For those planning to visit Lake Como from Milan, trains from Milan to Varenna-Esino and up to Sondrio and Tirano, Italy will be idled from June 15-September 15 for track maintenance Trains will continue to run from Milano Centrale to Lecco. From Lecco northward, substitute buses will be brought in by Trenord for the journey up to Varenna and Sondrio.
Train tickets held by passengers to Varenna and beyond will be honored for the buses and the plan is to coordinate transfers from the trains to the buses in Lecco. If you are traveling to Tirano the buses generally take 30 minutes longer than the trains to reach Tirano.
Italy is scrambling to prepare for the February 2026 Winter Olympics to be held in Cortina d’Ampezzo and throughout the greater Milan region.
If you’ve ever been to Italy before, you may have noticed transit schedules may not run as scheduled. Plan on delays and be sure to allow extra time for your itinerary.
Posted by
Paris
10750 posts
Thanks for this important and clear update.
Posted by
14 posts
FYI, our hotel in Varenna sent us the following email:
"Hello dear Client,
due to the railway track maintenance from:
23 May 2025
24 May 2025
25 May 2025
Trains will not run from Lecco to Tirano (including Varenna Esino ).
Train company will provide substitutives service by bus from Lecco ( during the central parts of the day, it'll be very overcrowded )."
Looks like the interruption will not just occur in the June-Sept timeframe.
Jeff
Posted by
OP
Citizen of the World
2755 posts
Yes- Trenord is apparently already so far behind in preparing for the crowds coming to the Winter Olympics next February that the track work is being moved up on the calendar.
It’s highly questionable whether the track work will be completed by September 15.