Bernina train

My wife and I just did the Bernina section of Switzerland last week. We did not do the official Bernina Express train ride, but it uses the same tracks. I wish we had not bothered to get bus reservations and tickets on the “official” red bus from Tirano to Lugano. That 3 hour bus ride was a real disappointment. There isn’t anything to see except urban sprawl as the road goes along a small river corridor for much of the way. And the area around lake Como was very congested. There were no photo stops along Lake Como. The weather was clear all day and the train ride from Pontresina, where we had spent the night, was very scenic, but I would seek another way to get from Tirano to Lugano.

Thank you
We do need to arrive at Lugano. I do not see another option for travel route from Tirano to Lugano.

the official site is https://www.rhb.ch/en/panoramic-journeys/bernina-express/ you should read the details carefully, especially the cost of the reservation supplement, which in the case of St Motiz to Tirano can be very nearly as much as the basic fare! The blurb and reservation fee refer to the cars on the website with the tall windows and commentary via smart phone, but at the front of the train are a few cars with slightly smaller windows and no commentrary where the fee doesn't apply. There are also regular trains without the special cars but with exactly the same views which may run at more convenient times for you. Tickets for travel in the regular cars/trains can be bought at St Mortitz station - or any other station in Switzerland. The bus tickets and variable priced reservation fees are on the same page as the train.

The alternative to the red bus is the normal Italian train service which runs every hour from Tirano with a change of train at Monza, overall takes 40 minutes longer than the bus but should be cheaper, runs along the other side of the lake, tickets at Tirano Trenitalia station (building next to Bernina station).

And if you are not in a hurry there is a "fast" boat service from Colico to Como (so Tirano-Colico by train, then boat, then Como -Lugano by train), whether this will work out depends on date of travel.

That 3 hour bus ride was a real disappointment.

The bus isn't meant to be scenic. It is just a convenient way of getting people to Lugano after a BEX ride.
Maybe RhB should cooperated with Trenord to run a Tirano - Como train...

Do you intend to take the scenic "Bernina Express" trip on the carriages with the big windows? If so, you might try THIS WEBSITE.. I assume you're departing from Chur?

If you just want to travel the Bernina route on a regular train, you could try this website - https://www.sbb.ch/en .

Regarding the bus ride from Tirano to Lugano, it's not a long trip and it will get you to your desired destination. I've used that in the opposite direction. It's mot a long trip and I wouldn't be too concerned about it being "scenic" as it will get you where you want to go.