I was wondering if it were possible to get any feedback from Aussie after having been on this trip? I read all the comments today, as this is more or less our dilemma for July 2017. I am so glad to see that the train station at Tirano is small, as the only connection we can make from there to Venice, is within an 8 minute gap. Otherwise we have to overnight in Milan and wait for the next morning. Would love to know how Aussie eventually did this trip in Switzerland. We would love to visit St Moritz and Luzerne, and also do the Bernina Express one way. Thank you!

Hi TB2go,

I'm not sure that I understand your problem -- you have only 8 minutes for a connection, and you also need to purchase tickets for the trip from Tirano to St. Moritz?

If that's the problem, you can always buy your tickets online, then print and bring them with you (or bring your smartphone and store the ticket right on the phone).

Just go to

www.sbb.ch

and change the language, then enter your departure and arrival station, and the date and time. Since you aren't travelling until June 2017, you can wait until March or April to actually buy the tickets.

Have fun as you plan!

s

" I am so glad to see that the train station at Tirano is small, as the only connection we can make from there to Venice, is within an 8 minute gap. "

That obviously means that you plan to leave Potresina at 15.03 in order to arrive at Venice at 22.40.

Would it really not be possible to leave Pontresina at 14.08? In this case you would have plenty of time for the train change at Tirano.

Trains even in Switzerland can always be late - do as neckervd says book an earlier train to Tirano.

Hi TB2go
Re our trip from Tirano into Switzerland. The Bernina Express trip was wonderful and we loved it. I did buy my tickets online and rang to book our seats on the Bernina Express as we wanted particular seats. Our carriage (first class) was not full though so we were able to move around. In fact our 8 day Swiss pass was excellent and we loved the ease of being able to jump on a train, boat or bus depending on the weather. We travelled all the way on day 1 to Lucerne.
We were suitably impressed that the Swiss trains always left on time, in fact the Bernini Express left exactly on time and just quietly glided off.

Our Italian trains however did not always run to time and were often late. I would be very worried about an 8 min connection if it was the only one. Although we did make a 4 minute connection once which entailed running down steps with suitcases along underground and then back up steps, flung them on the train and jumped on, with hearts beating!

The Italian train at Tirano should not be late as it starts there so 8-minutes max and if Swiss train is late then just hop on the next Italian train probably an hour or so later. Nothing guaranteed though Italians may hold up the Tirano departing train if they know the BE train is running a little late - often happens but not guaranteed.

"and if Swiss train is late then just hop on the next Italian train probably an hour or so later."

That's right, but in this manner they wouldn't reach Venice the same day!

OK better to take an earlier train to Tirano even if it is not the BE but a local - same scenery - less crowded - more real.

TB2go doesn't plan to take a BEX train for sure. The problem he mentions (no connecting trains up to Venice if the Bernina train is late) cannot occure with Bex trains which arrive at Tirano at 12.00, 12.45, 13.00, 13.32, 17.32, according to the season. With the last BEX, you strand at Milan even if it arrives in time whereas all others arrive at Tirano hours before the last departure to Venice.

I've ridden both and actually prefer the local trains where I can move around from side to side as the scenery dictates (though most of the best is on the west side)- in summer there are even open-air flat bed cars that are the ultimate observation cars

windows are plenty big and roll down I believe and locals are rarely full - unlike BEX ones where you must book way in advance to be sure of getting on and pay a premium for that.

Some years ago I actually got off the Swiss train and dashed across the square to the Italian station only to see the Italian trains slowly departing the station - p'd me off they did not hold up that train for a few minutes!