We want to take an overnight train (sleeper) from Zurich to Rome. Is that possible without a transfer? Any pointers?
I know of no way to do that journey without a connection in Milano. There is a combination with one change there, just before midnight, with a 7 am ish arrival in Rome. I've done my last overnight train.
There used to be a night train years ago but not anymore. As Nigel points out, the best run available has one train change in Milan. Also, the train from Zurich to Milan isn't a night train. You board the night train at Milan. You do get 8.0hrs on the night train. Overall, it's a 12hr11min train journey. Two other choices. The regular day train makes the same journey in 7.5hrs. Secondly, you can fly from Zurich to Rome on Swiss Air for as low as $115. It's a 90-minute flight.
There are not longer night trains on the Italy-Switzerland route. I would take a combination of 2 day-trains Zurich-Milano-Roma. The reason is that the Milano-Roma night train is pure crap, old, noisy and using the old tracks instead of the newer high-speed ones.
Thanks for all of the feedback. Very helpful.
That's such a long distance I'd probably choose to fly.