Content
Tilo (Switzerland / Italy)
Discover what's good to know about these local and regional trains, some of which connect Italy and Switzerland.
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At a Glance
Train Specification
Attributes of the train
Has a Conductor
Accessibility
Accessing the train
Bikes Allowed
Wheelchair Spaces
Country
Which country these trains operate in.
Italy
Switzerland
Catering
Food services available
No Catering
Reservations
Not Available
Time of Day
Day
Travel Passes
Eurail
InterRail
Travel guide
Tilo trains are operated as a collaboration between the Swiss national rail operator, SBB, and the primary rail operator in Lombardy, Trenord.
Most of the routes operated by Tilo trains are in Ticino, the Italian-speaking canton of Switzerland, but many services logically extend across the Italy / Switzerland border.
The international routes operated by Tilo include:
- Milano Centrale - Monza - Como - Chiasso - Lugano - Cadenazzo - Locarno (the RE80 service)
- Como - Chiasso - Lugano - Bellinzona - Biasca (the S10 service)
- Malpensa Airport - Gallarate - Varese - Lugano - Bellinzona - Biasca (the S50 service)
- Gallarate - Luimo - Cadenazzo (the S30 service)
Not all station callls have been included in these summaries
The RE80 route enables rail pass users to travel between Milano and Switzerland without paying any reservation fees - connect in Lugano in and out of IC services to/from Basel and Zurich.
On Board
The trains operated by Tilo have 1st class seating areas, but the difference to 2nd class is comparatively minimal, but the primary benefit of travelling 1st class is that 1st class is inevitably quieter
Reservations are not available ion Tilo trains and at busy travel times, seats can become unavailable, particularly in 2nd class - when taking the RE80 service from Milano Centrale, it can be be a good idea to be at the station twenty minutes before departure.
Wheelchair spaces are available on all trains and many of the trains operated by Tilo have level boarding and ramps within the train, to enable step-free access to the seats.
Taking bicycles
The trains have designated spaces for non-folding bikes with straps or hooks which must be used, but tickets are required pre-boarding and spaces are not guaranteed.
As stated on the Tilo trains website
'On weekdays, especially during peak hours, between 7am and 9am and between 4pm and 7pm, it may be prohibited to take bikes for capacity reasons'.
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