amandawen

Hello,

I am taking the Bernina Express on Saturday Jul 30 from Chur to Tirano, arriving at Tirano station at 12:45. From there, I am taking a Trenitalia train to Venice. My two choices are for 13:08 and 15:08. To be honest, I would rather spend 2h in Venice instead of Tirano. Thus, is 23 minutes enough to get from where I arrive at the station to the gate for my next train? Are there any additional checks, security, etc. that I need to watch out for?

Thanks in advance!

J62

If I recall from many years ago Tirano station is no bigger than a postage stamp. I believe the Bernina express comes in on one track, and there are at most 2 other platforms total. So at minimum you'd need to walk ~50 meters to the adjacent platform, maximum you'd need to go down one flight of stairs, cross over to the other platform and come back up. I see no issues with a 23min connection.

asps

Actually Tirano has two separate stations; you will arrive at the Swiss station, exit it (custom control possible), walk a few meters to the Italian station and look for your train. You can have a look on Google Maps - Street view - and you will see how close the stations are (the Swiss one is white, the Italian is light yellow). If the arriving train is in time (a Swiss train should be), 20 minutes should be enough.

justineparis

asps since when is there customs between Switzerland and Italy.. is this something new??

PalenQ

Customs were abolished a few years back when Switzerland joined the Schengen Accord.

asps has it right on - there are no trains from Tirano to Venice -you must be transiting and changing in Milan Centrale - how much time do you have there between trains?

asps

The Schengen agreement abolishes passport controls. But as Switzerland is not in the EU, it is not in the same custom zone and custom checks are always possible. I frankly do not know about Tirano, but I have countless stories of Swiss friends going shopping in Italy where prices are lower, and being checked at Chiasso border point for importing groceries over the allowed quantity when they go back in Switzerland. In the opposite direction (Switzerland to Italy), Italian custom officers usually are looking for undeclared cash in excess of eur 10000.

PalenQ

In the opposite direction (Switzerland to Italy), Italian custom officers usually are looking for undeclared cash in excess of eur 10000>

Or drugs - I saw a thorough search of some younguns going into Italy once and some pot was found in a bag - some other onlooker explained to me if it were a minor amount for personal use they'd be OK (minus the pot) but if more than that they would be taken off the train.

french Customs also check arriving passengers from Holland on Thalys trains sometimes and I've even see them pull a Dutch van over way inside France - at Orleans where I often stay.

People can cross borders freely but not contraband. but I think normal looking American tourists would usually get a pass but good idea to get off the train ASAP if there is an inspection line.

kja

Will you already have your tickets for the Trenitalia part? If you have to wait in line to buy or claim them, that could be a problem....

brizzieLizzie

I just did a similar thing a couple of weeks ago except I was catching the train from Tirano to Como. I think 23 mins will be fine. As asps says it is not far to walk from one train station where you get off ( swiss) to the other where you catch the trenitalia train (Italian).

I bought my ticket on the day at the Swiss station ( 8CHF) as I walked out which didn't take long but I was travelling earlier in the day so no queue but you could probably buy it online if you wanted to save time.

There were neither customs nor immigration checks when I travelled

Dukey1

The two stations are IN SIGHT of one another. WAAAAAY LESS than even 5 minutes between them. The Trenord station has only ONE track so you aren't going to have any trouble finding your train because it will be the ONLY ONE there!

asps

One of the most mysterious smuggling cases involved crossing from Italy to Switzerland: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiass...smuggling_case

But I am writing it only a curiosity, it is quite improbable that much time, if any, gets lost at Tirano custom control. Just know there is a possibility.

PalenQ

Tirano is a dead-end station thus as Dukey says the only train there will be the one.

PalenQ

The Trenord station has only ONE track so you aren't going to have any trouble finding your train because it will be the ONLY ONE there!>

Drop the CAPS especially when you are DEAD WRONG:

https://www.google.com/search?q=tira...xLqoce1kFeM%3A

There is one platform but several tracks there could be two trains standing in the station but since they can only go one way the train people are boarding is the right one - others could be parked there.

PalenQ

There were neither customs nor immigration checks when I travelled>

Tirano is well inside Italy - though I have seen checks there it does stop at several Italian towns before - I expect they do spot checks by profiling at any of those stations but mainly I'd think when going to Switzerland not out of it though I guess Italian Customs guys could be there too.

amandawen

Thanks so much everyone! I will be buying the earlier Trenitalia tickets online and crossing my fingers when I get to Tirano. And yes, it has a change in Milano for 25m.

PalenQ

Regional train tickets I believe you must cancel yourself before boarding and full-fare tickets too if you do not have a discounted Milan to Venice ticket.

stick them in cancelling machines trackside or else you if you do not do that you will be considered to be riding without a valid ticket. Maybe Dukey can confirm this is still the case!