Zermatt to Como S. Giovanni

Gou

Hello, I’ll be traveling from Zermatt to Como S. Giovanni on an upcoming trip. I purchased a Glacier Express from Zermatt to Andermatt. After, I’ll have a transfer and will be going from Anderamtt to Como. On another date, I will travel from Como to Lucerne. Please note, I have the Swiss Travel Pass.

Since I have the Swiss Travel Pass, all my train expenses in Switzerland are already covered and it’s my understand I can basically jump on any train (minus trains like the Glacier Express). But what about the trains into and out of Como, Italy? Will I need to purchase a ticket? Please note, both of my intended trains don’t stop or have a transfer at the boarder. So if I have purchased a ticket for that small portion into Italy, what website should I purchase it on or can I purchase it during my transfer in Andermatt in Switzerland?

Danhiel

Gou If you stay in the Eurocity (EC) from Bellinzona until Como, you will pay 11 CHF in second class or 13 CHF in first class, with a reserved seat. The tickets are only valid in the selected train. If you buy the ticket online from Bellinzona to Como, select the discount card « GA Travelcard », it is equivalent as your STP.

If you change in Chiasso (the border station) and take a regional train, you will pay only 1.60 CHF (second class). The tickets Chiasso - Como « Arcobaleno Transfrontaliera » on sbb.ch or SBB Mobile app are valid for 4 hours, you should also select the right train.

Krist

The validity of the STP ends in Chiasso. So you will need a ticket for Chiasso - Como. That only costs a few Euros, and you should be able to just buy that at the station in Zermatt, of if you wish, online on sbb-tickets.cc.

Gou

Interesting, thank you for the quick responses and I appreciate the insights. With that being said, it sounds like the best way to handle this situation seems to be get off in Chiasso and take a regional train (not an EC train) into and out of Como S. Giovanni. With that being said, would it best to purchase this Italian train ticket at any transfer train station in Switzerland along the way or pre-purchase the ticket online before hand (via this website).

With this adjustment, this seems like the best trains:

Andermatt to Chiasso
Chiasso to Como S. Giovanni

And back:

Como. S Giovanni to Chiasso
Chiasso to Next Destination

This has a lot of moving pieces and in my home country, trains aren’t a major form of transport so please let me know if you think that this would be the best option? My only other thought would be to purchase a ticket ahead of time on the EC Train, since we’ll already been on that train and it would reduce the need to transfer/leave a train. Even though it would cost more. Please let me know your thoughts and opinions on this topic, and if it would be worth it for the more expensive tickets to not transfer?

Danhiel

Gou Please note that a check-in is necessary is you have an Italian ticket for regional trains (Trenord). A check-in is not necessary for EC, but you must use the selected train.

The best way to buy the ticket and make the check-in is the Trenitalia app, you can also choose another train if you are late.

If you buy the ticket on trenitalia.com, a mail will be sent with a link for the check-in.

If you buy the tickets at the ticket office in Switzerland, be sure to get all informations to make the check-in or ask for a « Arcobaleno Transfrontaliera » ticket instead of a Trenord ticket, it is valid for 4 hours without check-in.

Very complicated for a 1,50 € ticket… Not a bad idea to take the EC who is more comfortable.

Krist

You do not need to get off in Chiasso if you choose to take the regonial train, as those trains you can board already earlier. It is not mandatory to step out of a train if you combine two tickets.
It is just that if you are on an EC train you need an EC ticket, and on all other trains you only need a regional ticket.

One thing I see people inexperienced with train travel do all the time is massively overthink this. There is no need for that.
You have a departure on the Glacier Express. That is fixed. Now, when you are in Zermatt just head to the station in a spare moment, and tell the ticket clerk that you are doing the Glacier Express till Andermatt, and want to continue to Como afterwards, and that you need a ticket for the part from the border till Como. The ticket clerk will know what to do.
(And you can do that at any station in Switzerland basically, does not have to be Zermatt)