Enough time to Transfer?

Xuhoimogh98

Hello! We have a family of seven traveling from Luzerne to Milano. Departing at 8:18 and arriving in Chiasso at 11:26. We will transfer and depart Chiasso at 11:31. Is this enough time to transfer for 7 people with Carry-on luggage? Thank you!!

RolandP

Hello Xuhoimogh98

Sure, that’s more than enough time. Most people change trains at Lugano, which is even more convenient.

Kind regards,
Roland

RedBaron

Xuhoimogh98
Hmmm… and why exactly would you want to transfer from the RE80 arriving in Chiasso on platform 1 at 11:26 to the RE80 leaving from platform 1 at 11:31? 🤔

RomanoS

RedBaron so you are saying, maybe @Xuhoimogh98 ist confusing the arrival time and departure time of the same train (RE80) and thought that they have to change train, correct?

Thanks
Romano

RedBaron

RomanoS
Yes, there should be no reason for changing trains in Chiasso, as it’s usually the same RE80 train. So definitely enough “transfer time”. 😊

Also, the 14 minutes in Lugano for the IC21 > RE80 transfer is more than enough.

RolandP

RomanoS @Xuhoimogh98

The correct itinerary is actually given by the SBB trip planner:

Luzern - Lugano
Lugano - Milano

Consequently, the single change of trains needed happens at Lugano, from platform 3 to platform 1.

This is a no-brainer as many people will do this transfer. Simply grab your stuff and prepare yourself before arrival at Lugano, go to the exit doors before arrival, so you are ready to leave the train right when it has arrived in the station.

Kind regards,
Roland

Xuhoimogh98

RolandP
Thank you for your help. Another question I have is we will be flying into Geneva on July 10 at 10:30 AM. We have accommodations in Murren. Do I need to go ahead and purchase train tickets? Since there are seven of us traveling, I wasn’t sure if that was necessary to purchase in advance or if I could purchase when we arrive on the morning of July 10? Thank you very much!

Krist

When you buy a ticket Luzern - Milano on the SBB website you nowadays get two tickets, one Luzern - Chiasso, and another one for Chiasso - Milano. And that makes people think they have to change trains there.

Xuhoimogh98

Yes, Krist. This is exactly what my ticket says. It says, Lucern to Chiasso and then Chiasso to Milano. It’s very confusing. However, from the responses it looks like we will be transferring in Lugano. Thank you all.

Xuhoimogh98

Krist, also on that same train route from Luzern to Milano I got a notice for the second set of tickets that said it is compulsory to check in on the Italian regional train tickets on the day of travel. There is a button to push on your ticket that says “check in”. I accidentally went ahead and pressed the check-in button on all of the tickets. Will this be a problem?

Xuhoimogh98

My travel date is not until July 15.

Krist

It is never necessary to buy train t ickets in advance. (Your ticket to Como for example you could have bought at the station in Mürren). Trains are mass transit.

Regarding the “check in” for trains in Italy. This is completely unlike checkin in for a plane. This is a local commuter train, and the tickets are flexible. Hence you must “validate” them before you board. Trenitalia has decided to call this “check in”, rather confusingly.
You don’t need to do that now. Do that on the day your travel.

Unfortunately the major Railways of Europe appear to be in a race as to who can confuse tourists the most.