How to train from Milan to Brig?
 

I'm confused about options for training from Milan to Brig(Switzerland). Hoping someone can help please.

Options seem to be:
SSB
site shows a train direct from Milan to Brig. Described as an International Train. It's an EC (Eurocity) train. If I had a Swiss Pass could I use it for this journey? I would have a spare day on Swiss Pass. Seems unlikely but thought I would ask. I think I saw somewhere on this forum that someone validated their Swiss Pass in Milan and caught a train to Brig and beyond. This fascinated me at the time because I didn't understand why this would be possible.

Trenitalia
site shows a train Milan to Brig. What are SMART fares? If I select ADULT/STANDARD I get a price. If I select SMART I get "ND". Also it seems it is not possible to get ticketless. Must be self-service machine or Home Delivery. And I must register. If I had a Swiss Pass could I select Global Pass on Trenitalia site for this journey?

So questions are:
Can Swiss Pass be used on SBB scheduled EuroCity train Milan to Brig?
Can Swiss Pass be validated at Milan?
What is Smart Fare?
What is ND? - is it "not available"
If I booked through Trenitalia could I use Global Pass selection for my Swiss Pass at Milan?

I think it's possible you will rejoice when I finally hit the road (start travelling) and cease these questions. Just wait for my trip report.
PS I have also posted these questions on Switzerland forum.
Thanks

>>>If I had a Swiss Pass could I use it for this journey<<<

No, I don't think you can use your Swiss pass in Italy. The person that said they did just might not have gotten caught. Tickets are not checked when boarding. They are checked after the train is enroute. You can start using your Swiss pass after you enter Switzerland. If this isn't accurate, I'm sure someone else will respond, but AFAIK, Swiss passes are only good on Swiss railways.

You do want to book a Smart Fare on Trenitalia (19€ for Smart 1, when those sell out, try the Smart 2).

I think your problem is trying to book to far in advance or outside the listed restriction dates for Smart Fares.

In the past, you could not get ticketless for international from Italy. You would get e-mail code and have to pick up the ticket in a station.

What are your dates?

Trenitalia doesn't list how far out you can buy Smart Fares, but I recall there being a max of about 2 months and must purchase at least 2 weeks in advance (if still available). Here's the page on Smart Fares for Italy/Switzerland on Trenitalia.
http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...003f16f90aRCRD

Forgot to add, you do want the EC train as there are no changes and they run about every two hours. Smart Fares are 2nd class only which is fine on the EC trains. It's not as nice as 2nd on the Trentalia AV trains as the EC trains are older, but essentially the layout is the same (with tables at most seats). You will have to select the self service option on Trenitalia for ticket delivery. You can use one of the ticket kiosks in the Milan station to retrieve your ticket.

Thanks so much for info. Travel date is 2nd June Milan to Brig. Smart Fare sounds good value and as you say simply may not be available to book that far ahead and even then there would be limited tickets. What is interesting to me is that it appears to be second class only. I have some disability and on that day will need to handle luggage myself whilst on the train so 2nd class may not be for me. I think I may stand more chance of managing luggage on the train in 1st class(will be 57x38x23cm).

Shall see if anyone responds re Swiss Pass validation in Milan. Would save having to do this in Brig on the way to Spiez (I thought). Would certainly be helpful for me. Thanks again

I don't know why you think there would be a difference managing luggage because of class. This train will be in the station for awhile before boarding and the only problem with luggage really is getting it up the steps. When you are getting off in Brig, you should already be by the door with your luggage to get off as the train will not stop long on the way to it's main destination (Zurich?). The last time I rode this EC train (2nd class), I put my luggage by my seat.

Your Swiss pass is valid in Switzerland. Here's the validity map.
http://www.swisstravelsystem.ch/file...-11-EN-WEB.pdf

If your destination is Spiez, not Brig, then just book the Smart Fare to Spiez as the price will be the same (19€). I think the EC train from Milan that stops in Spiez is the Milan/Basel train. Just know that the train is only scheduled for a 1 minute stop.

So I do need to be quick off the train with a walking stick and 1 item of luggage. Possibly the most stressful part of my travel!
I just wondered if 1st class would be less crowded and would therefore make for an easier exit.
Thanks

You can only use your pass IN the country it is designated for as pointed out.

First may be less crowded than Second but the size of the exits are the same and people will line up in BOTH classes to get off the train. Simply be prepared for your exit and given that it Brig you'll have PLENTY of time.

I don't believe his exit is Brig. It was later stated as Spiez and thought the pass would need to be validated at Brig. If it's Brig, I think the train stops for 3 minutes. If it's Spiez, no need to stop and validate the pass until the OP gets off the train as the OP will have a valid ticket from Milan.

With pass if coming from outside Switzerland on a train that continues say to Spiez the passholder need not get off the train in Brig to activate the pass as a caveat in this case is that the conductor will then activate the pass on the train so the passholder need not get off a train that goes thru Brig.

