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Is a Train from Zurich Airport (ZRH) to Lugano to Malpensa (MXP) Feasible or a Crazy Idea?

Posted by (Wallingford, Ct) on

On June 11, We will fly from Vienna (VIE) to Zurich (ZRH) , arriving 8AM on Austria Air.

And connect to a Swiss Air flight, arriving Malpensa (MXP) @ 10:00AM

We then depart MXP on Emirates @ 4:10PM to Newark.

As an alternative, I've read that one can board a train @ ZRH to Lugano, and transfer to a train to MXP.
The journey takes 4 hours.

Does anyone have experience with this train route?

We've never taken a train thru Switzerland and this idea intrigues me.

But we'd have a tight window, & any delays would jeopardize making our Emirates 4:10 PM departure.

Would appreciate hearing of your experiences with this train route, & if you think this idea is crazy.

Posted by
6996 posts

Given that your priority should be to not miss your transatlantic flight, is there some reason not to take the nonstop early morning flight from Vienna direct to Milan? When it comes to getting to my departure airport with a minimum of risk, I usually subscribe to the KISS principle.

Posted by
1214 posts

It's kind of crazy, assuming your priority is not to miss your flight out of MXP.

As noted, your better option is to fly from Vienna to Linate nonstop and then
transfer to Malpensa.

The 8:10am flight gets into Linate at 9:35am, so you may even have time for
a gelato in downtown Milan before heading to the airport.

If you took the train the day before, then you could spend the night in Milan
city and then get to your flight on the 11th. That could work. Either of your
proposed options for the 11th has no room for error. Weather, strikes, and
general delays could render you stuck in any of the intermediate places.

Posted by
17440 posts

It’s to risky to do it on the day of your flight.

In order to make it to Malpensa 3 hours before your departing Emirates flight, you need to take the train departing from Zurich at 9:05. Any other later departure will get you to Malpensa at a time that is too late for comfort.

Posted by
36 posts

Thank you to everyone for your replies.

You've convinced me that the train option offers no room for travel delays and would jeopardize making our afternoon flight from MXP.

We'll do a Swiss train trip another time.

Posted by
23075 posts

I think you would have been a tad disappointed in your Swiss train trip anyway. The fast way uses the Gotthard Base Tunnel, 25 miles completely under the Alps.

Posted by
13285 posts

Is this your proposed itinerary?

SWISS
LX3551 | Operated by Austrian Airlines
Departing from Vienna, 6:45 AM, June 11, 2026.
Arriving at Zurich, 8:05 AM, June 11, 2026.
SWISS
LX1612
Departing from Zurich, 8:55 AM, June 11, 2026.
Arriving at Milan Malpensa, 9:50 AM, June 11, 2026.

If so, I think I would fly to Milan the day before. Otherwise that looks to be truly ugly LONG day.

The Emirates flight departing MXP at 410PM goes to JFK , not EWR

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