need advice: getting from chamonix, Mont Blanc to Veranno, Lake Como

Brig is a small station. There are direct EC trains to Milano Centrale at 2:44 pm, 3:44 pm,7:44 pm & 8:44 pm.
In addition there are local trains at other times requiring connections along the way.
Looking at one routing at 9:54 am from Chamonix has an hour and 42 minute change in Brig. But the schedule shows you arrive and depart on track 4.
The routing at 12:54 pm advises changing at Sion. You arrive and depart on track 2 with a 17 minute change, so all you need to do is get off one train and stand in the same spot for 17 minutes, then board the next train.

You can look at the schedules at www.bahn.com, but only as far as Mialno Centrale station. The train to Varenna (Varenna-Esino is the actual station name) is operated by a private railway, Trenord, and their schedule does not show up on the DB website. You can look up the Varenna train at www.trenitalia.com or www.trenord.it.

eileen,

I assume your intended destination is Varenna on Lago di Como. Your reference to "Veranno" is a bit misleading.

To answer your question, Option 2. I was just in Chamonix in September, so the transportation options are still relatively fresh in my mind. For the best balance between time and number of changes, I'd suggest the departure from Chamonix at 11:54, arriving Milano Centrale at 16:37 (time 4H:43M, 3 changes). There's a departure from Milano Centrale to Varenna-Esino at 17:20, arriving at 18:23 (time 1H:03M). That train is a Regionale so you MUST validate your ticket prior to boarding the train on the day of travel. Failure to validate may result in a hefty fine, which will be collected on the spot! One other point to mention is that when checking to see which Binario (track no.) your train to Varenna will be leaving from, that train may have Tirano or Sondrio listed as the final destination. That will be the correct train, as Varenna is located between Milan and both of those cities.

Don't be too concerned about the train changes in Switzerland, as they will be well organized. The platform numbers are usually listed on the schedule, so all you'll have to do is get off the train and go to the platform designated for your next train. You'll have to get from one platform to another using the transfer tunnels in some stations.

On the trip from Milan to Varenna, the train will go through a tunnel just prior to arrival. Be ready to disembark promptly as the train doesn't stop for long. On that trip, I'd suggest sitting on the left of the train when facing forward, as that will provide the best lake views.

Brig is an easy station to change trains in. I have done that several times there and it really is easy and well signed.

If you use the routing with the extra time mentioned above, you can go outside and see the little red train of the MGB (Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn) which is the beginning of the Glacier Express. It is narrow gauge and runs on the middle of the street so is interesting.

There is also a nice Manora café a couple of streets away in the opposite direction.

Don't worry about changing trains in either Sion or Brig.

Milano Centrale is easy too because everything is on one level as it is a dead end station.

Thank you so much, Nigel, Sam and Ken. Your feedback is invaluable. I was looking up schedules via Rail Europe and found only the one train. So kind of each of you to take time to look up schedules and recall your own experiences, etc.
I do have a question on the link you provided to the EC train schedules from Brig to Milan. When I look it up on the link you sent, BAHN, it shows it requires 4 more connections (It's supposed to be one direct connection from Brig to Milan Centrale.) What am I doing wrong?
Brig
Fr, 17.06.16 dep 09:44 5:06 4 EC, D, S, RE Fare information not available
Milano Centrale arr 14:50

Also, do I need to purchase tickets in advance? If not, where do I buy the tickets in the station? Thank you for your advice to disembark quickly at Varenna. Also, I did recall reading tickets needed to be validated in the yellow box, thank you for clarifying it's only the regionale train tickets (Milan Central to Veranna) that require this. Yes? Thank you all so much. Eileen

Eileen are you sure you are not seeing the interim stops, not connections?

One problem I see is that there is European wide schedule adjustment twice a year, and one of these occurs on June 12, just before your planned travel date. So many schedules are not out yet for the summer trains. Wait a couple of months and the schedules should start to come out.
Generally, there will be no price advantage to buying in advance. The French portion is a TER train and they are always the same price. Swiss trains also operate this way, although you may be able to find an advance purchase nonrefundable discount ticket for the Martigny- Milano Centrale portion. These are only available within 30 days of your travel date. Milano Centrale-Varenna is an Italian regional ticket, and always the same price, currently 6.70 euro.

Eileen,

Regarding your recent questions.....

• "Also, do I need to purchase tickets in advance?" - On that particular route, I'm not sure that buying advance tickets will provide much of a cost advantage (hopefully one of the others can comment on that). You can purchase tickets on the French trains using www.captaintrain.com but they don't sell tickets for the Swiss portions of the trip. You can purchase tickets on Swiss trains at www.sbb.ch.
• "If not, where do I buy the tickets in the station?" There is a ticket office in the Chamonix station. As I recall, it's to the right side as you enter the main doors. The queue doesn't seem to move particularly fast at times, but you should be able to buy tickets for your entire route there (I had no trouble buying all the tickets for the trip from Chamonix to Lausanne).
• "Also, I did recall reading tickets needed to be validated in the yellow box" - tickets DO need to be validated on some French trains as well (likely the TER I believe), and THIS is one of the validation machines in the Chamonix station.
• "(Milan Central to Veranna)" - be sure to note the correct spelling of Varenna as you'll need to know that when purchasing tickets.

If you buy 90-120 days out you should be able to get a Mini or Smart fare for the Brig to Milan direct train on Trenitalia, with the ticket to Varenna attached.

It is too soon to buy for June, but checking prices for April I found a fare of €26.70 from Brig to Varenna---- Mini fare of €19 from Brig to Milano on the direct EC57, and the regular €6.70 for the train to Varenna. The EC57 departs Brig at 14:44 so you would need to get there from Chamonix before then. After the change to the Varenna-Esino train you arrive in Varenna at 18:23. As noted above, be ready to hop off the train as it does not stop for long!

These are print-at-home tickets and the one in Varenna is good only on the day specified. You do not really need to validate it, but you can if you wish.

Thank you again. I was imagining myself lost on the Switzerland-Italy train system for days. After all your advice, it now seems manageable. No more anxiety - ok maybe just a little....:-) Truly, I've printed out all your responses and I feel a whole lot better.

Thanks again.