This is a question from my sister, who wants to visit my husband and me for a few days of our Swiss vacation, but then she and her husband want to take a train from near Interlaken Ost, Switzerland to Venice, Italy. Online, (SBB.ch/en) I see that the leg of her trip from Brig, Switzerland to Venice, Italy (via Milan) shows that reservations are required. Can she make this mandatory reservation and buy her train ticket 5 days before that trip, when she first arrives in Switzerland (in July), at the SBB counter in the Zurich Airport travel center? Or would that be too late to get a seat on that Italian train?
Posted by
Chicago
8164 posts
5 days in advance is enough. The price goes up the longer she waits that is the only drawback.
You can buy it online also using the SBB mobile ap; It works like a charm. Or on trainline https://www.trainline.eu/
Posted by
OP
Houston, TX
219 posts
Thank you so much, Jazz+Travels, for your very helpful advice!
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33819 posts
If she is buying tickets, not using a pass in Italy or Switzerland, the earlier the better. The Italian trains come in at two (or more) classes of travel (First and Second, and sometimes various premium first fares) and at least three price levels.
All mandatory reservations tickets on Italian trains come with the seat reservation included with the ticket. All pass holders (such as Eurail passes) must buy seat reservations on top of the cost of their pass - €10 per person per leg. That often approaches the price of a ticket at the lower price levels and is one reason that passes are such a poor idea in Italy.
The Base fare is the most expensive for that class, the walk-up fare. You can buy that up until just before the train leaves, if there are seats. You may not be able to find two seats together if you buy at the last minute (the last couple of weeks). When the train is full, it's full. That is rare, but on certain days it does happen.
Then there are two lower priced levels, based on the take-up of the tickets. These have much tighter restrictions and sell out quickly. If you waited as late as 5 days before you may have no choice left but the Base fare.
On all these reservation mandatory trains, the tickets (and the pass holder reservations) are like a plane ticket - you must go on the exact train you have bought in the seats you have bought or they are not valid.
It is likely that there will be a change of train in Milano Centrale. Milano Centrale is a head in dead end station and changing trains is pretty easy - walk up to the head of the train, across the ends of all the tracks until you find your next train and then walk down the train until you find your car and board there. Much easier than boarding at the end and walking through the train.
Posted by
OP
Houston, TX
219 posts
I really appreciate your advice and explanation, Nigel. Thanks so much for your help!