Interrupted service: Domodossola (I) - Milano Centrale 3 Oct - 5 Oct

LolaU23

I would like to travel by train from Geneva to Milan on October 4. On some routes it is indicated that there will be construction work between Domodossola and Milano Centrale, while on others it is not, although the direction of the train is the same.

Is it possible to travel by train on a route where construction work is not indicated? If it is not shown, will I still be transferred to a bus, or does this information apply only to EC trains?

For example, the train at 07:05 from Geneva to Milano Centrale, stopping at Brig and Domodossola, is unavailable for purchase because of construction work between Domodossola and Milano Centrale.

However, later that day there is a train at 14:24 from Geneva through Brig and Domodossola to Milano Centrale. This option does not show any construction work and is available for purchase. Does this mean I can travel the entire way by train without changing to a bus at Domodossola?

There is also a train at 08:24 from Geneva through Brig and Domodossola to Milano Porta Garibaldi. This route also shows no construction work and is available for purchase. Can I take this train, and is it guaranteed that I will not have to transfer to a bus at Domodossola?

Please help! This is my first time in Switzerland and I am worried my train will be cancelled. 🙏🏻

Danhiel

Hello LolaU23

The timetable is currently not updated, it is not possible to plan a trip now. Regional trains via Novara will run because it is not the same line, but I guess that all trains on the direct line between Domodossola and Milan will be replaced by buses.

Kind regards
Danhiel

LolaU23

Danhiel
Thank you very much 🙏🏻
I’ll check the Novara line too

Krist

If you buy a ticket you will be able to use it for travel from Geneva to Milano. If it turns out that a train is replaced by a bus you can use the ticket on the bus.

One that route there are two types of trains: EC trains, with compulsory reservation, and regional trains. Trenitalia will not open sales for a train with compulsory reservation unless they are sure it will run. For that reason you cannot buy tickets for those EC services currently. Once a replacement schedule has been worked out sales will start.
For regional trains tickets are for a route, not a train, so the railways will sell tickets even if they are not sure yet about the schedule. This is because you, as a traveller, are expected to verify closer to the day of travel what exactly is running. So you can buy those tickets, but do not assume that the schedule you see is how you will travel. You will probably be on a bus part of the way.

LolaU23

Krist
Hello,
First of all, thank you very much for such a detailed answer!

I would like to clarify one detail about October 4. If I buy a ticket that includes a regional train from Domodossola to Milan, but on that day the train is replaced by a bus, will my regional train ticket also be valid on the replacement bus? Or would I need to buy a separate ticket for the bus?

Thank you in advance for your help!

Danhiel

In the meantime I found that tickets for the EC replacement buses between Domodossola and Milan are already available on Trenitalia.com (16 €). They will probably also be available on SBB website in a few days.

Krist

LolaU23 will my regional train ticket also be valid on the replacement bus?

Tickets are for a route. You do not buy a ticket for the regional train, you buy a ticket for an origin-destination pair eg. Domodossola - Milano, and it will be valid on whatever the public transport company chooses to make available that day…

Loavoophaick14

LolaU23
Hello, I hope things worked out for you on this trip. Will you please update how and what you ended up doing as I am in same situation. Also regarding your question about purchasing a ticket for alternate train going on the same line that shows “interruption due to work” . Did you buy the ticket that showed no interruption and were able to complete the trip ?
thanks
Your quote
"Is it possible to travel by train on a route where construction work is not indicated? If it is not shown, will I still be transferred to a bus, or does this information apply only to EC trains?

For example, the train at 07:05 from Geneva to Milano Centrale, stopping at Brig and Domodossola, is unavailable for purchase because of construction work between Domodossola and Milano Centrale.

Krist

You have two kinds of trains on that route. You have through EC services with compulsory reservation. And you have regional trains without compulsory reservation.
If there are engineering works planned Trenitalia stops sales for the EC services, until they know for sure that what will be running. Often they replace these trains partly with busses, but do not publish those till shortly before travel. But once the bus times are published you can reserve tickets for them. In the past they often ran a bus Geneve - Milano direct via the St. Bernhard pass.

For regional trains a ticket comes without a reservation, and such tickets are really for a route, not a train. So if the schedule changes, or a train is replaced with a bus you are supposed to find out about this yourself, and adjust your travel plans accordingly. So you can buy that ticket, but it is possible that you will travel part of the route in a replacement bus.