<If it's Spiez, no need to stop and validate the pass until the OP gets off the train as the OP will have a valid ticket from Milan.>

Unless they can get a really cheap discounted fare they may want to just buy a ticket to Brig from Milan and then use the pass to Spiez from Brig and then say if it is a nice day and they get to Spiez early in afternoon they could use the pass to take a lake boat trip on Lake Thun - oh what a sweet relaxing thing to do on a nice day - just do a round trip boat float - so those factors could say whether they should start using pass from Brig or not.

Note - the discounted tickets are not always available and you can never be sure of them until you book them. Here today gone tomorrow.

Thanks all.
I am going to catch Trenitalia from Milan to Brig - printing ticket at Milan. Shall wait to see if some SMART fares come up.

I am then going to take the Lotshberger Express (? spelling)to Spiez. There will be plenty of time between these connections. Time to buy a Swiss Pass if I didn't get one before leaving for Italy.

From what I can see I will arrive on platform 4 in Brig and leave from platform 7. Anyone know what the layout is between platform 4 and 7 at Brig station ie stairs or not.

Also what is the situation with acces to platforms at Spiez. I printed out a station map but am having trouble reading it.
All information has been appreciated.
Thanks again

I saw Smart Fares for your date (random EC train), but I don't know which train you wanted to book.

You can search the various stations for services.
http://www.sbb.ch/en/station-service...-handicap.html

The Swiss Pass is good from Domodossola (Italy) on. So you only need to buy the ticket for the portion Milan - Domodossola.

2012moving,

It is very likely that you will find fellow English speaking passengers on the same train with you, in the same car. Ask someone younger than yourself if he or she would mind helping you off the train in Spiez. Even if they aren't getting off in Spiez themselves, most people will readily say yes.

You should let the proceed before you with your luggage and they should stand at the door and help you down. to the platform. The train conductor stands on the platform where he or she can see the entire train (often there is more than one conductor). The train does not shut its door and move until all passengers appear to have moved away from the doors.

You can also inform the conductor on the train that you will be alighting in Spiez and please wait for you. The conductor may come and help you personally.

Spiez is a lovely place. Enjoy your stay there. The boat rides are very nice.

The Swiss Pass is good from Domodossola (Italy) on. So you only need to buy the ticket for the portion Milan - Domodossola>

ah yeh in practice it is but the real frontier point is Iselle, a few k's north of Domodossola - but since most trains don't stop at Iselle Domodossola is in effect the last Italian station and from there on a Swiss Pass should indeed pass.

It has nothing to do with Iselle. The Swiss Pass is good for the portion to/from Domodossola since it is the connection Valais - Ticino via Centovalli. Somehow the SBB got a deal with Trenitalia.

thanks for the correcto Ingo - that makes sense since when I took the Swiss postal bus up and over the Simplon Pass, on top of the Simplon Tunnel the pass was valid on the bus the whole way to the Domodossola train station.

The Swiss Pass is good from Domodossola (Italy) on. So you only need to buy the ticket for the portion Milan - Domodossola.>

and yes trenitalia.com lists 20 euros as the regular fare Milan to Domodossola - just show up and buy it - no locking yourself into long ahead of time to hard-to-change train, etc - then from Domodossola use your Swiss Pass to go onto to Spiez - saving 5 euros because OP I believe says are buying 22 days pass and will only be in Switzerland 22 days - if train keeps going onto Spiez simply stay on the train and have the conductor activate the pass for you on the train, since you are coming from outside Switzerland you can do this.

I check several random dates and failed to find any 25 euro fares to Spiez from Milano - I believe bourbon did but it seems they may be far and few between and also possible that I am not doing it right?

>>>I check several random dates and failed to find any 25 euro fares to Spiez from Milano - I believe bourbon did but it seems they may be far and few between and also possible that I am not doing it right?<<<

What dates did you check? The rate would be 19€, not 25€.

The OP said the date was June 2.
>>Travel date is 2nd June Milan to Brig. <<<

There are only 3 EC trains that stop in Spiez and all the the 19€ fare available for the OP's date.

There are a couple of more EC trains that stop in Brig, but not Spiez (all these trains are the Milan/Basel run). All the EC trains stopping at Brig for the OP's date has the 19€ fares available.

Have just gotten back to listening in to the discussion between kybourbon and palenq. Listening and learning. Thanks for your fruitful discussions. Was not aware that I could board Swiss train with unvalidated consecutive Swiss Pass and have it validated by conductor. Been too busy to look for minis the last few days. The perils of 92 year old mother! Thanks again

since when has "to train" been a verb apart from as a type of education?

