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Basel / Bâle to Locarno by train
How to take the stunning rail journey from Basel to Locarno, where a simple connection is available with the Centovali Railway
There is a choice of two travel options when taking the train across Switzerland from Basel to Locarno.
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The service of direct trains has been restored, though they are also the slowest option as they take, the older, but much more beautiful route.
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The quicker option is to take an express train to Bellinzona and make a simple connection there into a local train on to Locarno.
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Routes
Option 1: taking the direct trains
Journey Summary
4hr 21min
Daily
Travel Information
Final Destination: Locarno
These trains also call at: Goschenen (connect for the MGB trains to Andermatt and beyond) and Airolo and Faido and Biasca
1 x train every other hour
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
These trains are operated by SOB and tickets can be booked on its website.
Tickets are also sold on the SBB, Swiss National Railways, website
When booking on the SBB website there are two things that are worth looking out for:
(1) If you want to to specifically travel by these trains on the more scenic route, look for IR in the ‘travel with’ column and the red % button in the 'Fare' column.
(2) Cheaper ‘Supersaver’ tickets (those with a % symbol on a red button) are available on these IR trains between Zurich and Locarno.
You’re most likely to find these Supersaver tickets if you book around 4 - 8 weeks ahead.
You may need to search through the departures to find these 'Supersaver' tickets using the ‘earlier’ and ‘later’ buttons, so try and be flexible with your departure and arrival times.
Though if you want to make a day trip from Basel it's highly likely that a Saver Day Pass, will be a cheaper option.
You can use it to travel back by any route to Basel and for journeys on the Centovali Railway.
Using Eurail or InterRail Passes
If you have a Eurail or InterRail pass you can just hop on these trains.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| SOB | * | |
| SBB | * | |
| Trainline | * | |
| Happy rail | * |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
If you will be using a rail pass to make a fabulous day trip from Basel to experience the scenic Centovali Railway you can take the train from Basel to the other end of the Centovali Railway at Domodossola, which usually departs from Basel at 10:28.
Then take the Centovali route to Locarno, where you can board these trains and travel in the opposite direction back to Basel.
Journey description:
The most scenic part of this journey by train from Basel to Locarno comes to the south of Luzern.
Though to the north of Luzern there are views on the left over the Sempachersee
The train will reverse direction on departure from Luzern.
Between Luzern and Arth Goldau from the left of these these trains) there are some fabulous views over Lake Zug.
The next beautiful vista to look out for comes after departure from Arth-Goldau station, when on the right, the train will pass by the Lauerzersee.
The train then travels through a dramatic landscape to the north of Schwyz.
Just to the south of here, also look out on the right for glimpses of the Luzernsee.
Between Erstfeld and Goschenen the best of the views are on the left; this video was filmed from a train heading north,
but it doesn't matter which side of the train you are seated on, in order to enjoy the incredible views over the village of Wassen with its white church on a hilltop.
That's because the railway loops in order to climb the mountain, and as it does so, the village can be seen from both sides of the train.
After departure from Goschenen the train enters the older Gotthard Tunnel, and between that tunnel and Bellinzona there are fabulous views from both sides of the train.
The railway will loop around in order to descend the mountains to the south of Airolo station, but this is a prelude to the final highlight of the trip, which occurs as the train descends the mountain on another set of looping curves between Faido and Biasca.
The views looking down the valley with the railway tracks below are breathtaking!
Though as the video below shows, filmed from a train travelling in the opposite direction, the train train then travels through a spectacular valley north of Bellinzona.
Option 2: faster, but indirect
Journey Summary
3hr 25min
Daily
Travel Information
If you set off from Basel in odd hours, you will only have to make one straightforward connection between trains in Bellinzona
You will arrive in Locarno around only 7 mins before the direct train which will leave Basel an hour later.
1 x connection every other hour
These fast trains typically depart Basel in the hours when the direct trains aren't available.
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
If you book 'Supersaver tickets';' you may need to search through the departures to find them using the ‘earlier’ and ‘later’ buttons, the Supersaver tickets tend to sell out particularly quickly on THIS route.
Online bookings open: 2 months ahead of the travel date.
On SBB look for the journey options with a time of 3hr 25min and a '1' in the change trains column.
If you will be making a return day trip, it's also likely that Saver Day Passes will be cheaper than tickets - particularly if you can book ahead and obtain these passes at their discounted rate.
With these passes you also won't be tied to specific trains so will be free to return to Basel at a time which suits you; and they're also valid for journeys on the Centovali Railway
Seat Reservations:
Seat reservations are optional on Swiss IC trains, so seats won't be assigned when booking online.
You can book reservations online for journeys by these IC trains, AFTER you have booked a ticket, by using the SBB (Swiss national railways) seat reservation service - OR request a reservation when booking at a station ticket office.
Travelling With A Rail Pass:
Rail pass users can jump on any train, without having to make reservations.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| SBB | * | |
| Trainline | * | |
| Happy rail | * |
Train 1
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
Final Destination: Lugano or Chiasso - the IC trains; Milano - the EC trains
Now that these trains travel through the epic Gotthard Base Tunnel, this journey is now less scenic than it used to be.
But this still a journey with some wow moments, from either side of the train.
Journey description:
Now that these trains travel through the epic Gotthard Base Tunnel, the journey by these express trains is now less scenic than it used to be.
But this still a journey with some wow moments, from either side of the train.
These scenic highlights are all south of Luzern; where the train will reverse direction.
Between Luzern and Arth Goldau from the left of these these trains) there are some fabulous views over Lake Zug.
The next beautiful vista to look out for comes after departure from Arth-Goldau station, when on the right, the train will pass by the Lauerzersee.
The train then travels through a dramatic landscape to the north of Schwyz.
Just to the south of here, also look out on the right for glimpses of the Luzernsee.
Train 2
Travelling On
Good to Know
Final Destination: Locarno
Locarno station is shared by trains operated by SBB, the national rail operator in Switzerland, and those operated by F.A.R.T. - the company which manages the 'Centovali Express' route.
In the station the F.A.R.T platforms/tracks are underground, but there is a step-free connection between these two parts of the station.
Between Bellinzona and Locarno station the railway line is close to the northern shore of Lake Maggiore, but for virtually all of the journey, the lake views are tantalisingly close, but out of sight.
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