15484 posts
Hi RobinS,
Our panoramic train pages explain how to find these trains. For example, for the Bernina Express you can check under “timetable” on the Route tab: http://www.myswissalps.com/be rninaexpress/gettingth ere. More is here: http://www.myswissalps.com/ac tivities/scenictrips/t rain.
If you haven’t done so already, it may also help to read the instructions on our timetable page: http://www.myswissalps.com/ti metable.
Happy planning!
8889 posts
If you are still having problems have a look at BEX timetables at http://www.rhb.ch/en/panorami c-trains/bernina-express#info or alternative round trip http://www.rhb.ch/en/tickets-travelcards/promotions /gotthard-bernina-circular-tour.
For the other option see http://www.sbb.ch/en/leisure-holidays/ideas/offer.h tml/zuege/gotthard-panorama-express?tracking-marketingurl=gotthard-panorama-express.
Both BEX and GPEX require seat reservations. GPEX is 1st Class only.
if you are interested in spending some time in Lugano and enjoying that fabulous lakeside city then just take the fast train via the Gotthard Base Tunnel – it’s only 2 hours each way.
72625 posts
The Bernina railway is not the train to use for a day trip Zurich – Lugano, which is either end of the Gotthard transalpine railway route.
The options on the Gotthard route from Zurich are:
Use the new base tunnel (the longest tunnel in the world), the Intercity trains run Arth Goldau – Bellinzona non stop
Use the old mountain route on ordinary regional trains – for this you take a train from Zurich to Erstfeld, then the regional train Erstfeld – Göschenen – old tunnel – Airolo – Bellinzona – Lugano – Milano
The Gotthard route timetable PDF here:
http://www.fahrplanfelder.ch/ fileadmin/fap_pdf_fiel ds/2019/600.pdf
72625 posts
I appreciate your feedback as I do want to make sure we have some time to spend in Lugano. Thanks all
72625 posts
My suggestion would be to take the fast train via the base tunnel outbound.
If you have time you could come back via the mountain route, but there is a lot to do in the Lugano area, for example Swissminiatur at nearby Melide (access by train or boat)