Good day. Does the train indeed service Malpensa airport from Lugano? I have an overnite in Lugano 16 August and need to make an 11:30 AM flight back to Atlanta. At this moment I can find no scheduling or fare information - too early?
Also assuming my Swiss Travel card will cover this as it is SBB?
Posted by
Uppsala, Sweden
6970 posts
Yes, there are trains from Lugano to Malpensa. You can find more information about them at https://www.tilo.ch/en/
Wikipedia even has an article about the route: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S50_(TILO)
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23626 posts
You should probably be in the airport no later than 9am. There is hourly service from Lugano to Malpensa arriving 7.46 or 8.41. Roughly an hour, 35 minutes. It is private line, Trenord. The 8.41 is cutting a little close so I would go with the 6.06 - 7.46.
Now -- the next question --- Is that a smart thing to do? Nope, I would not as there are risks I cannot control. I would stay at or near the airport the last night. So that there is no question about being in the airport by 8.30, 9.00 am.
Posted by
OP
Alpharetta, Ga, USA
277 posts
Yes I am debating whether to to to Milan or Lugano the night before the flight. I have done the Milan overnight before, just considering something different. We are on the Bernina express the day before, could abandon the bus ride at Triano and go to Milan on the 15th. Certainly more confortable but I was assuming the SBB train to MXP would be pretty reliable?
Posted by
Wengen
2494 posts
The Swiss Travel Pass will only cover this train as far as the border. The Pass covers all public transit in Switzerland (up to the border station) but not outside of Switzerland, and that irrespective of who operates it.
Those trains are operated by TILO, a SBB-Trenord joint venture, and is visible on www.sbb.ch
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23626 posts
....assuming the SBB train to MXP would be pretty reliable?..... I am sure it is. Lufthansa has provide very reliable air service once a day from our airport. Then about five years ago we are sitting in the airplane at the beginning of the runway, about to go full throttle up, when suddenly there was the sound of an engine being shut off and we roll back to the gate. Flight cancelled. No plan B.
If you have a critical flight to catch, I would not want to be two hours away from the airport depending on one single train. Too much risk for this old traveler.