We were scheduled to board a fast train from Milano Centrale to Venice at 11:30 am and arrived at the station 30 minutes early. The departures board displayed Train, Destination, Departure Time, Delay, and Platform Number. Due to inclement weather, several trains, including ours, were delayed. The delay initially showed 15 minutes and kept increasing. ⏳
While waiting, we grabbed some food from Burger King and frequently checked the board. When the delay reached 55 minutes, a platform number was displayed. We misunderstood the "Delay" column, thinking it indicated the time left until departure, not the time from the original departure time. This meant our train was set to leave at 12:25 pm, but we thought it wouldn't leave before 1:10 pm (12:15 pm + 55 minutes). 😅
THIS HAS TO BE OUR STUPIDEST MISTAKE TO DATE! 🥲
Believing we had plenty of time, we finished our lunch and went to the platform at 12:30 pm, only to realize the train had already left. 🙁
Our options were either buying a new ticket for another train or resolving the issue at the platform booth. After waiting in line for 45 minutes, we learned that Italo could only rebook trains that were delayed by 60 minutes or more. We missed other fast trains during this wait, and the inclement weather caused further delays. Last-minute fast train tickets were exorbitantly priced, so we booked a regional train via Trenitalia, requiring a transfer in Verona to reach Venice. 🚉
What could have been a 2-hour journey turned into 5+ hours filled with stress and anxiety. 😓
Tips to Avoid Our Mistakes
1️⃣ Understand the Departures Board: Know that the "Delay" column shows time from the original departure, not the time left.
2️⃣ Stay Close to the Board: Remain near the departures board until a platform number is displayed.
3️⃣ Head to the Platform Quickly: Move to the platform as soon as it's updated.
4️⃣ Know Backup Options: Familiarize yourself with alternative train schedules.
5️⃣ Check Ticket Policies: Understand rebooking and refund policies in advance for your specific tier.
Have you missed a train in Europe before? 🚄
