From Milan to Zermatt

Nooghoso86

Hi, I have made a booking through the SBB mobile app from Milan to Zermatt on 25 Apr. When I booked, the train was supposed to depart at 15:25 from Milan and arriving Zermatt at 19:50. Now I noted that this option is no longer available for purchase, and there will be a construction work between Milan and Domodossola making the train services suspended. What can I do?

Danhiel

Hi Nooghoso86

You could travel with the same ticket with the bus, but I suggest to call the SBB Contact Center or visit a ticket office if you live in Switzerland to make an exchange. The problem is that the buses have a limited number of seats and it is better to have a reservation:

0848 44 66 88 (24/7, waiting times may occur)
From a foreign country the number is: +41 51 225 78 56

Kind regards
Danhiel

RomanoS

HI Nooghoso86

I’m sorry to hear that but I’m glad that @Krist and @Danhiel could help.
Can you please write us what our Contact Center told you?

Many thanks!!!

BR
Romano

RomanoS

Hi Nooghoso86
I had a quick look with a colleague. you could also take this connection. You would then go from Milan to Locarno, than from Locarno take the Train (FART) till Domodossola. Or this one ist even better.
The connection is this one. The trip goes a bit longer but all the way with a train.

If you would like to take one the two options, you should get in contact as explained from @Danhiel and replace the thickets purchaising this one.

Best regards,
Romano

Krist

The train has been replaced with a bus. That replacement bus leaves at 14:00. Take that bus. Or take the 16:00 bus. You have a ticket from Milan to Zermatt, so from Milan to Zermatt the railways must transport you.

RomanoS

ah @Nooghoso86 another information.
I spoke with a colleague in Ticino (The Swiss italian canton). She told me, that she never became complaints regarinds a lack of seats in Trenitalia compensations busses.

BR
Romano

Nooghoso86

RomanoS Hi Romano, thanks for the information. As I am living outside Switzerland, I cannot reach the SBB contact center at the moment for ticket replacement at the moment. I will be arriving Italy on 19 Apr, is it possible to get assistance from any of the Trenitalia service counter for bus seat reservation/ ticket replacement? If yes, do you know if there is any counter located at Rome? I’d prefer taking the bus at 14:00 as suggested by @Krist , thanks.

RomanoS

Hi Nooghoso86
I understand that. Then you basically do not have to do anything.
For the bus seat reservation I do not have any information regarding if and how. @Mods , @Krist or @Danhiel can you help?

Thanks
Romano

Danhiel

Hi Nooghoso86 @RomanoS

Buses have also global prices, as all other long distance trains in Italy. The ticket is valid only for a specific bus. However, you have no assigned seat.

I made a test and I found an important information. The 16:00 bus on 25 Apr. is already sold out, this is why I really recommend to exchange the reservation:

I don’t think that train reservations are automatically transferred to the bus, the departure times are not the same. It is true that the railways must transport you, but you have no guarantee that you will arrive in Zermatt on the same day. In worst case you would have to spend a night in Milan or travel via the Gotthard.

You should also consider that a bus ticket from Milan to Domodossola costs only 16 € on trenitalia.com. I would buy such tickets to be sure to be able to travel and arrive on time in Zermatt.

It is impossible to say if a refund of your original ticket may be possible or if it is better to use it from Domodossola to Zermatt, it depends if it is a saver or a regular ticket. A problem is that if you bought the ticket in the SBB app, the Trenitalia ticket office at Rome has no access to it. However, they could probably give you new reservations free of charge, if the buses are not sold out…

Krist

There is a replacement bus service for each cancelled EC service. You will see that they have similar numbers. So just be on time at Milano Centrale for the replacement bus with the number that corresponds to that of the train you booked.

Krist

Note how the busses have a “ECxxx” number. That tells me that if you have a ticket for the EC 44 you can use the EC044 bus. That it is sold out is not an issue if you already have a ticket…

Nooghoso86

Hi all, thanks a lot for your information. I plan to buy the bus ticket to secure seats, do you know if the bus has luggage storage as my companion and myself will each be carrying a large suitcase.

Danhiel

Hi Nooghoso86

I found something new. Until now, I assumed that the 15:25 train is an Eurocity, but it is a regional train. It means that your ticket is only valid in replacement buses for the regional trains, with an additional change, but not in replacement buses for Eurocity.

In this case, it is a good idea to secure seats in the Eurocity replacement bus.

It could explain why Trenitalia didn’t inform you about this change with a mail. Timetables for the regional replacement buses are currently not available.

No restriction is announced for luggage, I suppose that the buses have a luggage compartment.

Nooghoso86

Danhiel your information are very helpful, much appreciated.
I have bought the bus ticket, and will reach out to the Trenitalia counter once arrived Italy to see if I can get a refund of the original train ticket. Again, many thanks.