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How to take a rail journey from Milano/Milan to Chur
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Milano / Milan / Mailand to Chur by train
Chur is beautifully located destination which makes a great base for exploring Switzerland's most scenic railways. It's also a convenient location in which to stopover when taking daytime trains from Milano to Wien / Vienna.
The routes that will be travelled when taking the train from Milano to Chur are also stunning!
Routes you can take to go from Milano / Milan / Mailand to Chur
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?
Route Information
Via stations: Zürich HB / Zurich main station
Option 1 - the fastest route via Zurich
Station Guides
Travel Time (approx)
4hr 42min
Frequency
Daily
Travel Info
up to 8 x connections per day
Purchase Tickets
ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on Trainline ticket sales. It can be a particularly good option for: Comparing different train services; Booking international journeys with connections; Travelling between the UK to destinations beyond Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris - and for international travellers who don't reside in western Europe.
Trainline Guide
Travel Information
When the usual timetable is operating, the train from Milano will typically arrive in Zurich eleven minutes before the departure of the fast train on to Chur.
Both trains arrive in and depart from the same part of Zurich HB station, the platforms / tracks which are on the same level as the main concourse.
If the train from Milano arrives in Zurich too late to make the booked connection, tickets will be valid on the next departure on to Chur - and the trains on that route don't tend to be exceptionally busy.
Though if need be reservations can be transferred to the next departure at the SBB Travel Desk in Zurich HB.
The disruption in the Gotthard Base Tunnel
As a consequence of the ongoing repair work in the Gotthard Base Tunnel, that the EC trains from Milano to Zurich typically use, the journey time has been extended by an hour - in effect the trains are departing an hour earlier from Milano than the usual schedule, with unchanged arrival times in Zurich.
This journey is made up of 1 change.
Train 1
Between Milano Centrale and Zürich HB / Zurich main stationYou will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
The first hour of this journey is unexceptional, but things become a tad more fabulous once the train has passed through Chiasso and crossed the border into Switzerland.
Once you're in Switzerland, look out for these highlights:
The views from the left over Lake Lugano, as the train nears Lugano.
The crossing over Lake Lugano - with great views from both sides of the train.
South of Lugano station, the views over the lake switch to the right.
After departure from Lugano, the train will now travel through the new Ceneri Base Tunnel.
After departure from Bellinzona the train will enter the world's longest railway tunnel, The Gotthard Base Tunnel - so long that it takes the train around 14mins to pass through it.
Despite the fact that this train now travels through The Gotthard Base Tunnel this is still a scenic journey through the Alps.
After the train has exited the tunnel and travelled through Schwyz, there are views on the left over Lake Luzern, which aren’t available when heading south on these trains.
Then shortly afterwards, before Arth-Goldau, also on the left there are views over the Lauerzersee.
After departure from Arth-Goldau there are some beautiful views over Lake Zug - also on the left.
(All of the videos were taken from a train travelling in the opposite direction)
Train 2
Between Zürich HB / Zurich main station and ChurYou will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Good to Know
The Twindexx trains are now used for most of these departures.
The trains also calls in Landquart where connections are available to Davos and Klosters.
Journey description:
From the left of the train (when facing the direction) of travel, there are fabulous views over Lake Zurich...
and then over the Walensee...
...before the train makes its first station call in Sargans
Then between Sargans and Chur there are very pleasant views of distant mountain ranges from both sides of the train.
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings usually open: 2 months ahead of the travel date
Connections departing at different times can be cheaper than others leaving on the same day, so you may need to look through the day's departures to find the cheapest fares.
Route Information
Via stations: Tirano, Pontresina and Samedan
Option 2 - the even more scenic route
Station Guides
Travel Time (approx)
6hr 45min (approx)
Frequency
Daily
Travel Info
up to 8 x connections per day
Purchase Tickets
ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on Trainline ticket sales. It can be a particularly good option for: Comparing different train services; Booking international journeys with connections; Travelling between the UK to destinations beyond Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris - and for international travellers who don't reside in western Europe.
