Hello! I've been checking and checking but need help: When traveling by rail from Pontresina to Lake Como.....Do I assume correctly that I use Swiss Rail from Pontresina to Tirano THEN do I need to confirm rail from Tirano into Varenna using Trenitalia rail? SO two different tickets for this one-way journey? Many thanks in advance!
Posted by
Green Bay
21999 posts
That is pretty much right. The train from Tirano to Varenna is a regional train. No reservations and always the same price.
Posted by
San Diego, California
6240 posts
In Tirano, you will walk across the plaza from the SBB station to the Italian train station.
You have a wonderful adventure planned, the Bernina Express route is one of the most beautiful train routes I have travelled. You can use the regional trains for the Bernina Express route, which do not require seat reservations. We choose this option instead of the panoramic trains. The regional trains have windows to open, and you can breathe that clear, mountain air. Also, opening the windows removes the glare from your pictures. Since the regional trains have no seat reservations, and are much less crowded, you can jump from side to side of the train, as the view changes. You also have flexibility in case of bad weather. The regional trains travel on the same track as the panoramic trains.
Enjoy!
Posted by
OP
Scottsdale, AZ
18 posts
Outstanding and many thanks to you both!!
Posted by
Firenze, Italy
1846 posts
Just a small correction: from Chur/St. Moritz/Pontresina to Tirano you will be traveling on RhB (Rhaetische Bahn), the Grisons regional railway company, not on SBB, the Swiss federal railway company. RhB manages a narrow gauge network to the highest standard; the SBB line standard gauge line from Zurich and Sargans goes no further than Chur.
Posted by
OP
Scottsdale, AZ
18 posts
Most helpful - many thanks for your input!!!
Posted by
Washington, DC USA
600 posts
Based on my experience, I would advise booking as two separate tickets and not booking the Italy segment until you know for sure which train time you will take. I was able to book round trip from Varenna to Pontreseina and back on SBB as one ticket. For the Swiss portion, it didin't matter which train I took or whether I got off and on the "regular" (non Bernina Express special) train in Switzerland. However, this did not apply in Italy. The Bernina train arrived in Tirano more than an hour late so I ended up needing to change my Tirano to Varenna ticket twice because the trenitalia ticket is considered validated and used once the train departs whether you are on it or not. (If this doesn't come across clearly, I can try to explain better.)
Posted by
Wengen
2893 posts
Train tickets for regional trains in Italy are still flexible. However you need to validate tt for your train using the app. And when you buy a ticket it comes pre validated for the train you selected. But you can change that. Until the night before the trip you can change the date, and on the day itself you can change the time. If you can't do that yourself just go to the train conductor in Tirano, and he will do that for you.
You can also just buy the ticket at a station in Switzerland, where you will get a conventional paper ticket, without the complications...
Posted by
OP
Scottsdale, AZ
18 posts
Hello ALL! I'm in sbb.ch and trying to purchase June 10, 2025, at 933AM from Basel SBB to Samedan, with a change in Chur. As I went to "submit" on the bottom of Saver Day Pass Ticket, 1st class, it clearly states " Valid: Mon, 09.06.2025 until Tue, 10.06.2025 05:00:00"
Isn't that telling me my June 10 Saver Day Pass ticket is ONLY valid until Tue at 5AM?? The train departs Basel SBB at 933AM....what am I missing?!
I have traveled extensively throughout Europe BUT not sure how to get around the valid time window? Any input would be greatly appreciated!!