Hi! Does anyone have experience with the EuroNight Luna train from Switzerland to Italy? I am not sure if these are as busy as the other "night trains"? I am planning to take it Spiez-Bologna on 5/15 and then Rome-Zurich on 5/25 and do not currently have reservations. I would appriciate advice from anyone familiar with this exact night train. I am wondering if I can make reservations when I arrive on 5/13 or if this is one of those night trains that books months in advance. I tried filling out the form on Sbb.ch for reservation info but not sure if they book reservations this way or if I have to call? Am I able to book on the phone and then pick up reservations at Zurich main station? Thanks!!
Posted by
Ottawa, Ontario,, Canada
521 posts
Hi Melissa,
I took the Spiez-Bologna route with them in August 08. It was one of four night trains that I took on my trip, and one of the nicer ones. I travelled the night of August 1, and we reserved our tickets in Europe two weeks prior to the trip. By that time they were nearly sold out, but it was for August. I would not know for sure what it would be like in May. I would suggest that you are probably okay to book your May 25 trip once you arrive, but the May 15 trip is probably putting it a little too close for comfort.
I only rode in a six-person couchette, and I realized that one of the benefits of reserving early is the bunk assignment. We were able to travel on the top bunks for each trip, with the exception of this one as it was the only one we waited until we were in Europe to reserve. Instead, we got the two bottom bunks, which are actually the most narrow ones (the middle and top are wider because they do not have seat backs limiting the space like the bottom bunks do). Part of the benefit of being up top is the additional storage space there, which is quite nice.
This train had excellent, friendly attendants who spoke English quite well. It was also the only night train where we got a small breakfast included in the couchette reservation. The climate control worked, the train did not jolt around unnecessarily (though I may have had a newer train than you may experience) but the attendant did recommend that we make sure the door is bolted from the inside - this was not something as openly suggested for night trains in Germany and France. All we did was lock it, and had no troubles at all - they even gave a wakeup call on-time (which cannot be said for all night trains).
As for reserving... I just did it through rail europe, but you can probably do it more inexpensively if you call SBB directly.
The only thing to point out... spiez-bologna is not a long run so do not expect a lot of sleep!