MySwissAlps.com includes Como to Luzern on the Treno Gottardo route (not panorama train)
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On Sat, Sept 19, my husband and I will be traveling from Como, Italy to Luzern and I want to travel the treno Gottardo route (not the panorama train). I bought the tickets through the SBB app, including the trenitalia train starting at Como S. Giovanni, taking the 10:24 train. The SBB route has me going through the tunnel which I don’t want. When I try “forcing” app and adding either Airolo or Göschenen in the “via” section, I don’t even get the option for the train I’ve already booked. What AI has told me is the following (which is a much easier routing than the SBB app is giving me). Please confirm that this is correct or, if not, please let me know what routing we should take. I’m also attaching the route the SBB app is giving me which I understand goes through the tunnel. Saturday, Sept 19th Itinerary for the Treno Gottardo route
- 10:24 AM: Board the RE80 (Direction Locarno) at Como S. Giovanni.
- 10:58 AM: The train arrives at Lugano. Stay on the train. (Ignore the crowd transferring to the fast IC2 tunnel train).
- 11:16 AM: Arrive at Bellinzona and get off the train.
- 11:16 – 11:41 AM (25 mins): You have a relaxed 25-minute buffer at Bellinzona station. You can stretch your legs, grab a snack, or find your next platform.
- 11:41 AM: Board the copper-colored IR26 Treno Gottardo. (The electronic boards on the platform may display its final destination as Basel SBB or Luzern, but it is your exact train).
- 13:41 PM: Arrive directly in Luzern (Lucerne). [1]
Relax at Arth-Goldau: The train will pause briefly at Arth-Goldau around 13:14 PM. As mentioned before, do not get off. The train will continue directly into Lucerne a few minutes later.
Thanks for all the help! We leave very, very shortly and I can’t wait!!
PauleAttachments:
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Hello paulasue
Have a map of southern Switzerland in front of you. ‘Artificial [Un]intelligence’ has told you.
- 10:24 AM: Board the RE80 (Direction Locarno) at Como S. Giovanni.
- 10:58 AM: The train arrives at Lugano. Stay on the train. (Ignore the crowd transferring to the fast IC2 tunnel train).
- 11:16 AM: Arrive at Bellinzona and get off the train.
- 11:16 – 11:41 AM (25 mins): You have a relaxed 25-minute buffer at Bellinzona station. You can stretch your legs, grab a snack, or find your next platform.
- 11:41 AM: Board the copper-colored IR26 Treno Gottardo. (The electronic boards on the platform may display its final destination as Basel SBB or Luzern, but it is your exact train).
- 13:41 PM: Arrive directly in Luzern (Lucerne). [1]
Most of the above is wrong.
You could leave Como at 10 24 on the RE80 train bound for Locarno. That is correct.
However the RE80 train does NOT serve Bellinzona. It goes on to Locarno via Cadenazzo.
At Lugano you do have to get off. You can ‘follow the crowd’, and get on the IC2 bound for Zurich leaving at 11 02. But you get off this train at Bellinzona at 11 16.
At Bellinzona you wait until 11 59; that is the departure time of the northbound Treno Gottardo going to Luzern via the scenic route. You get to Luzern at 14 41 ( 41 pm).
A better way of travelling
I have just consulted http://www.sbb.ch. It is telling me that you could catch the 10 45 S10 train from Como bound for Biasca. This stopping train reaches Bellinzona at 11 43, in plenty of time for the 11 59 IR26 to Luzern. This S10 train is likely to be less crowded than the RE80 and IC2, and you avoid the change of train at Lugano.
Best wishes
Roger
Hi paulesue,
To avoid travelling through the tunnel, I suggest boarding the Treno Gottardo in Locarno or Bellinzona.
Based on your plans, I recommend taking the 11.33 AM Treno Gottardo service from Locarno to Lucerne.
So from Como, take the 9.24 AM regional train from Como , arriving in Locarno at 10.38 AM. This will give you about an hour in Locarno before continuing on the Treno Gottardo.
Travel and ticket options from Italy to Switzerland: https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-guide/italy-switzerland/
Regards,
Anna
Hello again
I would very, very strongly support Anna’s recommendation that you catch the 09 24 RE80 train from Como and stay on it all the way to Locarno. After a break in this beautifully situated town at the north end of Lake Maggiore, continue on the Treno Gottardo to Luzern via Airolo.
Treni Gottardi depart Locarno at 33 minutes past each hour. Those at 11 33, 13 33 and 15 33 etc are IR26 trains which go to Basel via Luzern. Those at 12 33, 14 33, 16 33 etc. are IR46 trains bound for Zurich. For Luzern you change at Arth-Goldau. The change is easy and does not involve going though a subway or over a bridge. In all cases the journey time is 3 hours and 8 minutes.
Kind regards
Roger
Thank you! I was able to figure out that if I take the 10:45 S10 to Bellinzona and change for the Treno Gottardo there. It looks like an easy change, too. Would the 9:24 RE80 be better? I do like that the s10 to IR26/Treno Gottardo is just one change. What’s the difference in the route?
edited to add: when I go to the SBB app and put in “via Airalo” I don’t even see the 9:24 that you mention. Attaching the results of the search.
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Hi paulesue,
The SBB timetable gives you the fastest connection. Since you want to avoid travelling through the tunnel, I suggest looking up the connections separately. First, Como to Locarno (or Bellinzona). Then Locarno (or Bellinzona) to Lucerne. Both are direct train services. So you will only need to change in Locarno. If you take the RE80 9:24 AM train from Como, you will reach Locarno in roughly 1 hour. The next available Treno Gottardo from Locarno departs at 11:33 AM, so you have an hour free here to wander around (if you wish).
You can also take the 9:45 AM or 10:10 AM S10 train from Como to Bellinzona (the journey takes about 1 hour). The next Treno Gottardo from Bellinzona departs at 11:59 AM (this is the same train which departs Locarno at 11:33 AM).
The RE80 is a Regio Express train, which usually has fewer stops.
Locarno: https://www.myswissalps.com/town/locarno/
Bellinzona: https://www.myswissalps.com/town/bellinzona/Regards,
Anna
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