[koel_chaudhuri]

15 July 2025 at 19:06:18 #2755815

I’m planning a travel to Lucerne to Rome on a single day using trains. I’ve decided to use the Treno Gottardo trains using the old route to reach Milan. Now the train fares are showing significantly reduced rates if I’m selecting them from Chiasso (the border town) to Rome (with Milan transfer of course). Now to come to Lucerne to Chiasso using Treno Gotthardo, what I saw is that I’ll be changing trains at Bellinzona and then getting into an EC train towards Milan. Now my question is that, if I’m booking the ticket connection from Chiasso-Rome, do I stay on the same train or do I get down at Chiasso and then have to catch another train? The AI based searches like ChatGPT, Gemini etc. are saying that I should get down at Chiasso, because if I’m booking a ticket to Milan from Chiasso, and the train is late, then my tickets will no longer be valid? So, if that train to Milan is supposed to reach Chiasso at 11.55, so say I’ve booked a train ticket in advance from Chiasso according to 11.55 only, then if the train is late, apparently my ticket will no longer be valid? And my subsequent transfer from Milan to Rome (which will be a high speed, therefore expensive train) will no longer be guaranteed too? Is this true? Do I really have to get off the train if I want to make use of my Swiss pass?

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[Anna]

Reply 1 of 3 • 15 July 2025 at 21:24:43 #2755816

Hi Koel,

Welcome to MySwissAlps.

Your Swiss Travel Pass (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/swiss-travel-pass/) will cover all your train journey in Switzerland so you will only need a ticket from Chiasso to Rome via Milan as you have mentioned.

Please note that if you are taking the EC train to Milan, you need to book your seats in advance. If you wish to remain flexible, I recommend taking a direct train from Lucerne to Lugano (seat reservation not required). Then in Lugano take a local/regional train to Milan. You just need a ticket from the border to Milan (about CHF6 for a single journey, this ticket is valid for 4 hours so you can take any connection from Lugano to Milan within the validity period). In Milan, you can take a Frecciarossa train (fast train) to Rome. There are several trains daily.

You can find useful information about travel and ticket options to Italy here:  https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-guide/italy-switzerland/

Regards,
Anna

[Roger Sexton]

Reply 2 of 3 • 15 July 2025 at 22:29:06 #2755819

Hello Koel

NEVER NEVER rely on ‘AI’ for travel information.  There is certainly NO NEED to get off trains at Chiasso.

I suggest you get the 07 18 IR26 Treno Gottardo (reservation not required) from Lucerne to Locarno via the OLD scenic route going through AIROLO.  This train reaches :Locarno at 10 27.

If you have not already done so at a Swiss booking office at Lucerne (or elsewhere),  buy a Chiasso to Milano ticket from the Locarno booking office.  As Anna says, that ticket is about six Euroes.  (I think that is what I paid back in April.)

Catch the 11 22 local train from Locarno to Milan.  This goes through Lugano and Chiasso, and reaches Milano Centrale at 13 17.  Reservation not even possible on this train.  I repeat, you do NOT get off at Chiasso.

You will of course need a ticket and reservation for the Milan to Rome journey.  I suggest you rely on the human beings sitting in the Swiss Federal Railways booking office at Lucerne (or elsewhere) to book you a ticket and reservation on a Frecciarossa train leaving Milan at 14 30 or later.  These trains run approximately hourly and take just three hours and about fifteen minutes to get to Rome.

Best wishes
Roger

[User]

Reply 3 of 3 • 16 July 2025 at 13:21:29 #2756815

Hi Koel,

Yes, if you are unsure of the ticket type and reservations, either visit a manned ticket office or any of the trusted online options in the link Anna provided will be fine to purchase your tickets from.

Have a great trip.

Kind regards,
Yolanda