird' pre-booking service for journeys by Frecce trains.
Tickets can be booked up to a year ahead of travel at a flat-rate price per route, before the tickets have been released for sale by Trenitalia.
If when they are placed on sale, the price is cheaper than what you have already paid to Italiarail, it will automatically refund the price difference.
Conversely, if the price is more expensive, you won't be charged the price difference.
You can also have the peace of mind of securing your seat(s) on the Frecce train(s) when you are first planning a trip.
If before the tickets are placed on sale, you decide to change your plans, you can request a refund; but once the tickets are released for sale, you will then be bound by the terms and conditions of the ticket(s) you have booked.
Trenitlalia is the national rail operator in Italy and in addition to its cheaper types of ticket; it also typically offers other discounts available to non-Italians, which include:
Omio is an online ticket agency which offers tickets for rail journeys in France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy and Spain.
The three key advantages of using Omio are
The disadvantage of booking with Omio is that it often adds a booking fee to the final price; therefore when it does so without offering a price advantage, SMTJ doesn't tend to offer Omio as a booking option.
Final Destination: Venezia S.L or Trieste or Udine
All trains also call at: Verona and Vicenza
In addition to these Frecce trains which depart from Milano Centrale, there are other Frecce trains which depart from Milano Porta Garibaldi station daily at 16:13 and 18:13.
There are also 2 x EC trains per day from Milano Centrale to Padova/Padua that are usually scheduled to depart daily from Milano Centrale at 10:05 and 12:05 .
They're around 10 mins slower than these Frecce trains because they don't use the high-speed line between Milano and Brescia.
Padova/Padova is on the railway route between Milan and Venice/Venezia typically popular with tourists, so as a consequence of the global pandemic, the train service has been (temporarily) reduced on this route, particularly in the late afternoon and evening.
The only section of this route that uses a high speed line, is the part of the journey between Milano and Brescia - so the train only travels at more than 250 km/h for around 20 minutes.
If you're on the left of the train (when facing the direction of travel) keep a look out before Desenzano for a fleeting, but incredible view of Lake Garda.
Online bookings usually open: up to 6 months ahead of the travel date; though the booking period will be typically be shorter when looking up journeys for travel after the second Sunday in December.
The train service between MIlano and Padova/Padua is provided by:
(1) these Frecce trains operated by Trenitalia and
(2) alternative Italo trains
Trains departing at different times can be cheaper than others leaving on the same day, so you may need to look through the day's departures to find the cheapest fares.
Tickets for the Trenitalia Frecce trains are placed on sale up to 6 months in advance, but the Italo train tickets are typically made available around 3 to 4 months ahead.
Trenitalia does not sell tickets for the Italo trains - and Italo does not sell tickets for the Trenitalia trains.
So, if you're booking no more than 4 months ahead and have no particular preference for the train that you will be taking, the price and departure times of the Frecce and Italo trains cas can be directly compared on with Trainline or Omio, though look out for the fact that both of these services will charge a booking fee.
Rail Pass Users:
If you will be travelling with a valid Eurail or InterRail pass, you will need to reserve prior to boarding these trains, either at the station (using a Trenitalia ticket machine or ticket desk) OR by booking them online.
How to book the rail pass reservations online is included on our guide to using rail passes in Italy.
Note that rail passes are not valid on the alternative Italo trains.
If you want to avoid paying rail reservations at all on this route from Milano to Padova/Padua, then the only option is to take a Regionale train from Milano to Verona - and then another Regionale train on from Verona to Padova.
1hr 58min
Daily
6 x trains per day
ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on Trainline ticket sales. It can be a particularly good option for: Comparing different train services; Booking international journeys with connections; Travelling between the UK to destinations beyond Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris - and for international travellers who don't reside in western Europe.
Italo trains compete with the Frecce services, provided by the national rail operator, Trenitalia, on the high speed routes which link major cities in Italy.
The Italo booking site only sells tickets for journeys by its trains.
Happy Rail is a Netherlands rail ticket agency which sells tickets for both national and international journeys within a range of countries including Belgium France, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland.
HappyRail doesn't charge booking fees in the conventional sense, but if you're not Dutch you can expect to pay additional transaction fees, which will be added to the total cost.
That's because the most common form of online payment used in The Netherlands is 'iDEAL' and HappyRail doesn't charge a transaction fee for 'iDEAL' payments, but only Dutch residents can sign up to 'iDEAL'.
Other forms of payment include Visa debit cards will incur a fee.
Omio is an online ticket agency which offers tickets for rail journeys in France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy and Spain.
The three key advantages of using Omio are
The disadvantage of booking with Omio is that it often adds a booking fee to the final price; therefore when it does so without offering a price advantage, SMTJ doesn't tend to offer Omio as a booking option.
Final Destination: Venezia S.L
All trains also call at: Verona and Vicenza
The service of high speed* (AV) trains between Milano and Vicenza is split between Frecce' trains operated by Trenitalia and these 'Italo' trains.
*Though the only section of this route that uses a high speed line, is the part of the journey between Milano and Brescia;so the train travels at more than 250 km/h for around 20 minutes.
These Italo trains take the same route as the Frecce services.
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: 5 months ahead of the travel date
The train service between Milano and Padova/Padua is provided by:
(1) these Italo trains
(2) more frequent Frecce/EC trains
Tickets for the Trenitalia Frecce trains are placed on sale around 4 months in advance, but these Italo train tickets are made available around 5 months ahead.
Trenitalia does not sell tickets for the Italo trains - and Italo does not sell tickets for the Trenitalia trains.
If you're booking no more than 4 months ahead and have no particular preference for the train that you will be taking, the price and departure times of the Frecce and Italo trains can be directly compared on with Trainline or Omio, though look out for the fact that both of these services will charge a booking fee.
Trains departing at different times can be cheaper than others leaving on the same day, so you may need to look through the day's departures to find the cheapest fares.
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