Post by Oliver SchnellPost by Giovanni Drogo- they depart and arrive from secondary stations
Wasn't the usage of Milano Centrale for other TOC than TI an issue?
I well remember that the DB/ÖBB Eurocity Munich - Milan was forced to
use Milans Porta Garibalidi staion, as "unfortunately" ...
Indeed. Until they suppressed at all Milan-Munich.
Anyhow NTV stops at Porta Garibaldi and Rogoredo in Milan and Tiburtina
in Rome.
From where I live/work (not in Domplatz ! :-)) Porta Garibaldi is indeed
reachable in about the same time as Centrale (a couple more metro stops,
but the detour on the belt line after departure is much longer).
Rogoredo is the opposite site (long metro ride) of Milan, could be
rather convenient for those leaving nearby (since it is on the right
direction towards Rome), not for me.
About Tiburtina when I was there long ago it was not a very pleasant
area. Not sure how it is now specially if coming late in the evening
(but one can't, see below).
So I prefer to travel Centrale-Termini
Post by Oliver SchnellPost by Giovanni Drogo- they do not travel in the times I am interested in
Well, the frequencies and links served will increase.
When I was considering a trial for a trip I have to do next July, there
were no NTV trains offered leaving either Milan or Rome after 18-19 and
arriving late at evening.
Post by Oliver SchnellPost by Giovanni Drogo- they do not offer restaurant car service
looks not that bad. Better than my experience with the "restaurant
car" of trenitalia the Eurocity Rimini - Munich some years ago.
Quality of service on Trenitalia was varying (while at least a few years
ago DB on Munich-Milan was all right and keeping it open on the entire
route). Used to be rather good in a long past, and even when they were
testing the first non-stop Milan-Rome service (they had different
caterers on each trying because they were testing it). It degraded when
a single caterer was chosen. Then they moved to ETR450 with airline food
tray served at the seat. Then with ETR460-70 it was too expensive for
the canteen type service, plus the obligation to book in shifts and buy
a complete meal.
Last year instead it was a pleasant surprise (I did a day trip having
both lunch and supper on the train). They had abolished the shifts in
favour of free flow, one could get only one course instead of a
complete meal, and the food was prepared on the spot.
I am not sure what I will find next month (the web site now talks of
"bar car" not "restaurant car").
Anyhow it appears (from press releases) that on the few trains were TI
introduced 4 classes instead of 2, they made a step backward to their
original plan in which access to the restaurant car was denied to
passengers of the lower two classes.
Post by Oliver SchnellPost by Giovanni Drogo- they do not offer a simple fixed fare but something arbitrarily
depending on the time you book
Doesn't TI has the same?
As far as I know there is still a base fare (plus some other contorsions
or extorsions). I generally go to the counter and get the base fare
(unless I'm offered some special offer which suits me ... e.g. if I know
I depart tomorrow I could accept a cheap no-refund fare for the way in,
but I'll take the base fare for the return trip in case I finish
earlier).
Post by Oliver SchnellIf they assist you on using vending machines, where is the problem?
Because the customer who made a complaint on the other forum went to the
travel centre because he hoped to do there something he could not do
online. But was directed to a vending machine which could do exactly the
same. At least the computers behind TI counters (where there are any
left) can do things one cannot do online.
and yes, I am nostalgic of good old times. Not all changes are a
progress (etimology: step forward).