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Train tickets from Wengen to Vernazza, Italy

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My husband and I have a trip planned for September 18 to October 6 this year, which will include France, Switzerland and end in Italy. I am attempting to navigate train tickets and/or rail passes, especially from Wengen to Vernazza. I have downloaded the sbb app, but every connection I try gives me the answer that it is already booked or has been cancelled due to engineering work. Our travel date is Wed., Oct. 2nd and we would like to go early in the morning, so we don't get into Vernazza too late. I haven't purchased a rail pass as I am trying to figure costs to see which would be most economical. I am also looking on trainline. com, but haven't seen if I can actually book them or not.

I have Rick Steve's books, and have been reading and re-reading and have read others reports. Am I missing something in the booking process or have I waited to late for tickets?

One other question while I have your attention. Is there a combo rail pass for France, Switzerland and Italy? We will be taking trains from Paris to Beaune to Lausanne to Wengen to Vernazza, as well as day trips from each town.

I planned our Italy trip years ago from R.S. books and this forum and all went so smoothly. I have to admit, this planning is overwhelming me a little bit....lots of moving parts!!

Thanks in advance!!

Posted by
6848 posts

Am I missing something in the booking process or have I waited to late
for tickets?

Au contraire, you are probably too early.

Posted by
17168 posts

Not too early. You can see the possible journeys on SBB.ch and buy at least the Swiss portion there.

The first thing you have to do is get from Wengen to Milan, and this involves a lot of transfers on the way. It is pretty much a 10-hour journey whether you go via Luzern or via Brig and Domodossola. In some cases there are fewer transfers on the Luzern route (or it may be Zurich; either train uses the Gotthard Pass route).

What I would suggest is you aim to reach Milano Centrale in good time to catch one of the fast trains that goes all the way to Monterosso or to La Spezia with no further changes. You can do this by departing Wengen very early.

The 5:04 train from Wengen gets you to Milano Centrale in time to take the 12:10 IC665 to Monterosso.

The 6:13 train from Wengen will arrive in Milan in time for you to catch the 13:10 FB (Frecciabianca) 8619 to La Spezia.

Last chance is the 7:13 train from Wengen, arriving at MC in time for the 14:05 IC669 to Monterosso.

Monterosso and La Spezia are connected by the regional train that links the Cinque Villages, so you have one last transfer from the fast train coming from Milan to the little regional train to take you to your village.

It is a very long day and personally I would break it into two days, but you probably do not have time to do that.

Posted by
2330 posts

You are to early to book the whole trip. There are works on the line to Milano, that are supposed to be finished in september. But because the works might run out trains for september and after can't be booked yet. (Ok. the detour via Luzern can be booked, but you shouldn't. Wait for the fast route to become available again). It is a long trip, but you should be able to do it in about 8 hours.

Because the booking system is programmed by people who would never even think of booking a train trip for September already in June the system is not very well equipped where it comes to communicating what is really going on.

One thing you can be certain of: The trains are not "booked out". If trains sold out that far in advance they would be useless, and nobody would be using them.

Regarding a pass: Probably for the Swiss part get the Half are card, as that gives you 50% off on all transportation, including the expensive mountain excurions. Then just buy tickets.

Posted by
16 posts

Thank you all! I appreciate the info and suggestions. We have decided to go ahead and make the long journey from Wengen to Vernazza in one day.

I will wait and hope the faster route to Milan is ready to book in September for our Oct. 6th trip. I am still exploring prices to get an idea of which Swiss travel pass is most economical.

I'm sure I will return with more questions.

I appreciate the help from this forum and please keep giving advice/suggestions!

Posted by
2330 posts

I think by october the EC trains on the Simplon route should be back to normal. Further more october 6 is a Sunday, and on Sunday there are more trains on that route.

Leave Wengen 10:42, and after changes in Lauterbrunnen and Interlaken you arrive in Speixz and take the 12:05 to Milan. Arrive Milan 14:42, and there take the 16:05 IC to Monterosso. Change there for the last short leg to Vernazza. Arrive 19:23

You can also leave 4 hours earlier (that is what I would do, but I am an early riser) and aim for the 8:05 in Spiez. I have started most of my trips to Italy on that train...

I would expect that to be bookable in September. I have never booked tickets for Italy more than 2 weeks in advance.

Tip: If you want to see schedules, the SBB planner allows you to look in the past. Look up the train times for Sunday June 2nd to see what you can expect for a Sunday in October.

Posted by
16 posts

Wengen, thank you! I feel much better about planning this.

Posted by
16 posts

WengenK, I forget to mention that we are not early risers, but will probably change that on this trip. We would like to arrive in Vernazza earlier, so will look at the early train from Wengen.

Thanks again to everyone's help!

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