Bellinzona - Sestri Levante

Katko

Hi, I would like to book a ticket for the first weekend of July from Bellinzona to Sestri Levante. There is a direct connection from Zurich. I will travel with my bike and I know it is not possible to book a ticket for the bike for international journeys. It is currently not possible to book the ticket via SBB (not sure if the train will be available this summer). I cannot find the connection at Trenitalia. There are of course alternatives with one change, but I would prefer this direct option. Can you confirm the train will be available this summer? Thanks Tomas

Krist

When is your travel date?

The direct trains will not be running as far as I can find out. Best is to book this with Trenitalia, where you can add a bicycle reservation to your booking for 12,- Euro.

Katko

I am deciding between Sat 5/7 and Sun 6/7, I can find the direct connection at SBB, but not at Trenitalia. When trying to book via SBB, I get this message: Unfortunately, there are no longer any tickets available for the connection you have selected. However, during this booking process, our partner railway has provided some alternative connections, for which you can still purchase tickets.
So I guess I will book via Trenitalia with one change and bike ticket but of course the direct connection would have been nice.

Edit: here is a quite recent article inviting to take the train so I am a bit confused - https://railtour.ch/en/services/travel-blog/Sestri-Levante-the-city-of-two-seas_bba_21182

Krist

Katko When trying to book via SBB, I get this message: Unfortunately, there are no longer any tickets available for the connection you have selected.

That is the unhelpful message the SBB site throws up when it encounters an empty seat inventory for a train. It is unable to distinguish between “train is sold out” and “train is not open for booking yet”. This is the SBB trying to dethrone the DB as champion in the “confusing passengers” department.

Trains do not sell out months in advance. They would be useless if they did.

Just wait a bit. If the train runs it will eventually become bookable, and otherwise you book another train.

Ruegoitue53

Good point. Can someone from SBB confirm the trains to Sestri will be running from June as per SBB timetable? When are you expecting to be able to sell tickets?

Danhiel

Hello Ruegoitue53

Sorry, we are not the SBB customer service and we cannot answer this question. You can try again later or book now an available connection with a change in Milan.

Kind regards
Danhiel

Ruegoitue53

SBB timetable shows a direct train leaving Zurich at 6:33 starting on June 1st. The same train does not appear on Trenitalia, nor can you buy a ticket.
Is it completely unknown if these trains, advertised by SBB, will run starting three weeks from today?

Katko

Sure, I will wait. The other connection is ok too but I hope I can use this advertised direct connection to SL.

Katko

Now I can see the train on both SBB and Trenitalia, Zurich - Pisa. Makes things easier. I will have to book via Trenitalia because of the bike obviously. Thanks to all for their help.