lazyme

After Lithuania,I plan on treating my wife to her ancestral village of Bignasco Switzerland. However, with cost in mind, can I travel from Amsterdam to Bignasco by train? Is the town of Bignasco to small for a train to stop and depart. Any ideas?

Phil

lazyyou:

You are in for quite a trek! It is doable by train and bus, but it will take you just under 12 hours at least.

The best connection I could find was:
Amsterdam CS dp 08.05 by Intercity express.
Basel SBB ar 14.47
Basel SBB dp 15.04 by Intercity
Bellinzona ar 18.36
Bellinzona dp 18.40 by regional train, line S2
Locarno ar 19.06
Locarno dp 19.10 by bus
Bignasco ar 19.54

So there are at least three connections to be made. This should prove no problem, not even at Locarno, where the buses leave in front of the railway station. Even if connection times seem short, you will be safe.

Bignasco, and its region, are located in the alps, and the territory is sparsely populated. This is the reason for it not being accessible by train but by bus.

You may want to check the Swiss Federal railways' site at: http://www.sbb.ch/en/index.htm

Hope this helps. Enjoy your trip.

Phil

Steve_James

Lazy - Have you thought of flying?

The budget airline Transavia (- formerly Basiq Air) fly Amsterdam - Bergamo (- near Milan) - from where you can train to Locarno via Milan & Bellinzona.

Fares seem to start at about € 60.00 incl tax.
Here's the link:

http://www.transavia.com/en

Hope this helps ...

Steve

lazyme

Thank you Phil and Steve. Hmm, I was hoping for a direct train from Amsterdam to Bergamo or Milan. (obviously I never been to Europe before) However, If northwest air can fly me directly to Milan my excursion to Bignasco should be easier. If not than I will look at Transavia air. Thank you, Jeff.

LoveItaly

lazyme, I have had friends in Italy fly on NW from Milan to SFO. They changed planes in Amsterdam, and again in Detroit.

Have you looked into KLM (a partner of NW).