Short connection at Domodossola – what happens if miss the train?

Hiegarru72

Hello everyone,
I have an international ticket from Milano Porta Garibaldi to Zermatt via Domodossola.
At the time of booking, the itinerary showed arrival in Domodossola at 09:53 and departure of the connecting train at 09:58 (5‑minute connection).
The current schedule (Trenitalia app) now shows arrival at 09:57, leaving only 1 minute to change trains.

Questions:

If the first train arrives late and I miss the 09:58 connection, is this connection protected?
Will I be allowed to take the next available train to Zermatt without extra cost?
Has anyone experienced a similar situation on this route?

Thanks in advance for your help.

RolandP

Hello Hiegarru72

A train from Milan normally continues to Brig, where you can change to the MGB Bahn to Zermatt. Not sure, why you should change at Domodossola. Is this during construction works?

If a train is late, you can always continue with the next possible connection. Delays are quite often when travelling from MIlan.

Kind regards,
Roland

Krist

What date is this?

Hiegarru72 If the first train arrives late and I miss the 09:58 connection, is this connection protected?

It may be that the next trains waits. But that is not guaranteed.

Will I be allowed to take the next available train to Zermatt without extra cost?

Of course. Just take the next train. For us this is self evident, so maybe that is why this is not always spelled out.

Has anyone experienced a similar situation on this route?

Not on this particular route. But my experience is that the Swiss Railways indeed respect the law in these situations.
I also suspect (given the routing) that you in fact have tickets that are flexible anyway. By default tickets are for a route, not a train.

Hiegarru72

Hi RolandP Thanks for your reply. Yes there is construction works. Due to delay can i just take any next train although the ticket is Supersaver? Is it at Domo, i should find the train office to change ticket? i also wondering whom i should approach for this? Is it Trenitalia?
thanks.
cltee

Hiegarru72

Hi Krist Thanks for your reply. This for the date of May 27. Btw, my ticket is Supersaver, understand that Supersaver is particular on which train number to take and not for the route.
thanks
Cltee

RolandP

Hello Hiegarru72

Is it the connection at 08:19 from Porta Garibaldi?

Kind regards,
Roland

Hiegarru72

Hi RolandP Start to depart at Porta Garibaldi at 7.40am to Zermatt via Domodossola. thanks.

Krist

With a Supersaver you must make sure you leave on the train youi booked. From then onwards the law says that now the railway must get you to your destination. So if a delay makes you miss a connection you can take the next one. And you can treat the connection in Domodossola as missed, as 1 minute is below the minimum connection time. For Swiss trains there is nothing special you need to do. Just find the next train and get on. And that next train can also be an EC service, as in Switzerland a train is just a train… There are no differences in tariffs between train categories.

I see you are on the 7:40 ex Garibaldi. How did you end up with this ticket though? You could have taken the 8:10 or 7:!0 EC services, which would have brought you all the way to Brig direct, and even with the 8:10 you would still be earlier in Zermatt than with the trains you booked.

Hiegarru72

Hi Krist Thanks for your reply. We bought the ticket in Feb, perhaps we overlook on the 8.10 or 7.10am schedule. One more thing, i am curious why the original gap time is 5mins to switch train at Domodossola. are the platforms very nearby? thanks.

Krist

Hiegarru72 We bought the ticket in Feb, perhaps we overlook on the 8.10 or 7.10am schedule

Probably the EC services were not yet bookable at that time. It is rarely a good idea to book trains that far in advance. And if all you see when you look up times is regional trains then you should definitely not book. I always advise people to not “jump the gun” on train tickets. You can safely wait till 4-5 weeks before departure. And tickets are usually even available on the day itself.

Hiegarru72 i am curious why the original gap time is 5mins to switch train at Domodossola. are the platforms very nearby? thank

5 minutes is sufficient to transfer between trains in most stations. In Switzerland the minimum connection time in most stations is 3 minutes…

Hiegarru72

Hi Krist Awesome, thanks! Hopefully everything is smooth. 🙂