Final Destination: Erstfeld
On the departure screens at Milano Centrale, Biasca may be displayed as the final destination, but this train is heading to Erstfeld.
This train also calls at: Biasca; Faido; Arilo and Göschenen (connect for the MGB line to Andermatt at Göschenen)
Some very welcome news is that the frequency of the train service has been signficantly increased!
The service is sparser until the early afternoon, but between 13:43 and 17:43 trains depart hourly.
Look for the train that is branded 'Ticino' - it isn't operated by Trenitalia.
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Type of Scenery: Mountain, Lakes
Star Rating: *****
Take this train and you'll be able to experience one of Europe's greatest train journeys.
The faster, alternative EC trains between Italy and northern Switzerland via Lugano have been diverted into the recently opened Gotthard Base Tunnel, but this train to Erstfeld still takes the much more scenic, older route up through the Gotthard Pass.
Soon after this train passes over the border into Switzerland, after it departs from Chiasso, the remainder of the journey will be a scenic wonder.
There are five particular highlights to look out for:
(1) The crossing over Lake Lugano - with great views from both sides of the train (the video was taken travelling in the opposite direction)
(2) South of Lugano station, there are views across the lake (again the video was filmed travelling in the opposite direction)
(3) After leaving Lugano look out on the left, for the magnificent vistas across the valley, as the train descend down into Bellinzona.
After departure from Biasca these trains part ways with the direct trains heading from Milano to Zurich and Luzern, as those trains enter the Gothard Base Tunnel
(4) Shortly after departure from Bodio station, these trains heading to Erstfeld ,will begin to spiral up the mountain side, he best of the views back down the valley are on the left-hand side when facing the direction of travel.
(5) After the train has passed through the older Gotthard Tunnel and called at Göschenen station, it will spiral down back the mountain by the village of Wassen.
There will be views of its white church on a hill from either side of the train.
It's the spectacular spirals on either side of the older Gotthard Tunnel, that the EC trains don't travel over.
And the trains used on this route are the single deck trains which have comparatively large windows!
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Onward connections from Erstfeld:
At Erstfeld a simple as can be cross-platform connection is available into a train on to Basel via Luzen.
If you will be heading to Zurich via Zug you will have to make another very straightforward connection at Arth-Goldau station - you should arrive in Zurich at 18:50
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Travelling with Eurail or InterRail Passes:
If you're heading to northern Switzerland from Italy with an InterRail or Eurail pass, these trains are a cheaper and more scenic option than the direct EC trains - because you can avoid the rail pass reservation fees that are payable on those EC trains
The onward connection at Erstfeld is straightforward - and if you travel by daylight you'll experience one of the highlights of your itinerary.
Though if you have a rail pass and want to avoid the additional costs of taking the EC trains, another option is to take a Regionale train from Milano to Lugano, and make connections there into faster Swiss IC trains.
Though by doing do you'll miss out on the most fabulous section of the journey, because those Swiss IC trains, take the same route as the EC trains, through the Gotthard Base Tunnel.
Though if you do want to make this connection in Lugano the optimum connections are:
Depart Milano at 07:10 and connect in Lugano for Luzern and Basel (you'll will need to make another simple connection at Arth-Goldau if you will be heading to Zurich).
Depart Milano at 08:10; 14:10 or 18:25 and connect in Lugano for Zug and Zurich (you'll will need to make another simple connection at Arth-Goldau if you will be heading to Luzern or Basel).
