Easiest transfer from lauterbrunnen to la spezia

Your train might be reinstated when June rolls around with a little schedule adjustment. They are shutting the rail line down between Stresa and Arosa. They will get a replacement bus service organized, but that is on the order of regional service, so announcement won't come until June as is normal in Italy.

Failing that, you can go around the long way via Luzern if things don't look good in June. That train will end in Milan, so you can get an IC train to Monterosso from Milan.

The train may be cancelled, but your ticket hasn't. So the railways must transport you. (But did you really already buy a ticket for July 15th? Buying tickets that far in advance is seldom a good idea).

In July the Simplon route will indeed be closed. But there will be a replacement coach service. The details of that are not known yet. Alternatively you can travel via Luzern and the Gotthard route. Will be a long-ish trip, but a nice one.

Note: Is La Spezia your actual destination? Or are you headed for the Cinque Terre. In the latter case you may not have to make the detour via La Spezia...

Thank you for your help. This is the email that o received. Our final destination is riomaggiore in cinque terre. I am wondering if we cancel cinque terre altogether and stay a few days longer in Switzerland before we head to Rome. Would love advice. I got the tickets through a package of accommodations and transfers. We are looking for fastest route. You all are very helpful!
——

Rail 15-Jul: Lauterbrunnen to La Spezia is no longer available as requested. Due to track work planned by the operator, the Spiez to Milan train will now terminate in Domodossola and routing into La Spezia must be adjusted to accommodate. We can offer alternate schedules via Zurich at either the same departure time as previous or two hours earlier. Note the arrival time in La Spezia would be after midnight if using the same departure time as previous for the adjusted routing. See below for details.

UNAVAILABLE: Lauterbrunnen to Interlaken 13:02-13:24 // Interlaken to Spiez 13:30-13:51 // Spiez to Milan 14:05-16:40 // Milan to La Spezia 18:05-21:21
OPTION 1: Lauterbrunnen to Interlaken 13:02-13:24 // Interlaken to Spiez 13:30-13:51 // Spiez to Zurich 14:22-15:58 // Zurich to Milan 16:33-20:50 // Milan to La Spezia 21:10-00:25
OPTION 2: Lauterbrunnen to Interlaken 11:02-11:24 // Interlaken to Spiez 11:30-11:51 // Spiez to Zurich 12:23-13:58 // Zurich to Milan 14:33-18:50 // Milan to La Spezia 19:05-22:21

Did you use some suspicious third party site to buy tickets? If so, are you really sure that you have bought tickets or have you just given them money for the promise that you might get a ticket in the future?

Let me guess, you originally wanted to depart Lauterbrunnen at 13:02 that would get you to La Spezia at 21:21.

You could match this arrival time by departing Lauterbrunnen at 10:32, arr Interlaken Ost 10:54, dep 11:00, arr Zurich 12:58, dep 13:05, arr Lugano 15:48, dep 16:02, arr Milano Centrale 17:17, dep 18:05, arr La Spezia 21:21.

Badger, no it was actually a vetted DMC that I partner with in my travel agency. But I received this email and am wondering if we do option 2 (don’t want to arrive in La spezia after midnight) or if we just cancel that part of our trip altogether and stay in Switzerland a couple more days. It seems like a loooong train ride. Advice appreciated.

What was your next destination after Riomaggiore?

One thought is to see if you can leave earlier. We usually head out of town by 8 AM when making transfer so we can get oriented in the new location.

It is a long and tiresome journey. We did a similar move and broke it up with 3 nights in Stresa. If you only have 2 or 3.
nights planned in Riomaggiore, save yourselves the stress and settle in in Switzerland if you can cancel the Cinque Terre portion.

For reference, it is best to book your own travel at www.sbb.ch where you can specify the routing and explore options.

And since you are a travel agent, you should learn how to use the SBB website. Your DMC (Destination Management Company) is not being very helpful.

Thank you! I am a BRAND new travel agent so this is very helpful. I’ve already learned a ton. This is great. Thank you!!

July being ages away I wonder what that DMC actually was doing for you. They could not buy you tickets yet, as it is to early. They probably just took your money, promised you that they would eventually get you a ticket, and then when tickets became available would book it for you.
And now they find out they can't keep their promise. And they are looking up alternatives, and running in to the same issue everyone outside of Europe runs in to: They are just to early.

So if you already paid them ask for a refund.

Then just sit tight. There are going to be replacement buses, and these will eventually find their way in to the timetable. Or travel the scenic route via Luzern.

Note: If you are travelling to Riomaggiore, then book to Riomaggiore. Do not a prior assume that you will need to pass through La Spezia. Milano - Riogaggiore is usually fastest via Levanto.