Trainline Guide
Other Ticket Providers
Trenitalia Guide
Trenitlalia is the national rail operator in Italy and in addition to its cheaper types of ticket; it also typically offers other discounts available to non-Italians, which include:
- Group Offers, provides for a discount of up to 50% when 3-5 Adults travel together.
- Family Offer for when groups of 2 - 5 people are travelling together and at least one of the party is a aged 11 and under.
- The Children Free Offer is available for journeys by Frecce trains, when groups of 2 - 5 people are travelling together and at least one of the party is a aged 15 and under.
Those aged 15 and under travel for free, but the Adults will need to purchase full price 'Base' tickets.
SBB Guide
SBB is the main national rail operator in Switzerland, but tickets for journeys by the other significant operators including BLS and SOB can be be booked on the SBB website.
SBB also sells tickets for journeys to many destinations which involve a combination of SBB trains and services provided by the many independent operators who serve the Alpine resort towns.
However, if you will be making a long-distance return day trip, look out for he possibility of SaverDay passes being cheaper than tickets.
Though if you download the SBB app, booking tickets on SBB's mobile services can be simper than using the website.
Also watch out for the fact that booking international tickets can be comparatively quirky.
Travel Information
This route requires three connections, but none of them are complicated - and you efforts will be rewarded by travelling the length of Switzerland's greatest rail route!
The timetable is usually arranged so that on the Swiss part of the journey, all that's required at each station is to step off one train to board the next, which will be leaving from the opposite side of the platform / track.
In Tirano, the train on to Switzerland will leave from a station which is merely steps away from that used by the trains which head there from Milano.
On the usual timetable a train towards Chur, will depart Tirano just 8 minutes after the scheduled arrival of the train from Milano, but there are usually additional trains departing towards Chur around 40mins later.
Taking the Bernina Express
There is also the option to ride the most scenic part of the route on the Bernina Express - the year round train typically departs from Tirano at 14:24 and arrives into Chur at 18:22.
Though there isn't a train from Milano to Tirano at 11:20, so by taking the 10:20 departure, the connecting time between trains in Tirano will be around 90 mins.
Heading to Austria
There are trains from Chur on to Buchs, which is a station call on the route taken by trains from Zurich to Innsbruck and to Salzburg.
The end-to-end journey to both cities is usually most easily managed by departing Milano at 06:20; 08:20 or 10:20.
This journey is made up of 3 changes.
Train 1
Between Milano Centrale and TiranoYou will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Good to Know
Final Destination: Tirano
These trains also depart from: Monza
Sit on the left of the train (when facing the direction of travel) for views over Lake Como, all of the images were taken from the left of the train.
The railway line travels by the shore of the lake for more than 30 minutes between Lecco and Colico.
Then after Colico the foothills of The Alps can also be seen on the left
Train 2
Between Tirano and PontresinaYou will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Good to Know
Final Destination: St Moritz.
Set off from Milano Centrale no later than 12:20 and there will be an option to break the journey in St Moritz, though the timetable is arranged so that travelling with connections in Pontresina and Samedan is the faster option.
The first highlight of this fantastic train ride occurs within 10 minutes of departing Tirano when the railway uses the uniquely fabulous Brusio Spiral Viaduct to make a transfer between two valleys.
As can be seen in the video, thanks to the twist, there are spectacular views from both sides of the train - but the view from the left when heading north enables the viaduct to be in view
Between the viaduct and Miralago the railway follows a valley and here the best of the views are also on the left.
The highlight of the fifth phase of the journey between Miralago station, and Poschiavo are the beautiful views of the lake, the Lago di Poschiavo, along with the river to the south Poschiavo station.
They are both on the right when heading north.
The next stunning phase of a north bound journey commences at Poschiavo station.
Because the railway zig zags across the mountain side, so that the trains can ascend towards Cavaglia, there are incredible views back down the valley, from both sides of the train.
