We will be taking the bus from Lugano to Tirano on May 8 and continuing on to St Moritz by train. We are trying to learn the system before the day the tickets are available. Using a trial date, it appears you must buy a second class bus ticket. If you buy a second class bus ticket you must buy a second class train ticket. We would like to buy a first class train ticket, but seem to be caught in path led by the second class bus ticket. Any pointers to make this work? Thanks for any ideas.
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
Jeanne, I hope you are looking at the SBB website: http://www.sbb.ch/en/home.html and not some reseller.
The bus is a bus, it doesn't have separate 1st and 2nd class sections.
Why do you want a first class rail ticket? Second class is perfectly adequate. But, if you insist on a first rail ticket, just do it as two separate transactions.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32219 posts
jeanne,
One other point to mention is that I believe there's only one departure per day of the panoramic Bernina Express trains. There are numerous trains on that route, but the others will be regular trains. As I recall, the panoramic version departs at about 13:00 (I'd have to check the schedules for a more exact time).
You won't have any trouble spotting the Bernina Express Bus at the station in Lugano.
Posted by
Tyler, TX, USA
162 posts
I am interested in this also. We will be in Switzerland in September and I am still in the planning stage. I think we will take the Bernina Express and then the Bernina Express Bus. If one has a Swiss Travel Pass, are these included in the price or are they purchased separately since they are a special train/bus? I am still trying to figure out what kind of rail pass to buy as we want to ride the special trains as a way to see more of the countryside while we are there (as RS advises in his guide book).
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
Jerry, the answer to your question is here (Swiss pass validity map): http://www.sbb.ch/content/dam/sbb/de/pdf/freizeit-ferien/ferien-kurztrips-schweiz/internationale-gaeste/sts-geltungsbereich_en.pdf
This is the same map you get with the pass and it shows the bus from Lugano to Tirano in Yellow, and yes the pass is valid.
There is one bus a day, which connects with the "Bernina Express" with the panoramic windows. But there are other hourly trains from which you see the same mountains. Unlike other Swiss buses you have to reserve a seat it, and on the Bernina Express (but not on the normal hourly trains).