How to take train from Milan to Zurich - Gotthard Tunnel closed? What now?

There are trains from Milan to Zurich. They just take an hour longer, as they take the old route.

Best place to book is SBB: www.sbb.ch

The old route is a lot more scenic than the new one, so its not a huge tragedy.

never heard of railitalia. Probably another of the many third parties reselling tickets. Don't use other than the original sellers, the rail companies.

Trenitalia runs the trains from Milan up to the Swiss border. SBB run the trains from the border to Zurich.

RailItalia runs nothing but a website aimed at making money with tourists.
I'd get a through ticket from Milan to Zurich from either railway company.

At least I'd check about "alternative train options" only on the 2 official sites, just enter "Milano Centrale" in the From field and pick "Zurich" as arrival station.

Since SBB and Trenitalia Have been running trains between Italy and Switzerland for decades before the Gotthard opened, I bet they know what to do better than any ticket agency

I booked Trenitalia's super economy non-refundable non-exchangeable tickets on this route a few months ago and received an email from Trenitalia this week saying the train is cancelled. If I reschedule for another train via the longer route, will I have to pay the fare difference? I called Trenitalia and the operator suggested sorting it out at the train station on the day of travel. Should I do that or is it better to get another booking advance of time?

If I reschedule for another train via the longer route, will I have to
pay the fare difference?

No, if a train is cancelled you will be rescheduled without any extra cost.

Basically Trenitalia and SBB are trying very hard to get enough trains scheduled that everyone can travel, and they are being quite accomodating. So your ticket should be good for travel, on a train at or near your intended departure. It is just as part of rescheduling all trains of course got new schedules and so on, and that triggers all kinds of automated messages.

If you have an opportunity to go to a ticket office (musn't be Milano) beforehand to exchange your ticket you could do that. If not just go to Milano Centrale around your expected departure, look for a train to Switzerland and talk directly to the conductor.

Thanks for your replies.

I visited the TrenItalia office in Roma today to try to reschedule the booking for a non direct ticket. The lady said she couldn’t book a non direct solution because the Swiss part of the journey is run by sbb. She wanted to offer me a refund but I didn’t want a refund.

Then she said she can only offer me a trip as far as Zug. I agreed and she wrote this on my original ticket, stamped it and said to show it to the conductor. When I get to Zug, can I negotiate with the conductor to let me on a train to Luzern or should I buy another ticket to Luzern at Zug train station?

If you are going to Luzern you should just get off the train in Arth - Goldau. Do not stay till Zug. In Arth - Goldau just hop on any train going to Luzern. That lady in Rome was obviously not familiar with Swiss geography.

I will repeat this again: What you have is not "a ticket for a train". What you have is "a ticket for travel to Luzern". SBB, nor Trenitalia do have any other option than let you travel to Luzern, by whatever trains are available. There is no need to negotiate this. The SBB conductor will not make any issues.

Just take the train from Milan to Rome that you booked, then a connecting train to Switzerland, and in Arth - Goldau change for Luzern.

I arrived in Lucerne yesterday with no problem on the direct ticket that I booked 4 months ago. The conductor even reminded me to get off at Arth to change. Thank you 😊

Welcome to Switzerland. Enjoy your time here!

I’m loving it. Did Mt Titlis today.

SBB runs better than trenitalia it seems. Our train into Milan was delayed by more than an hour. Trenitalia sent me an email re 25% compensation and when I claimed it online, it arrived in my inbox as bonus credit for next purchase. I asked TrenItalia customer service about having it credited to my debit card and they made excuses about it being booked through Trainline etc etc. Very hard to get things done.