Bernina Express
 

Hello All

So there are four of us and we are leaving Milan getting the train to Tirano to get the Bernina Express and that leaves at 14.26 and arrives to Chur at 1820, we are booked in to stay in Lucerne that night and last check in is at 10pm. I have looked up and there are two trains at 18.39 and 19.19 to go to Lucerne. My question is... is 20mins enough for a changeover? are the trains reliable enough and also would we need to book this ticket from Chur to Lucerne in advance???

Many Many Many Thanks !!!!

Twenty minutes at Chur is MORE than enough time. Why not book ahead? It is easy to do at www.sbb.ch/en and you can print the tickets out at home.

It takes 30 seconds to walk across the platform from the arriving BEx to the waiting IC or IR to Zurich.

You'll be drumming your fingers for the other 19 minutes.

... and the next Zurich (Lucerne) bound train would leave Chur about half an hr later (just after the arrival of the next train from (Tirano dp 15.00 - Pontresina -) Samedan.

What are your other Swiss plans - if it includes much rail travel then look at the Swiss Pass for sure that lets you hop on any train virtually anytime (except Official Bernina Express trains).

For lots on Swiss trains check www.swisstravelsystem.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.seat61.com- Man in Seat 61 who posts above his commercial site.

There are regular trains going over the Bernina Pass railway also and they have the exact same scenery as the official BE - so if you can take an earlier train consider it - move your schedule up all along the way and compensate for any late train.

Trains from St Moritz to Chur are timed to the trains to Zurich - the only reason you must change trains is a difference in track width (gauge) - from narrow gauge to wide gauge - thus like Man in Seat 61 says the Zurich/Lucerne IC trains should be waiting for the train from Chur and will stay a little late probably in case your arriving train is late.

and also would we need to book this ticket from Chur to Lucerne in advance???>

No -not required and IME few Swiss do - opitional - could make those seat reservations in St Moritz or Tirano's Swiss station - they are readily available IME - I would not worry about it - that train starts in Chur and should be empty then except for folks transferring like you.

thank ye so much this is all very helpful, we will only be in switzerland for 2 nights so i dont think we would benefit from the swiss passes. Thanks all for the responses

You may want to check www.sbb.ch - Swiss Railways official site for discounted Tirano-St Moritz- Zurich tickets. Agreed no pass for you.

You could see more of Switzerland, if you would leave Milan a bit earlier, like
Milano C dp 8.20 - Tirano 10.52/11.00 - Alp Grum ar 12.12, have lunch at the railway station restaurant, in front of the glaciers, dp 14.14 - St. Moritz 15.11/16.45 - Lucerne ar 20.49

Yes most folks go non-stop thru this lovely Bernina Pass scenery - like neckervd says get off at Alp Grum and sit on the sun terrace - have something to eat and savor the scintillating scenery rather than pass by it fleetingly on a train.

You need not take the official Bernina Express either as the local trains go over the same tracks and actually I find them more relaxed - often half empty vs the always chock full official Bernina Express trains which are often filled with tour groups - I love the regular trains -no reservations needed - just hop on any train and get on and off as you want.