I've purchased our Select Rail Drive Pass and made reservations for two legs of our trip. Our first rail day will be from Italy (Varenna) to Switzerland (Interlaken Ost). For peace of mind, I pre-booked the Milan to Interlaken portion. However, we start the trip by leaving from Varenna. How do I handle this segment? Since it's the same rail day, it will be covered by the pass. I've read that the station isn't always manned. Will the train station ticket window be open at 8ish in the morning to validate our pass?...or do we just board...I know we write the date in ink on the pass... How would we validate our pass; - onboard? Is there no need to stamp anything in the yellow box at the tracks? Normally, starting in a larger city makes this easier, but I'm just not sure of the procedure from little Varenna.. I assume we punch the reservation piece at the tracks in Milan? Thanks for any clarification on this issue.
Posted by
Lewiston, Idaho, USA
2092 posts
Sue, it is possible to validate your pass before the first day you use it (as long as it's within the 6 months since the pass was purchased). It doesn't have to be validated the first day of use, in fact I prefer to validate the day before especially if my first train is an early one. This last spring we just arrived early at the station the first day of train use and almost missed the train because the line was so long. Will you be in Milan before going to Varenna? If so you could validate there.
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
Sue, I'm betting that you will most likely coming to Varenna from Milan or some other staffed train station. Buy your Varenna to Milan tickets there and before you get to Varenna. Most trains from Varenna to Milan are locals so the ticket is an "open ticket". No date, time or seat rservation on the ticket. It's good for any train on the run for 60 days. Just be careful to get to Milan in time for your Milan/Interlaken run. Those tickets should have date, time, train number and seat reservations on them. Also note that the train stops at Varenna for a very short period of time. Get on the train as quickly as you can.
Posted by
OP
PNW
194 posts
Larry and Darcy-Thanks for your help. The reason I don't want to buy the Varenna to Milan ticket earlier in Milan is because it's the same day that we're using our first rail day. I know it's not much, but it's an expense we don't need to make since we're using that day to go from Varenna to Interlaken.
Can we validate the pass early even if it's a select pass where we have only 3 rail days? If so, yes we'll be in Milan before going to Varenna 3 days earlier.
Posted by
Wisconsin
570 posts
I think there is some confusion as to what "validating the pass" means. You can have your pass validated at any train station at any time before your first day of pass travel (within the 6 month time period). The agent will write in the start and end dates for your pass. If your pass is for 3 days within 2 months, that's what they'll write (the two month dates). Then, before you get on your first train, you write in the date. Be sure to write the European version -- day/month. Then, you simply get on the train, and when the conductor comes around and asks for your ticket, you hand him (or her) the pass and they either punch it or write on it. You might also read the Railpass section of the RS website for more info.
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
Sue, I too would not waste a pass day on such a small local trip. The fare for the Milan to Varenna leg is 5.10Euro. Simply step aside from the pass and pay the 5.10Euro when you are in Milan. As I said, it's an open ticket good for 60 days. No seat reservations permitted. You'll have your ticket for the morning ride back to Milan. Yes, you will have to validate the ticket in the little yellow box in the train station.
Posted by
OP
PNW
194 posts
Larry-Don't worry; we're not planning to waste a rail day on our Milan to Varenna day. Just on our Varenna to Milan to Interlaken Ost day. I just didn't know when to validate our pass. I read the rail info provided by Rail Europe and Rick Steves and figured out the process, along with the help from everyone here. Thanks everyone!