SWillams

I'm keen on the Bernina Express train ride that ends in Tirano Italy. I have looked at the Bernina's schedule and the Italian trian schedule. I havea30 minutes connection, the Bernina Express arrives at 12.35 pm and the next train to Milan is at 1.10 pm. Is this enough time to purchase a ticket and board the train to Tirano? Is the station in Tirano big? Also, I will have my luggage with me, how can I check if the train starts from Tirano? I will need some place to put my luggage, and I am debating if buying a first class ticket would be better because of this, the difference in price is 5 euros. If I don't get the 1.10 pm train I need to wait two hours for a 3.10 pm train, I really don't want to wait around the train station for so long.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

SWillams

Two more things....

What are the train used for the Tirano to Milan routes like? I know that the train used are the Regional trains, the only trains I've been on in Italy are the Eurostar trains.

I don't want to buy my ticket online since I've read alot of problems with the TrenItalia website, and any savings I would get won't be much, the fare is € 8.75 in second class and € 13.75 in first class.

Thanks again.

zeppole

I'm unclear what you are asking about your luggage.

Also, will you be in Italy at any point before you take the Bernina Xpress. If so, you can purchase the ticket you need and hang onto it, and then only have to validate at the train station as your board the train.

I'm sorry I don't know the answers to your other questions.

SWillams

zeppole, thank you for the reply.

I am travelling with one suitcase and one carry on, do these trains have luggage racks similar to those on the Italian Eurostar trains? I know if the train starts from Tirano the luggages racks will be empty so finding a place for my luggage will not be an issue. I have been on crowded Eurostar trains where some travellers have had a difficult time finding place to store their luggage.

Unfortunately, I begin my trip in Switzerland and the first Italian train station I will visit is in Tirano where I need to change from the Bernina Express to an Italian train to Milan, so I won't be able to buy a ticket in Italy in advance.

zeppole

I can't believe the train station in Tirano is big. (I live in Italy). What I don't know, of course, is whether there will be a line at the ticket window (or somebody there at that hour!) or a machine you can use with a credit card. Surely you will have fellow travelers on the Xpress all arriving at once wanting the same thing, so perhaps the Tirano station is set up to deal with them -- but this is Italy!

As for luggage, I never hesitate to park my luggage in the luggage areas at either end of the compartment if there isn't an overhead rack. I would of course spring for the extra euros for first class, but I always do.

If it's any consolation, you are arriving at the lunch hour and my understanding is that Tirano is a fairly nice town with a pretty church. If for some reason you can't connect with that train, two hours in Tirano with a plate of the regional food isn't the worst of all possible fates.

But I rather think you won't have a problem, especially if the swiss train is typically on time and the Italian one is typically late.

SWillams

Thanks, zeppole.

Big_Red

From what I remember, on the Italian leg the regional train really only has one class of service.

In Tirano, there are two stations (one Swiss rail, one Italian) but they are only 100 feet away from each other. No worries.

SWillams

Big_Red, thank you.