bilboburgler

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

PalenQ

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.

PalenQ

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.

PalenQ

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!

2012moving

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

kybourbon

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.

PalenQ

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.

PalenQ

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.

PalenQ

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.

kybourbon

>>>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.

kybourbon

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

maxz

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

PalenQ

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.

kybourbon

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

PalenQ

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.

maxz

Thanks everyone, you guys really help me a lots.

Connie

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.

PalenQ

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!