We will be taking the trip from Venice to Basel, Switzerland, on a Cisalpino train, in July. It will be a 9 hour (no changes, but plenty of stops) trip. We decided to splurge for First Class.
I was wondering if any one out there has taken this train, and, if so, if you could share anything about the trip (scenery, train, etc.).
The Cisalpino train system is a separate train system that runs mostly between Italy and Switzerland. The trains are marked Cisalpino and the conductors wear Cisalpino uniforms. It runs on the same tracks as the Trenitalia trains and the Swiss trains.
Note that there are generally two types of Cisalpino trains. The most common is the Eurocity train. This train is the same as the Trenitalia EC train. It's fast and generally goes between countries although you can take one from Venice to Milan and vis-a-versa. We took the EC Cisalpino from Venice to Spiez and then transferred to go inland to Lauterbrunnen. Very nice.
The second type is the "tilting" train. This train tilts (leans) into the turns and is faster than the EC trains. You can look at the train scheudule to see which type you are on. The train schedule will show either EC or CIS in the "Train Category" column. EC is the EuroCity and CIS is the tilting train.
I don't think that the tilting trains depart from Venezia Santa Lucia. They depart from Venezia Mestre so you take the local for 12 minutes out to Mestre to pick up the tilting train.
Next, there are very few runs from Venice to Basel without train changes. I only see the 11:51am 114 Cisalpino San Marco making this run without a train change. Still, you will stop in Milan where most train changes for this run takes place. The 114 Cisalpino San Marco is an EC train. I'd be curious to know if you are on a train making this journey with no train changes that I don't see listed on Trenitalia.
Still, it's quite fast and comfortable. You will enjoy the scenery and your trip.
Larry, Thanks for all the information. Yes, you're right - we are taking the 114, without changes, from Venice Santa Lucia to Basel SBB. It is not the "Pendolino", which is the tilting train that you referred to. To take the Pendolino required leaving earlier, getting to Mestre station, changing trains along the way, and more money, none of which we wanted!
We're excited. It will actually be our only train ride (we'll have a car between leaving Rome and arriving in Venice), and it should be a doozy!
Leslie, you are correct about the additional cost for riding the tilting train and about the train changes. You've done some good homework. Have a great trip.
