I already know the ferry company website address. What I am trying to determine is when the schedule for Summer 2017 (including the month of August) might actually be published.

I am trying to make some transportation decisions which tentatively include the Bernina Express with further travel to Varenna-Esino and the ferry from there to the Villa Carlotta stop (the nearest to our hotel). The VC stop is "seasonal" but will certainly be on the summer timetable.

I really want to repeat the Bernina trip and have no desire to go somewhere else just to rent a car or get a car service to the hotel.

I could ferry to Menaggio and get a taxi I suppose.

Am remembering that downhill walk from the V-E rail station to the ferry dock (with luggage).

Anyway, any insights would be helpful; I can always email the navigazionelaghi I guess.

Thanks very much.

In 2016, the summer timetable was announced on May 2nd and went into effect on May 29th. The autumn timetable started on Oct. 3rd.

Try emailing Navigazione Laghi. If no reply and your hotel is open now, you could ask them if they have the 2016 summer timetable info for the Villa Carlotta stop. Next year would likely be the same, if not to the minute very close.

Yes, it's a downhill walk from the Varenna-Esino train station to the ferry dock. About 300 meters. IMO, a lovely walk as the lake comes into view.

Jean, thank you. <B>This</B> time around since I now have moved into the so-called "present day" with spinner luggage I think what I will do is simply descend the staircase from the V-E train station and release the luggage.

If I can get it to make that left turn about half way down to cross over that stream then I can simply meet it in front of the Albergo Olivedo and wait for the next boat.

I could ferry to Menaggio and get a taxi I suppose.>

I believe the Bernina Express bus Tirano to Lugano stops in Menaggio - at least did when I took it long ago.

Pal,

I will look at that possibility on the RHB website, thank you. It would make things considerably easier, transportation-wise.

I emailed RHB although I am reading on other sites that the "Express Bus" does not stop in Menaggio so we may end up doing the train to Varenna and the roller coaster "ride" down to the the ferry dock number again.

It could be worse.

Well the BE bus has to go thru Menaggio or right by it but I can't find info that it stops there either.

Oh well just a thought.

RHB replied to my email: the Bernina Express Bus does not stop in Menaggio and the railroad recommends I travel, as suspected, through Varenna-Esino.

Standard Bernina trains run every hr. There are furthermore 4 daily Bernina Express trains. Which one will you take?
Easiest way to go from Tirano to Villa Carlotta:
train to Colico plus connecting Como bound bus to Menaggio - Villa Carlotta (Cadenabbia).
In summer, there are usually 3 daily slow boats going from Colico to Menaggio - Como. One of them stops at Villa Carlotta.
More boats from Bellano Tartavalle.
The Swiss Post bus St. Moritz - Maloja Pass - Lugano stops at Menaggio.

Neckervd, thank you for your concern. I am very aware of the geography, having been to the area several times in the past, and the connections and have made my decision.

Thanks for the feedback.

I really want to repeat the Bernina trip and have no desire to go somewhere else just to rent a car or get a car service to the hotel.>

Have you ever gotten off at the summit stations - like Bernina Ospiz or Alp Grum? You can walk to a glacier,etc. Makes the experience much more awesome than going straight thru- if on local trains you can hop on and off - BE trains you can hop off but not on as they are often full- so if not in a hurry... think there may be baggage storage in those stations but not sure - or just go up to the sun terraces, on a nice day, for a lunch break.

https://www.google.com/search?q=bern...HamWBVYQsAQIHA

I envy you in any case!

Cheers!

"think there may be baggage storage in those stations but not sure"
Only at Pontresina and Poschiavo, but not in the middle of nothing.

ditch that idea! Though if wanting a lunch break and nice weather the sun terrace cafe at the hotels are nice. Savor the setting.

But I think Dukey may be on the official BE and that is hard to break journey and get back on another BE- and there are pluses to the official BE-the glass domed observation cars.

But for a real threat in summer local trains have open-air flatbed rail cars that are the ultimate observation cars.

BE are also faster because they do not stop so much and Dukey may be on a timetable not allowing stop-offs.

But a note for others planning this awesome train trip- so nice that Dukey has ridden it before and wants to do it again!

Yes, I have done it before in one of the panorama cars and I want to repeat it with my Husbear since he has never done it. If I were by myself I might consider doing one of the "regular" timings and stopping at the top (as it were) and taking in the views, etc.

It is certainly a spectacular trip IMO as is the whole Jungfrau circuit and for that matter the trip in that "Toonerville Trolley" of sorts from Montreux up to Rochers de Naye.

The last time we did the latter the summit was more or less shrouded in clouds for a time and we had something to eat in that dining room as were were being "observed" by those several stuffed animals mounted on the walls around the room.

I don't know but somehow a lot of this stuff just never loses its appeal and although familiarity often breeds contempt we keep going back.