:-)

the 19 euro fares come with perils of having to be on that train or lose your ticket - yet you can just show up at Milan and buy a regular 20 euro fare to Domodossola from where your Swiss Pass, activated on the train kicks in and again you may well want to use the pass later in the day for a relaxing boat ride on Lake Thun or for free entry to Spiez castle (Probably part of the 400+ museums/sights the pass gives you free entry to) - and this scenario involves no pre-planning at all - just show up in Milan. No brainer to me - given that you have a 22-day pass and will be in Suisse only 22 days.

another reason OP may want to take the 20 euro regular fare to Domodossola and onto Brig, using Swiss Pass from Domodossola is that there are two routes Brig to Spiez - the new line that is practically all in tunnels - but there is still the old classic Lotschberg Tunnel route that goes up and over the mountains and a line that I consider to be one of the most dramatically scenic lines in Europe - from Brig the train climbs several miles along a ledge overlooking the Rhone Valley far below - almost like being in an airplane. And then it goes thru the old Lotschberg Tunnel to emerge with scintillating views of the bucolic Kandersteg Valley before heading to Spiez.

So using the Swiss Pass allows the OP to take a dramatically scenic rail line - taking yes about an hour longer - over the direct route of the 19 euro discounted fare where you see tunnels - and nothing else until the train emerges almost in Spiez.

To me taking that older scenic route is priceless and a great introduction to Switzerland and Swiss beauty over seeing just the insides of tunnels.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...iss-trains.cfm

2012moving - Here is an old thread I started but the basic descriptions of various scenic trains you may take in your 22-day journey may still be of interest!

Hope bilboburgler's linguistic sensitivity is not upset by the reappearance of this thread!
Thanks Palenq for posting your wonderful old thread.

FYI - If you arrive Milan and just book the next train to Domodossola, you might have to make an extra train change as not all trains to Domodossola continue on to Brig/Spiez. There are many more trains (slow R trains) to Domodossola that don't go on to Brig or Speiz and I don't think you want an extra change.

While the difference between Smart fares and regular fare for Milan/Domodossola is only 1€, to Brig it's a savings of 15.40€ and to Spiez you save 40.50€.

FYI - There was a warning listed for this portion of the line for construction so some trains between these towns will be canceled (more likely the R/IC trains) or have delays. Perhaps it will be completed by the time you travel.

Plaenty of train carry on to Brig - at least it should not be hard to find one but yes good tip once again from kybourbon.

Direct trains to Brig leave often at :25 after the hour from Milan - but there are some gaps of a few hours so plan accordingly - between 9am and 7pm I counted on a week day seven direct trains to Brig.

Now about validating a Swiss Pass on a train that terminates at Brig - even though your pass will pass from Domodossola IME with that short of time before Brig either you will not see a conductor or he/she will not have time to activate the pass and may not even have the proper stamp, etc and will tell you to do it yourself when you get off the train and this in Brig should be no problem at all - a few minutes at most IME of lingering around the Brig station many times.

>>>Plaenty of train carry on to Brig - at least it should not be hard to find one but yes good tip once again from kybourbon.<<<

Only the EC trains and there seems to be a big gap in these in the afternoon. Any other type of train seem to require 1-2 connections to reach Brig. I don't think the OP wants extra changes as there are some mobility issues.

Just discovered the gap in service for EC trains is because some are not daily until after summer schedules start (about June 10).

Dear all,

I am planning to go to Zermatt frm Milan, Italy. I bought a Trenitalia's tickets and will arrive at Brig on 10:16, then SSB's train schedule to Zermatt shown 11:57.

May i ask is it sufficient time for me to transit to SSB's train? Is Bring only have 1 train station?

Thanks for anyone can help me.

Maxz

Lots of time - even if notoriously late Italian trains are a bit late - the train for Zermatt will be out front of the station itself - no seat reservations required except on the few Glacier Express trains so you can always hop on - worst case if miss first train just take the next hourly or so train. a return ticket may be cheaper than buying two one-ways Brig to Zermatt and back. Or if you have a Swiss Pass just hop on -100% valid to Zermatt.

Here's the layout for Brig train station.
http://www.sbb.ch/content/dam/infras...an-brig-a4.pdf

Brig only have 1 train station?>

Yup the SBB Bahnhof of the Swiss federal railways - as said above trains for Zermatt do not serve the station directly but stop on the street on platforms out front of the Brig SBB station - so technically I guess there are two stations in Brig.

Thanks everyone, you guys really help me a lots.

I didn't read all 35 posts so someone else might have said this. We validated our Swiss Pass in Milan--there was a glass cubicle to the left when you have your back to the tracks. We did not get off at Brig--there really isn't time. They are only there a few minutes. We were headed to Interlaken by way of Spiez.

You can however activate your Swiss Pass on the train if that train is coming from outside Switzerland - this is the only case the conductor will do so and I believe this is in the conditions of use on the pass so you would never have to get off in Brig to activate your pass.

Q- In Milan who activated the pass? If not a Swiss railway official it may not be technically activated - if a Swiss railway official does it OK. that said I do not think a Swiss conductor would care - they usually just glance at the pass and move on - you could well be using a pass activate years ago IME!