Swiss Rail Pass - discount on trip from Italy into Switzerland?

I don't know if it is cheaper to fly, given that you can get discounts on train travel. I don't think there is a true night train from Rome to Zurich, though. If you want the train, you should be able to buy a ticket from Milan to Zurich that takes into account your Swiss pass and doesn't charge from the Swiss border on. And it isn't that long a journey. If you book Rome to Milan on Trenitalia and get a discount fare of 19 euros, then book Milan to Zurich using your Swiss pass, it should be pretty inexpensive.

Thank you, I could not find a true night train either...there was one from Rome that you could take that left pretty late, and you changed trains at about 6:00 am. But it was pretty expensive for a sleeper car, and as my husband and I are traveling together we didnt want to be split into same-sex couchettes. Then you connected to Swiss Rail in the AM, and the only seats available on that journey were first class. Your reply was exactly what I was looking for though, we may just see about the discount fare in Italy on a different departure. Thank you very much for your help!

That "night train" probably goes through Innsbruck, right? Then change there for a train to Zurich? That's the long way around. Here's what you do: go on Trenitalia and put in Milan to Zuerich (spell it like that or the website won't recognize it). You'll see there are at least 2 direct trains, taking 3 hours 41 minutes, one departing at 11:10 and one at 15:10. It would be hard to make the early one coming from Rome, so pick the later one. The opening page will say the fare is 71 euros, but it isn't really. On the hext page, you will have an option to choose a fare, with a drop-down menu. If you didn't have a Swiss Pass, you could choose a Smart Fare and it would be 22 euro. But with a Swiss pass you choose "GA Swiss2" which means General Abonnement" or pass discount, in 2d class. That price is only 15 euros. I think you have to have your pass in hand and enter the number. Now you just need a ticket from Rome to Milan. That is a trip of about 3 hours on the fast trains. Book early to get the Super Economy fare. I checked for May 1, and there was a fare of 29 euro for the train departing at 10:25, arriving Milan at 13:45 which leaves you plenty of time to catch that 15:10. Go have a coffee, there are lots of options in the Milan train station. Total cost would be 44 euros each. Much better than a night train! And the trip through the Alps is pretty, even if there are a few tunnels.

There used to be a really nice night train from Rome to Zurich. It's no longer there. The only night train I see is the one from Innsbruck to Zurich. From Rome, you depart at 16:00 and are routed to Verona and then Innsbruck. You board the night train at 3:40am and arrive in Zurich at 7:20am. Total travel time is 15+ hours. Not really a good choice. I would suggest considering the really fast day runs mentioned above.