Train travel from Como to Basel

The just opened Gothard Base Tunnel means you will travel about 30 miles under the Alps, so scenery will not be that thrilling. You could take the long way by taking the ferry over to Varenna, then the train to Tirano, then the Bernina Pass route to Chur with a lot of scenery, then on to Basel. Takes 8 to 9 hours.

You could also do the trip from Como over the Gothard Pass using regional trains over the older route and the much shorter original Gothard Tunnel. Takes about 5 hours.

Thanks very much. Do all the trains departing from Como to Basel go the Gothard Pass with the old route? Seems there is one that includes a transfer in Arth Goldau, and one that is direct, but I can't tell what the route is.

The Gotthard Base Tunnel replaces the old Gotthard line, that had some spectacular railway feats like corkscrew tunnels, the Wassen church that you see three times from different levels and sides of the valley, the Biaschina point where you pass three times from roughly the same spot but at different elevations.

But as you emerge from the new Base Tunnell at Erstfeld, you still have scenic sights along the Swiss lakes and peaceful landscape, so not all the scenic potential is gone if riding the new line.

That one goes through the new Gothard Base Tunnel. To go the old way, specify via Airolo and Goeschenen using the "advanced search" button on the SBB site. The most direct train leaves Como S. Giovanni at 8:47 and there is a train change in Erstfeld.

Thank you!