How to take the rail journey from Zurich to Lorcano

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Zürich / Zurich to Locarno by train

A service of direct trains has recently been restored when travelling from Zurich to Locarno, good news for those which are averse to making connections; and they also take a beautiful route!

For those who value time saving over scenery, the faster option is to take an express train to Bellinzona and then make a simple connection there into a train on to Locarno.

Routes you can take to go from Zürich / Zurich to Locarno

When travelling between most cities by train there is only one logical option, though on other journeys there is a choice between different trains or alternative routes. If different options are available you can use the info to decide which is best for you.

Choose one of the following options:

Looking for connections?

Journey guides for travel to Zürich / Zurich

Route Information

Via stations: Bellinzona

Option 1: the faster option

Station Guides

The frontage of Zurich Hb station by the Bahnhofplatz tram stops

Zürich HB / Zurich main station Rail Station Guide

Bellinzona Rail Station Guide

Locarno Rail Station Guide

Travel Time (approx)

2hr 19min

Frequency

Daily

Travel Info

a minimum of 1 x connection per hour

Is this journey option from Zurich to Locarno direct?
No, a connection is required in Bellinzona

Is the journey scenic?
Yes, though south of Arth-Goldau, it isn't as scenic as the route taken by the direct trains - See the images and videos, plus tips for making the most of the views in the Journey Information.

When is the usual approximate earliest arrival in Locarno on this journey option?
Around 08:45 daily
Source = European Rail Timetable

How easy is it to travel on from the station in Locarno?
Locarno station has a very convenient location in the heart of the town and by the shore of Lake Maggiore

When is the usual approximate latest departure from Zurich to Locarno on this journey option

21:05 on Monday to Saturday
After 20:30 on Sunday
Source = European Rail Timetable

How easy is it to get to the station in Zurich?
Zurich HB is at the northern edge of the heart of the city, the old town area is within a 10min walk and more than a dozen routes / lines use the two sets of tram stops.
See the Station Guide for more info, plus easy access to booking accommodation in its neighbourhood.

Are tickets cheaper if booked in advance for this Zurich to Locarno journey?
Yes

How soon ahead of travel are tickets typically placed on sale for this Zurich to Locarno journey?
Typically up to 6 months ahead of the travel date; though this period of time can be shorter, particularly when searching for journeys more than three months ahead during October and March.

What are the child ticket terms for this Zurich to Locarno journey?

Children aged 5 or younger travel free of charge
Children aged 6-15 and travelling with a person aged 16 and over, pay 50% of the adult rate per journey - see the Ticket Guide for more info.

Does the ticket for this Zurich to Locarno journey include assigned seats?
No, reservations are available on the IC train as far as Bellinzona, but are not mandatory.
See the Train Guide in the Journey Information for insights on how to board the train

Do rail pass users need to book reservations for this Zurich to Locarno journey?
No

Is catering available on this Zurich to Locarno journey?
There is a bar/bistro car and a restaurant on the IC train as far as Bellinzona
See the Train Guide in the Journey Information.

What else is good to know about Swiss rail travel?
Check out the guide to travelling by train in Switzerland.

Travel Information

1 x connection per hour

If you can set off from Zurich in odd hours, you will only have to make one straightforward connection between trains in Bellinzona

Though if you depart from Zurich in even hours, you can now take a direct train

This journey is made up of 1 change.

Train 1

Between Zürich HB / Zurich main station and Bellinzona

Zürich HB / Zurich main station Rail Station Guide

Bellinzona Rail Station Guide

You will be travelling on one of these trains...

Giruno Train Guide

IC/ICN (Switzerland) Train Guide

Journey Features

Scenic - YesLake viewsLandscape (Hills / Mountains)

Good to Know

Final Destination: Lugano (IC trains on route IC 2), Milano or Venezia or Genova or Bologna (EC trains)

All trains also call at: Arth-Goldau

Taking an IC or EC train from Zurich to Belliznona:

There are two types of express train service on the Zurich to Bellinzona route:

(1) Swiss IC trains which will be heading to Lugano
(2) International EC trains, which will be heading to Milano or other destinations in Italy
(Some of EC train departures MAY will still be by the Astoro trains)

Swiss 'rules' apply to this journey, so whether you will be buying tickets or using a rail pass, it doesn't particularly matter which of these train services you choose to travel by; seat reservations aren't compulsory on Zurich to Bellinzona journeys by the EC trains.

The timetable is slightly eccentric because in most odd hours both an IC AND an EC train depart, but in even hours the direct IR train to Locarno will be available.

These IC and EC trains to Bellinzona should all depart from the street level platforms/tracks in Zurich HB (gleis 3 - 18).

From Zurich Flughafen/Airport:

There are no direct trains between the station at Zurich Flughafen/Airport and Bellinzona

You will have to change trains at Zurich HB station.

Making the transfer will be much easier if you take a train from Zurich Flughafen to Zurich HB which uses the same part of Zurich HB station (platforms/tracks/gleis 3 - 18) that the trains on to Bellinzona will depart from.

So when taking a train from the airport target either;

the trains on route S24 heading to Zug - every 30 mins.
the IR trains to Luzern - every 30 mins.
the IR train to Basel via via Brugg - 1 x train per hour.

Journey description:

Now that these trains travel through the epic Gotthard Base Tunnel, these journeys* are now less scenic than they used to be.
But this still a route with some wow moments.

The train will spend most of the first 10 mins of its journey travelling in a tunnel, but soon after it emerges into the daylight, the train will ascend upwards from the sure of Lake Zurich.

So from the left of the train (when facing the direction of travel) there are sweeping vistas to be enjoyed down over the lake

Then, if the weather is behaving itself, after departure from Zug station comes the first highlight of the journey, the view over the Zuger See.
This lake with its mountain peaks on the far shore can be seen on the right for more than 15 mins between Zug and Arth-Goldau station.

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, which used to be a preview of what was to come when the trains still used the older Gotthard route, to Bellinzona via Goschenen.

Just to the south of here, also look out on the right for glimpses of the Luzernsee.

Looking down over Lake Zurich to the south of the city

Looking over the Zuger see to the south of Zug station

Between Zug and Arth-Goldau Lake Zug is on the right

To the south of Arth-Goldau, passing the Lauerzersee, which is on the right

Then look out for glimpses of the Luzernsee also on the right

Heading towards the Gotthard Base Tunnel

Between the Gotthard Base Tunnel and Bellinzona

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Train 2

Between Bellinzona and Locarno

Bellinzona Rail Station Guide

Locarno Rail Station Guide

You will be travelling on one of these trains...

The type of train most often used on the double-deck RE services

RE (Switzerland) Train Guide

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 tantilisingly close, but out of sight.

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How to take the rail journey from Zurich to Lorcano

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Zürich / Zurich to Locarno by train