Trying to go from Luzern one day to Venice. Thinking an overnight train...any ideas? Thanks!
Posted by
Renton, WA, USA
81 posts
Try "Die Bahn", the German national rail website, to research European rail travel schedules--English version at:
http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en?newrequest=yes&protocol=http:&
Type in your depature(Luzern)and arrival(Venezia Santa Lucia) stations and a late (2100) departure time.
Doing this, the system returned these options:
1) Lv Lucerne at 2057; change to night train in Bern at 2224, change trains at Bologna 0611, arr Venice St Lucia 0926; 2) Lv Lucerne 2102, change trains in Otten 2203, change to night train in Bern as above.
A third option goes by way of Milan, has no sleeping accomodations and involves four trains, a bus and a 3 1/2 hour layover.
The Die Bahn site doesn't quote prices except for German trains. You can use this site to get an idea for scheduling thoughout Europe.
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
Unfortunately, I don't think that you will get much sleep on an overnighter from Luzern to Venice. As Chris says above, you change trains in Bern to pick up the Basel/Rome overnighter. You change again in Bologna to go East to Venice. It's a 12.5hr journey with about 6 hours sleep on the Bern/Bologna segment. If you leave early in the morning, you can make the journey in 7.0hrs-7.5hrs with one train change in Milan.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
Note that the times Chris gave in option #1 are for travel beginning on Saturday. Monday-Friday & Sunday times are slightly different. Again, see www.bahn.de. After you get summry timetables, click on "Details for all" to see the connecting points.
Since I sleep well on trains even using a reclining seat, the nearly seven hours on the Bern-Bologna night train sounds pretty good to me. But that may not work well at all for you.