We are going to Europe in April and are trying to go from Venice to Lucerne (for the Rotair ride up Titlis) then on to Paris. We're looking for the least time consuming train ride to get to Lucerne and then another short ride to Paris. Are there overnight train rides for this? I can't seem to find one.

There's currently a EuroNight leaving Venice around 11:00 PM that would get you into Luzern the next morning between 8 and 9 AM 9 with a change in Switzerland).

You can find schedules here

http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en

for this GermanRail site the input for Venice should be Venezea.

There are night services Luzern-Paris but all seem to require a change (some at more inopportune times than others) you can check schedules at www.sbb.ch and click on the English version

There is an overnight train from Zürich to Paris. I used it in December and, from memory, it leaves at about 2330 and gets into Paris at 0645. There are two-berth sleeper compartments. From Luzern to Zürich, there are a couple of trains an hour, taking an hour or less. You can check exact schedules on www.sbb.ch or www.bahn.de.

I've taken the Lucern to Paris but this was a few years back. The train went to Basil and then it requires to get off and go over the border.

Then you get onto a French train to Paris. Other than having changing trains late in the evening, it was a good ride.

Blackduff