alfredo069

Other than slight difference in price, is there any particular difference between? Recommendations? Looking to go from Como San G to downtown Zurich, or straight to ZRH airport. And thoughts regular vs business class? Thanks!

WeisserTee

We have had so many issues with Italian trains that we now try to go with Swiss trains whenever possible. In your case, local train to Lugano from Como, then switch to a Swiss IC train to Zurich.

The IC trains do not have a business class. Go first class if it will not put a crimp in your overall travel budget. Otherwise, second class is fine.

FWIW, there is a decent restaurant right across from the Lugano station where you can have lunch with a terrific view of the city, lake and surrounding mountains.

alfredo069

Thanks. I read another thread that mentions that the Swiss ticket can get validated on the train. So I assume I should purchase on a website that combines the local Como-Lugano ticket with the Swiss IC? And is there passport control anywhere, or none since within EU until leave at ZRH airport?

neckervd

Rail traffic between the Swiss border (Como/Chiasso) and Zurich is managed by Swiss railways only.
As Como SG railway station is situated in Italy, Trenitalia sells tickets for all Eurocity trains between Como and Zurich.
So do SBB/CFF/FFS, the Swiss railway company and thetrainline.com.
I usually prefer the solution proposed bei Weisser Tee for which the strandard fare is deeper than for Eurocity trains (although you get sometimes huge discounts for EC trains only).
But be aware that you will have to change trains at Lugano (subway) in a few minutes only (unless you stop there for sightseeing or for a meal).
If you come from Menaggio, it's usually easier to reach Lugano railway station by direct bus from there.
There are no police or customs controls on the Swiss-Ifalian border.

Michael

That's a change. The last time we took the train from Italy to Switzerland (pre Covid), immigration went through the train and picked up a half dozen persons or so who must have had questionable IDs.

WeisserTee

That's been our experience as well. But they just walk through the train and stop people that raise red flags with them. There's no "formal" control with lines you have to go through.
Re the trains to Lugano, there are multiple local trains per hour from Como to Lugano, taking anywhere from 35 to 45 minutes. The hourly IC trains from Lugano to Zurich run at 2 minutes after the hour; it's easy to lake a local Sbahn (S10) or regional train (RE80) from Como that gets you into the station with more than just a few minutes to spare; gives you time to take in the scenic view from the station, pick up a snack from the little grocery store, or grab a coffee. The EC trains that stop in Como would take you all the way to Zurich, no changes. But I've had many problems on EC trains and they tend to be more crowded than the IC trains from Lugano (IME) --mostly because the IC route starts in Lugano, not Italy.

lunasiatica

another idea is to join Zurich by bus with flixbus!

WeisserTee

Would never choose the Flixbus over a Swiss train. Never ever ever ever.