Lyon - Milan Train Question
 

Hi, I'm currently trying to book a train ticket from Lyon to Milan on 17th May 2013. From TGV-Europe.com, the options are
1) 08H08, Lyon-Aix Les Bains-Chamberry-Milan
2) 08H38, Lyon-Cornavin-Visp-Milan
3) 10H38, Lyon-Cornavin-Milan

However, just a week earlier, on 10 May 2013, there is an option for a 08H40 train, from Lyon-Chamberry-Milan. It's not only cheaper, but faster as well.

My question is, is the difference in the train routes a permanent/semi-permanent change? More specifically, will the train that is available on 10 May be available, just that it's not on the website yet?

Thanks.

First of all the #2 and #3 timings are routed through Switzerland (Cornavin is the Geneva station) and the #2 requires two changes (Geneva and Visp) so these are not exclusively TGV trains.

The 10:38 timing looks to be the fastest and all of the timings out of Lyon seem to require at least one change (Geneva).

I couldn't find a faster timing on 10 May.

Be aware that some of the timings arrive at Milano P-Garibaldi as opposed to Centrale

You can also check timings using the Swiss Fed Rail site:

www.sbb.ch/en

TRY THIS..booking your train out of the St Exupery TGV Lyon stop...faster timings and not routed through Switzerland.

@Dukey1

Thanks for the tip on going through St Exupery instead! Regarding this, is the Rhonexpress station at St Exupery the same as the TGV one? Or close by at least?

You should look at Lyon/Geneva on TGV (travel time should be 2 hours). Or you can look at a more local RE train which also takes under 2 hours (no changes).
Lyon-Part-Dieu Fr, 17.05.13 dep 06:38
Genève arr 08:27
1:49 RE

Then look at Geneva/Milan on the Swiss website www.sbb.ch. You might be able to get a SuperSaver fare for the Geneva/Milan train for as little as 23chf. These tickets can be bought online and have to be bought at least two weeks in advance. You want the EC train with no changes. Travel time is 3:41. After you enter your stations and dates on sbb.ch and you get a list of train choices, scroll down below the list where it says Zurich/Milan supersaver. Click this. Change the city drop down box from Zurich to Geneva. Enter date again and click next. You have to do this entire screen twice including change the city (IMPORTANT!)again (annoying, but works). Click next again and you will get dates (3 days in a row) with prices. Your date should be preselected. Click next. That screen will show you the EC trains Geneva/Milan with the Supersaver fare available (it can sell out and can range from 23chf and up). If none of those trains suit you, go back to the original booking screen and pick the EC train that best suits.

Buying online from the Swiss site used to require picking your ticket up at the station for international tickets. You will be asked to select a station for pick up(you would want the Geneva station you would be departing from). You would need to leave enough time between trains in Geneva to retrieve your ticket at the ticket window. You would probably want to buy some food to take on the train also although there is a restaurant car on the EC trains.