Como S. Giovanni to Mulhouse tomorrow

[Ian99]

Due to the train into Milano Centrale being 42 minutes late earlier I find myself in Como S Giovanni rather than Tirano so I'll have to revisit the Bernina Express another time.

I've got an interrail pass and need to be in Mulhouse tomorrow evening. Does anyone have any brilliant ideas about interesting routes I could take tomorrow across Switzerland leaving Como no earlier than 1000hrs? Ideally not involving any need to reserve seats.

 

[Gloster]

It looks like there is an EC at 09.50 to Zurich (13.27), whence you can continue to Basel and Mulhouse. I think it is the direct route, but via the old and more interesting line as the Base Tunnel is closed. Best check onward times from Zurich.

 

[rvdborgt]

There's a regional train to Lugano (and further) every hour, connecting there with an IC further into Switzerland.
From Basel to Mulhouse, use any TER train. No reservations needed.

 

[Segedunum]

If you take the Regional Express service from Bellinzona to Göschenen (same route as the diverted long-distance services are taking) then you could head up to Andermatt then take the train from Andermatt to Brig.

From there, you could head for Basel. It's a very scenic line and has a proper 'mountain' feel. Looks like you'll get plenty of snow in Andermatt.

 

[30907]

If you take the Regional Express service from Bellinzona to Göschenen (same route as the diverted long-distance services are taking) then you could head up to Andermatt then take the train from Andermatt to Brig.

From there, you could head for Basel. It's a very scenic line and has a proper 'mountain' feel. Looks like you'll get plenty of snow in Andermatt.

And from Brig use the regional train over the old Lötschberg route if time allows.

Alternatively, as well as the obvious routes via Zürich/Luzern and Basel, you could try:
- crossing the French border at Delle to Meroux-TGV (which is above Belfort-Montbeliard TGV) then Belfort to Mulhouse.
(Luzern-Olten-Solothurn-Moutier-Delemont to Delle is probably the most interesting permutation en route).

- or Luzern-Brünig-Interlaken-Basel.

PS Don't use the IR app for connections - it defaults to 5min while CH often uses less.

 

[rvdborgt]

If you take the Regional Express service from Bellinzona to Göschenen (same route as the diverted long-distance services are taking) then you could head up to Andermatt then take the train from Andermatt to Brig.

From there, you could head for Basel. It's a very scenic line and has a proper 'mountain' feel. Looks like you'll get plenty of snow in Andermatt.

Very nice route indeed. There are engineering works though, with bus replacement between Oberwald and Fiesch (around 40 minutes). Total travel time is still the same and the views too.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 2 Nov 2023 ==

PS Don't use the IR app for connections - it defaults to 5min while CH often uses less.

It's not just that, it's plain unreliable and should under no circumstance be used for any planning.

 

[eastwestdivide]

Como-Locarno for the scenic Centovalli to Domodossola then Brig-Basel-Mulhouse?

 

[Ian99]

Very nice route indeed. There are engineering works though, with bus replacement between Oberwald and Fiesch (around 40 minutes). Total travel time is still the same and the views too.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 2 Nov 2023 ==


It's not just that, it's plain unreliable and should under no circumstance be used for any planning.

Thanks everyone for their replies - exactly what I was hoping for.

How do I ensure that the db app doesn't suggest routes that I need to reserve? Is the bus replacement valid with the interrail pass?

 

[rvdborgt]

How do I ensure that the db app doesn't suggest routes that I need to reserve?

The DB app unfortunately doesn't have a filter for trains without mandatory reservations. It will however clearly show when reservations are required, with a "boxed R". In Italy and France, it usually means regional trains only (with a few exceptions in France, but not on Basel-Mulhouse); in Switzerland, reservations aren't needed at all except for a few panoramic express trains.

Is the bus replacement valid with the interrail pass?

Sure it is.

 

[Segedunum]

You'll just need to make sure you take a Regional (or Regional Express) train over the border from Como - as the EuroCity services are compulsory reservation within Italy - and guards do check.

 

[dutchflyer]

The ONLY trains along whatever route-and I would also strongly suggest the 100 valleys=CentoValley from Locarno westbound to joining the main Route to Brig that have mandatory RES are those EC going IT->CH. Though I even have some doubts what the chances are to get checked in the 10 mins or so in IT from Como-it is only for the IT part! All the usual Swiss tickets are also valid across IT on that routing.
In Basel these FR SNCF-just hope there is not yet again some local strike-leave mostly from a still a bit separated part of the Bahnhof-as a remnant of days of yore when one still had to pass border checks& all that.

 

[rvdborgt]

The ONLY trains along whatever route-and I would also strongly suggest the 100 valleys=CentoValley from Locarno westbound to joining the main Route to Brig that have mandatory RES are those EC going IT->CH.

There are no mandatory reservations from Domodossola to Switzerland.

 

[DanielB]

There are no mandatory reservations from Domodossola to Switzerland.

Not mandatory indeed, but those can be very busy. It is worthwhile to aim for one of the few IR services to Brig as they are as fast but significantly less crowded I noticed last summer. From Brig those IRs continue as IC to Basel, which is practical for TS as well.

The one I took last summer, albeit the other way round, had an excellent connection to the Centovalli line as well.