Connection time at Arth Goldau - Train from Lucerne to Florence
 

We are travelling by train from Lucerne to Florence, with changes at Arth Goldau and Milan.

There is only a 6 minute connection time at Arth Goldau. We are a group of 4 adults and a 12 month old baby.
Does the train to Milan leave from the same platform?

Is 6 minutes enough time to get suitcases and the group with a baby to get to a different platform?

Is there a better option ? Lucerne to Basel and then Basel to Florence ?

With an infant - and all the "stuff" that goes with it - I would think more than 6 minutes would be a good idea - even in a small station.

In any case - when the train pulls into the station you need to be standing at the door with your bags and everything ready to get off. If you are not ready you will find people boarding the train as you are trying to collect your things and get off - so do not delay until the train stops to prepare to get off.

What about going to Zürich, frequent trains to Milan. Good prices if buy on Trenitalia website. Then train to Florence. Try for at least 20 minutes between trains. Better to have time to pick up aa snack and stretch your legs. Zurich train station has tons of shops. Worth a stop!

If you don't want to change trains, depart early. Take the EC train that departs Lucerne at 7:47 and arrives Milan Centrale at 11:50.

>>>What about going to Zürich, frequent trains to Milan. Good prices if buy on Trenitalia website.<<<

You cannot buy a train departing Switzerland on the Italian website. Well, you can, but you are required to pick up the ticket at a station in Italy. Unless you are traveling to Italy first, then it's not a good idea.

For trains departing Switzerland, you need to book on the Swiss site. For the EC train Lucerne/Milan without changes, try to book the saver fare (23chf for this ticket). It has to be purchased at least two weeks in advance and the discounted fare can sell out.

http://www.sbb.ch/en/home.html

Buy the Milan Centrale/Florence ticket on Trenitalia. Look for Supereconomy fares. Don't book this leg until you've booked the Lucerne/Milan. Allow some time in Centrale as it's a large station and you might need a break for food, etc.

http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...0080a3e90aRCRD

>>>Does the train to Milan leave from the same platform?<<<

Platforms can and do change even at the last minute.

Thanks to all for your responses, it has been a great help.

The 07:47 is a good one, the only one that requires no switch in Arth Goldau. But - you could make it just fine in 6 minutes -there is a reason why it is 6 minutes: The Swiss don't like to stand around and wait.

Two minutes before arrival, you get up and move to the doors. You organize yourselves so everybody knows what they carry. And you simply get off and walk to the other train. Platform numbers are printed in the timetables, announcements are heard over the P.A., there is no need for panic.

In Milan it's different, track (binario) numbers are posted on the big overhead board and announced as they happen. So a tight connection in Milan is best avoided.

When the conductor come to check your train ticket, show him your connecting train info and ask him which platform that train will be, so that you have an idea before hand. But even that you still need to read the platform boards in case there is a last-minute change.

Here's the Arth-Goldau layout if you decide to book that train.

http://www.sbb.ch/content/dam/infras...-goldau-a4.pdf

The way the station is built, the train from Luzern is most likely to arrive at platform #5 and the connecting train from Zurich to Milan is most likely to arrive and depart from track #4 that are close enough. If the Swiss leave you 6 minutes, it means any average traveller can do it in 6 minutes. Be ready to get down from the first train and get on the following one quickly as they are not likely to stop for long.

There are no last-minute platform changes in stations like Arth Goldau - kybourbon gave you the link to the map, and the timetables at sbb.ch tell you the track numbers - you arrive on track 5 and you walk across to the facing carriages on track 4. Thirty steps, thirty seconds tops.

Organizing yourselves and deciding who carries what is a great idea as long as:

one person can carry the baby, diaper bag and small personal bag
another can carry the stroller plus his/her own bags
the other 2 adults can carry the luggage for 3 adults and an infant

Train changes are easy if each person has only a carry-on and a personal item

If each person has a regular piece of luggage, a carry-on and a personal item that already makes a lot to deal with - adding a baby, diaper bag, stroller and baby's luggage makes it VERY difficult

Once again, thanks for all the responses, you have been very helpful.