I tried to book a train from Stresa to Chamonix (going through Switzerland), and none of the websites (Deutsche Bahn, Trenitalia, SBB) allow me to book a ticket. Rail Europe will let me book a ticket, but there are some very tight connections and there is a warning to only book the trip if I am sure I can make the connections. Is there anywhere else I can book a trip and pick a different route? Should I consider a bus? If anyone has done this trip in the past, please help!
My travel date is July 17, 2026.
Posted by
Chicago
1278 posts
Without your dates of travel it's impossible to confirm for sure, but you might try booking
a ticket from Stresa to Martigny and then another ticket on the Mont Blanc Express from
Martigny to Chamonix.
If you can easily get to Milan, the bus from Milan to Chamonix is a pretty decent option -
goes through Aosta, then thru the tunnel, into Chamonix Sud.
Posted by
Green Bay
23249 posts
What is the travel date?
Part of the problem would seem to be current repair work on the Simplon Tunnel, which is limiting rail service as only one tube is open.
PS, The problem arises after June 12. That is when the semi-annual schedule adjustment takes place in Italy. SBB may not be able to get prices from Trenitalia for regional trains. I do not see any fast changes on the route after that date, only at Valorcine and that is always the case as it is 2 trains meeting one another at a border station.
PPS, Here is a work around. Buy a ticket from Trenitalia for 5 EUR to Domodossola. then buy a ticket from SBB for Domodossola to Chamonix. all these are for sale now.
Posted by
Wengen
3809 posts
Those wonderfully efficient connections are not something to worry about. Rai Europe just throws up this warning because it, well, is programmed to do so.
Don't worry.
But tell us when this is. The issue may be for the French part of the trip actually.
Posted by
Arctophilia, Northamptonshire, England
36640 posts
if you let us know your dates we can help and understand.
Be aware that when RailEurope says they have options when the operator doesn't it is like booking a viator tour before the tickets are released.
In both cases they try to meet your need by selling you something that doesn't exist but they hope it will so they can get your money. You would expect when the actual tickets are made available that you would have changes or cancellations that they may tell you about right away, or they may wait until the last moment to tell you.
In computer speak we used to call it vaporware.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thank you to all three of you for the great information. I didn’t know about the tunnel closure, but that makes sense because Deutsche Bahn indicates that part of the route is by bus. My travel date is July 17. I will try booking two train tickets, and I’ll look at the bus alternative. I think it is Flix Bus. Is there another bus line that you know of? Thank you all again!