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emmastyles
Traveller
4 comments

Posted 12 years ago

I've been trying to figure out the best route Milan-->Paris. I have an Interrail pass. I originally thought about getting the sleeper train with Thello (I know the Interrail does not cover this), but just thought I'd ask around and see if there are any better options - preferably that would be covered by my interrail pass - I may as well make the most of it after all!

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Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

replied 12 years ago

Hej,

well the situation on the Mont Cenis Route (Paris - Milano via Lyon - Torino) is really bad for InterRailers at the moment. I hope that the officials will realize at some point that they dont help the product InterRail if they charge that high fees for InterRailers or dont even accept IR (on Thello services).

What you could do:

- Direct TGV: 55€ reservation fee...it is ridiculous!
- Take a SNCF bus from Torino to Lyon, then continue to Paris: 2x6€ reservation although you risk that the SNCF quota for InterRailers is sold out
- Travel via Switzerland. The best option in my opinion. You have several possibilities:

Fastest: EC to Geneve, then TGV Lyria to Paris (this is even faster than the direct TGV via Mont Cenis! Reservation costs 10€ + 9€
Alternative route via Basel which is a little slower in case you dont get reservations via Geneve, same reservation costs

Slower but cheaper: Instead of using the direct EC Milano - Switzerland, travel to the border with regional trains and change there to Swiss domestic trains to Basel or Zürich; change there to TGV Lyria to Paris. The border station you need to go is Chiasso.
This option is also available on the route via Geneve although not advisable since there are very few regional trains crossing the border (border crossing Domodossola - Brig).

Slow with spectacular mountain railway: Travel with the Bernina and Albula line: :arr: [u]https://rail.cc/en/train/milan-to-zurich[/u]
If you get the early train at 6am you could even travel to Paris within one day; I would recommend to stay overnight along the way, either on the mountain at Ospizio Bernina or Pontresina (which would be fantastic experience, especially if you stay at Ospizio Bernina) or at Zürich.


Flo 8)

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emmastyles
Traveller
4 comments

replied 12 years ago

Yeah it is pretty ridiculous that the Milan-->Paris sleeper train isn't covered on Interrail :/ thank you for your help! Seriously tempted to take the scenic route.. even if I do lose day!

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Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

replied 12 years ago

Yeah, it is a pity. The strange this is, that Trenitalia is a shareholder in Thello - but they didnt manage/want to accept IR on their trains. :((

Anyway, seriously, invest that extra day and go with the scenic route, it is reaaally lovely! ;)

:arr: [u]https://rail.cc/en/ospizio-bernina/albergo-ospizio-bernina/l1139[/u]
:arr: [u]https://rail.cc/en/train/tirano-to-st-moritz[/u]

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Peter
Traveller
9333 comments

replied 12 years ago

Hi.
Like Flow said, travel the scenic route trough the Alps and invest the extra day, it's definitely worth! :)
[u]https://rail.cc/en/train/milan-to-zurich[/u]

And for those who read this topic and want to travel the fast way (you will miss something), I just added some more connections to the railcc schedules:
[u]https://rail.cc/en/train/milan-to-paris[/u]

Peter :)