Interlaken to Venice: Swiss rail pass?

Swiss passes are for travel within Switzerland only. Eurailpasses are for the countries you have nominated only. If you travel using point to point tickets rather than passes you can get a ticket straight through, although you may find that the long day may like to be broken up. Picking a random day, and after breakfast for times I find 3 representative journeys. Version one: Interlaken Ost Tu, 26.07.11 dep 07:29 8 R 6109 Regionalzug Number of bicycles conveyed limited Interlaken West dep 07:31 1 Därligen dep 07:35 Leissigen dep 07:38 Spiez Tu, 26.07.11 arr 07:50 2 Transfer time 15 min. Adjust the transfer time Spiez Tu, 26.07.11 dep 08:05 3 EC 51 Eurocity Subject to compulsory reservation, Bicycles conveyed - subject to reservation, Bordrestaurant Visp dep 08:32 6/7 Brig dep 08:44 4 Domodossola dep 09:17 Stresa dep 09:39 Milano Centrale Tu, 26.07.11 arr 10:35 Transfer time 1:00 h Adjust the transfer time Milano Centrale Tu, 26.07.11 dep 11:35 IC 9715 Intercity Subject to compulsory reservation, Global price, Snacks and beverages available, space for wheelchairs Brescia dep 12:23 Desenzano del Garda/Sirmione dep 12:37 Verona Porta Nuova dep 12:59 Vicenza dep 13:26 Padova dep 13:43 Venezia Mestre
Venezia Santa Lucia Tu, 26.07.11 arr 14:10 ... so that's 6:41 including an hour in Milan, and not the most scenic route out of Switzerland, though not bad. (to be continued)

(continued ... part 2) The next choice is half an hour later and takes as long: Interlaken Ost Tu, 26.07.11 dep 08:00 7 ICE 276 Intercity-Express Bordrestaurant Interlaken West dep 08:05 1 Spiez Tu, 26.07.11 arr 08:21 2 Transfer time 15 min. Adjust the transfer time Spiez Tu, 26.07.11 dep 08:36 3 IC 810 Intercity Number of bicycles conveyed limited, business-compartment, Bordbistro, Snacks and beverages available, handy/quiet zones, parent-and-children compartment Visp dep 09:03 6/7 Brig Tu, 26.07.11 arr 09:11 3 Transfer time 33 min. Adjust the transfer time Brig Tu, 26.07.11 dep 09:44 4 EC 37 Eurocity Subject to compulsory reservation, Bicycles conveyed - subject to reservation, Global price, Bordrestaurant Domodossola dep 10:17 Gallarate dep 11:04 Milano Centrale dep 12:05 Brescia dep 12:53 Peschiera del Garda dep 13:13 Verona Porta Nuova dep 13:29 Vicenza dep 13:56 Padova dep 14:13 Venezia Mestre dep 14:30
Venezia Santa Lucia Tu, 26.07.11 arr 14:40 so no change in Milan, same basic route, half an hour in Brig. (continued)

(continued ... part 3) There is what I think is a better route on the next choice. It does take 8:36 so is a bit slower, but look how it goes: Interlaken Ost Tu, 26.07.11 dep 09:04 4 IR 2215 Interregio Number of bicycles conveyed limited Brienz dep 09:24 1 Meiringen dep 09:46 1 Brünig-Hasliberg dep 09:57 2 Lungern dep 10:10 Kaiserstuhl OW dep 10:16 Giswil dep 10:29 Sarnen dep 10:40 2 Alpnach Dorf dep 10:45 Hergiswil dep 10:54 3 Luzern Tu, 26.07.11 arr 11:04 12 Transfer time 14 min. Adjust the transfer time Luzern Tu, 26.07.11 dep 11:18 7 IR 2169 Interregio Number of bicycles conveyed limited, Snacks and beverages available, Observation coach Arth-Goldau Tu, 26.07.11 arr 11:44 5 Transfer time 6 min. Adjust the transfer time Arth-Goldau Tu, 26.07.11 dep 11:50 4 EC 17 Eurocity Subject to compulsory reservation, Bordrestaurant Bellinzona dep 13:25 3 Lugano dep 13:48 2 Chiasso dep 14:10 1 Como S. Giovanni dep 14:17 Milano Centrale Tu, 26.07.11 arr 14:50 Transfer time 15 min. Adjust the transfer time Milano Centrale Tu, 26.07.11 dep 15:05 IC 9729 Intercity Subject to compulsory reservation, Global price, Snacks and beverages available, space for wheelchairs Brescia dep 15:53 Peschiera del Garda dep 16:13 Verona Porta Nuova dep 16:29 Vicenza dep 16:56 Padova dep 17:13 Venezia Mestre
Venezia Santa Lucia Tu, 26.07.11 arr 17:40 (continued)

(continued, final part...) ... so the first part is the narrow gauge cog Zentralbahn which switches ends at Meiringen where it is possible to go up Reichenbach Falls where Holmes and Morarity fought, over the Brunig pass, past Mount Pilatus, through Luzern, along the Vierwaldstaettersee, and through fantastic mountain scenery before a close (15 minute) connection in Milano. I'd have a break in Milan, myself, and take the third one.

Belated thanks. Great information & advice.

We made this trip in December 2007. We had a Swiss Pass as well. We simply went to the train station in Switzerland and told them that we needed to go to Venice showing the agent our Swiss Pass. The train agent sold us a ticket for the "border of Switzerland to Venice" but I don't remember how much we paid; using the Swiss Pass for the Swiss portion of the trip. By the way, the Swiss train system is great!! On time, clean, frequent and the agents very helpful. We never needed any reservations except for the special scenic trains.

Oh, we took the second option above through Brig and without changing trains in Milan. We spent eight weeks in Switzerland in 2007 taking the train everywhere. So we didn't need the extra scenic route, just wanted to get to Venice the quickest way without changing trains in Milan.

Arth-Goldau to Milano Central by EuroCity - will this travel (or some part upto switzerland border) be covered by Swiss pass or I will have to purchase a ticket for this journey?

Neeru the question you woke up from 2 years sleep has your answer in the first answer to the original question. Jane may not want to receive replies to your question, as she has probably no longer needing answers. You may find it easier to question under your own threads. That way you can receive the emails.