Transport question for neckervd - SBB
 

Hoping you can help with an SBB issue.

We are trying to book the Palm Express from Chiavenna to Cima, San Marco on October 18, 2025. The SBB site will let us purchase a ticket, but we cannot make the compulsory reservation. Instead, we get this message:

For the following sections seat reservation is required Chiavenna, Stazione - Cima, San Marco.

Unfortunately, seat spaces are not available for the following sections with compulsory reservation: Chiavenna, Stazione - Cima, San Marco. Please select an alternative connection. Please note that it is not possible to make reservations for all transport companies via this sales channel. You can find the relevant information in the SBB online timetable in the connection view.

Our plan is to take the bus to Cima, San Marco, then catch a local Italian bus back to Porlezza, as the Palm Express doesn't stop in Porlezza.

It seems unlikely that the bus is fully booked, so we're wondering if maybe it's just too early? We've been able to make all of our other bookings though (Supersaver tickets, etc). It appears that the Palm Express runs year round, so not a seasonal issue.

Any insight appreciated.

neckervd i'm sure has a good answer...
My uninformed guess is that it's way too early...

You could test that by trying to book something June or July and see if you get the same response...

J62 - normally I'd agree, but SBB generally lets you book waaay in advance as they offer deeply discounted tickets for those who book well in advance. And it looks like we can book, we just can't get reservations. It might be more of an Italian issue, as we're starting in Italy and ending in Italy, but it's Swiss transport.

Looks like seat reservations need to be done via PostAuto, but the site is showing 'no route shown' at the moment. I hope it's just too early. I will check again in about a month.

Funny, Mel, I have been suggesting Porlezza and then north Lake Como to my DH as potential bases for a future trip, as he loved Lugano and Trezzone
(and he’s always up for lunch in Chiavenna and the Schweizerhaus in Maloja……😂 if I use the right words I can see another trip possibility)

Adelaidean - well, you know what they say, "brilliant minds think alike".

We'll base there for five nights, and will also spend more time in Chiavenna and Domodossola.

I tried to book for July....and it worked.

So, wait a bit.
May be it might not be too interesting to wait 30 min at Cima until the bus from Lugano arrives.
What about a lunch stop at Menaggio?

In the case you would like to have lunch at Cima:
https://www.parco-san-marco.com/en/d...nda-san-marco/

Lunch stop at Menaggio and then bus from Menaggio to Porlezza? I'll look into it, thanks. I seem to remember the Menaggio bus station being above town though, and that might be an issue with luggage?

That Cima place isn't open for lunch, although the pizzeria might be.

Worst case, we could walk - only 25 minutes, but a pain with luggage.

MENAGGIO BUS STOPS
The Swiss Post bus stops at Via Lusardi.
The Porlezza bound bus ASF has it's origine at Piazza Roma and stops at Via Lusardi (first stop on request).
Both stops (Piazza Roma and Via Lusardi) are at 205 m above sea level (the level of Lake Como is at 200 m) and about 250 metres from each other (along Lusardi street).

ASF buses on Saturday (timetable may be slightly modified until October):
Menaggio dp 13.16 14.05 14.35 to Porlezza - Lugano
Menaggio dp 13.11 to Porlezza only
Map with bus stops https://www.asfautolinee.it/#

Thank you!

Just a follow-up for anyone else who might have this issue in the future.

I contacted Post Auto and received a response telling me I can book in late July. So, yes, just too early. I think we'll go ahead and buy our tickets now so we can take advantage of the Super Saver ticket, then book the seats when the reservation system opens (no charge for reservation).

I was having the same issue with booking seats on the Centovalli Vigezzina, the train from Locarno to Domodossola, so I also contacted FART SA Labiglietteria and they said Italy won't release seats until late August.