I was wondering if someone could help me. We will be traveling from Zurich to Verona later this month, and I've been reading a lot about the Bernina Express. I see that it is possible to do the same scenic route in a normal train (apparently in winter the panoramic cars are attached to the normal trains in any case) and as we are on a strict budget we're hoping that it might be cheaper. However, I need some help in booking/checking these trains. On the SBB site I can't seem to find the right combination; the site keeps routing me away from the Bernina pass? For example, even if I say via St. Moritz it takes me to St. Moritz and then back to the normal Zurich-Milan route?

Also, I can't seem to find a Eurail pass for Switzerland-Italy? Is this correct?

And has anyone done the route in the middle of winter? Is the scenery still worth it or would you suggest taking the normal train through the tunnel?

Any comments would be appreciated. Regards

I did the Bernina Express from Chur to several points south from there in May 2005, specifically so I could hop off at any of the little towns along the way and day hike along the route, which I could do at many scenic spots. I loved sitting aside the tracks on a hiking trail bench watching the little red cars chug in and out of those corkscrew tunnels I knew I had already ridden on. So yes, you can do the Bernina Express as a normal train. In fact, as I recall, the "official" Bernina Express was simply the regular 8 am (or thereabouts) departure from Chur. It had big wide windows, but I took the same train several more times later in the week, at 9 or 10 or whatever, on the hour or so from Chur, and all the trains had big wide windows! Frankly, I didn't see the point of declaring one particular departure any more special than any of the others, but maybe I missed something. As for views out the windows, though, I didn't miss a thing! It's a beautiful ride!

I just switched browser windows for a second and Googled Bernina Express and got one hit specifically containing pictures along the route and a route map. Take a look.

The thing you need to keep in mind looking for this particular train in timetables is that it leaves from Chur for Locarno/Lugano, not from Zurich.

We went on the Benina Express last Christmas Eve, from Chur to Poschiavo and back again. It was a fascinating journey, but the summit was a complete white-out, and you could really see very little because of the snow and the low cloud. On other days, I am sure that it could be completely different.

As for being on a tight budget, they always say that you regret most what you could have done but didn't.

The Panorama Coach windows are SIGNIFICANTLY BIGGER than the windows in the more regular coaches. Whether or not that is worth the additional money is up to you and those coaches don't run during certain times as you already know.

I've done the trip several times; the most recent was in April when there was significant snow on the ground at higher elevations.

Yes, you CAN do it by the regular train but your disadvantage is that you may not get a train which goes all the way through without changing and for some, THAT IS an advantage.

You should be able to route yourself through somehow to Tirano and then onward through Milan and from there to Verona.

Have you used the SBB website? WWW.SBB.COM

Yes, I see you HAVE used the SBB website..but have you tried routing yourself through Tirano

Thanks all. I've now seen that the problem is the Tirano - Verona connection. (Although the sbb website only mentions the bernina express for the route to there, no other trains) It seems you have to take the bus to Edolo before catching the train to Milan/Verona... (sbb site) while the trainitalia site has no record of this train after a certain date in December? Today I can take a train Tirano-Milano but on the 16th and onwards not. Strange...