I am trying to figure how I pay for my train ticket from Interlaken to Varenna. I am traveling on a Sunday, the train schedule that looks good to me is a 10:00 departure. The schedule I found on sbb site is Interlaken to Spiez; transfer to IC 818 to Brig; Transfer to R4773 to Domodossola (I); transfer to RE 2149 to Milano; transfer to RE 2566 to Varenno-Esino. I will be using the Swiss half off card, so i know that I have to buy my ticket for the Swiss portion. I have a Italy Flexi pass for Italy travel. Is domodossla the last point in Switzerland? Do I buy a ticket from Interlaken to Domo, and then use my Italy pass for the Domo to Milan segment? I thought I read in rick's book that the Eurail pass is not valid on the Milan to varenna route? True? Thanks
Posted by
Tilburg, Netherlands
2829 posts
You got it right. Domodossola is a Swiss station for ticket purposes of FSS/SBB/CFF passes and ticketing rules (as is Tirano, for instance). I'd just re-check whether a Italy Flexi Pass is good value for use in Italy. In all likelihood, it will not be.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32352 posts
Tom, A slightly easier route from Interlaken Ost to Varenna would be a departure at 09:29, arriving at 17:24. That has one less change which is slightly easier. I'd buy the ticket from Interlaken Ost to Domodossola at the rail station at Interlaken (or at the station in Lauterbrunnen if you'll be in that area) when you arrive there. Domodossola is the first transfer station in Italy, so your Swiss Pass should be valid for that. If you use the 09:29 departure, the segment from Domodossola to Milano Centrale is via a Regionale so your Italy pass should work fine for that portion. Reservations shouldn't be necessary. As you noted, Railpasses DO NOT cover the Milan-Varenna-Tirano route or other service by the private TreNord railway. You'll need to buy a separate ticket for that. If you have a few minutes at Domodossola, I'd probably just buy one there using a Kiosk. You may also be able to buy the ticket on the TreNord website, but I've never tried that so don't know how "user friendly" it is. There likely won't be any price advantage regardless of where you get the ticket. For the trip from Milan to Varenna, BE SURE to validate the ticket prior to boarding the train on the day of travel, or you may get hit with a hefty fine which will be collected on the spot! The trip from Milan to Varenna is 1H:03M. Be ready to disembark promptly, as the train only stops for about a minute! Hsppy travels!