We are planning a trip to Europe in the September-October timeframe. We are hoping to start in the Lake district of northern Italy. Then we want to take the William Tell Express Train from Lugano to Lucerne. I have heard that Employees on the train will handle the luggage during the trip for a price. Does anyone know how to arrange this luggage handling? Is it just like when you take a plane ride. We plan to stay in Luzern for two days before taking a train to Munich. Any advise? Earl
For various fees, you can do station to station, station to door, or door to door.
https://www.sbb.ch/en/station-services/services/luggage/luggage.html
There is no longer a train called William Tell Express. They have been discontinued and replaced by other services such as the Gotthard Panorama, following the opening of the Gotthard base tunnel.
Train luggage is never "just like when you take a plane ride". Stations do not have check-in, luggage handling, luggage carousels or any of the other paraphernalia of an airport. You just get on the train.
The services SBB offer in the link above require you to go to a desk before you travel. The luggage does not travel in the same train as you. You have to pick it up (or it is delivered) some time after your arrival.
There are direct trains from Lugano to Luzern, or you can make up your own more scenic route. For example, train via the "old" shorter Gotthard tunnel to Flüelen, then lake boat to Luzern. This is the route the William Tell Express used to take.
Are you actually starting in Lugano, or somewher in the Italian Lake District?
We are staying in the Lake District. Probably in the area of Lake Como. We will have about 6-7 days. Wherever we go will have to be by train or bus. But since we have never been there we are open to ideas. Earl