Either side of Cavaglia station come the absolute highlights of the journey.
As the train reaches the ascent of the climb from Poschiavo, there are bird's eye views to revel in, which stretch back down the mountain pass to Tirano.
Then shortly after departure from Cavaglia, with a few turns in the track the train will enter the Bernina Pass.
As the train traverses the Bernina Pass, it passes by some small lakes, these can be seen on the left when travelling north from Tirano; the snowy scenes were captured by SMTJ on the second weekend in May!
The next phase of the journey comes when the train exits the pass just to the north of Alp-Grum station the on-board commentary available on all of the trains which follow this route, will point out the view of the glacier on the other side of Lago Palu.
Train 3
Between Pontresina and SamedanYou will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Good to Know
Final Destination Scuol-Tarasp
This train in effect by-passes St Moritz, because the resort town isn't on the direct route
This part of the route takes less than 10 minutes.
Train 4
Between Samedan and ChurYou will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Good to Know
Final Destination Chur
The Bernina Express which typically departs Tirano year round at 14:24 is direct from Tirano to Chur.
Some of the many wow moments on this journey are a result of the railway using spiraling loops cut into the mountain side to gain height, so as the trains ascend or descend there are spectacular views looking back down the valley.
When heading north the first of these comes between Preda station and Bergun station - to the north of the Albula Tunnel.
The second of these sets of spirals are located just to the south of Filisur station
Shortly after departure from Filisur the train will enter a short tunnel, on the other side of which is the highlight of the journey - the crossing off the iconic Landwasser Viaduct!
When travelling north towards St Moritz for the best views of the journey out of the tunnel and over the viaduct, when boarding try to find seats on the left when facing the direction of travel, but occupy backwards facing seats.
Although the blink and you'll miss it view down the valley, is eclipsed by some of the other incredible views that can be seen when travelling along this Albula Railway north of the viaduct - all of which can be best appreciated on the left, when facing the direction of travel.
They are;
- looking down on the village named Surava
- the Lake Alora north of Tiefencastel
-the River Rhine between Reichenau-Tamins and Chur
Tickets
This isn't a route on which you can save by booking in advance, but booking ahead saves having to book tickets against the clock, when making the tightly timed connections between trains in Tirano,
Though separate bookings are required, the journey from Milano to Tirano and the end-to-end journey from Tirano to Chur.
Booking the Bernina Express
On the Bernina Express website, click the hard to miss 'Book now' button, be aware that a ticket + a reservation are required to travel in the Panoramic cars/coaches and these can be booked separately.
Or if you have a valid rail pass, including Eurail, InterRail and Swiss Travel Passes, you will only need a reservation
Booking more than two months ahead
Note that when:
1: This is the price of the reservation.
2: Note that you are made aware that you will need to book tickets at a later date, they're available from two months ahead.
3: You can specify the number of travellers, the maximum per booking is nine.
4: It can be worth checking the specific seat availability on each departure.
5: These green buttons indicate the seat availability in the class you wish to travel by; one button = few seats left; 4 = very high availability.
If you will be using a valid rail pass...
... you can use the reductions options to select it, so that your pass will be on the reservation - you will need to travel with your pass and the reservation.
To book the tickets, return to the website
and book an 'Ordinary ticket'
Have your reservation to hand, as most of the options available will be for trains other than the Bernina Express departures and you need to book a ticket for the same train that you have reserved.
They're called Ordinary tickets, because these are what you can book if you don't want to travel in the panoramic cars/coaches; the additional cost to ride in the panoramic coaches is the reservation fee, which you will have already booked.
Booking up two months ahead
Note that...
... because the tickets are already on sale, that the cost of the reservation has already been included.
The total cost at top right is for the ticket + reservation.
However, if you will be using a valid rail pass you can click on the reductions to select your rail pass, as above.
You will then see:
1: The pass you will be using.
2: The ticket cost will be 0.
3: The price will have dropped to that which is charged solely for the seat reservation in the Panoramic coaches.
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