In early August, there is a direct train from Lausanne to Stresa, Italy. The train leaves Lausanne at approximately 6 a.m. and takes less than 2 1/2 hours to get to Stresa. That would avoid having to take a connecting train later in the morning that only allows 12 minutes for a train transfer. Are there any downsides to taking an early direct train to Stresa (e.g. will it still be dark and I'll miss half of the views? ).
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
Sunrise will be before 6:30, so that shouldn't be a problem. You'd have to shop the day before for train snacks and miss the hotel's breakfast.
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
"only allows 12 minutes for a train transfer" - you don't say where this is, I guess Brig. That is not a very big station, and it may well be an across-the-platform change. 12 minutes is plenty of time. These are timetabled connections and are very feasible.
I did a 10 minute change at Zürich HB yesterday, and that is a much bigger station, and the two platforms were on different levels! I still had 5 minutes waiting on the platform for the train to arrive.
EDIT: I see 3 connections that do not require a change: 06:18, arrive 08:38, 14:18 arrive 16:38 and 19:18 arrive 21:38. that is 2h20 in all 3 cases. I am looking on www.sbb.ch/en
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32345 posts
oz,
While the departure at 06:18 would be the easiest trip (no changes), as Laura mentioned a departure that early means you'll miss the breakfast you probably paid for. An early arrival in Stresa also means that your room may not be ready, or the hotel may not let you check in that early. That means you'll have to store your bags and do some sightseeing or whatever until check-in time.
Using a train with changes is very easy, and if they've allocated 12 minutes for a change, you can be sure that's more than adequate, especially in Switzerland. I'd probably use the 12:50 departure, arriving 15:38. There's another direct departure later in the afternoon.
Posted by
OP
40 posts
Thank you for your suggestions. We will try the noon train that stops for 12 minutes in Brig. It was helpful to get reassurance that such a short time frame is doable.