11786 Classic train journeys

The [COLOR=Red][B]'Trenino Rosso'[/B][/COLOR] is the main railway attraction up here both winter and summer.

[IMG]http://www.aruotalibera.it/foto/1019/i_Trenino_Rosso_1.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://www.etliviaggi.it/foto/trenino%20rosso1.JPG[/IMG]

I take nearly all of the people who come to visit me to Tirano to catch the train for th journey over the Bernina Pass to San Moritz. (it does go on further to Chur), but this journey is ideal at about three hours (one way). The trains run frequently and you can pre-book both the special viewing carriages and 1st Class seats for very little extra.
[URL="http://www.flaviocapra-bernina.net/ViaggioBB.htm"][B]Trenino Rosso del Bernina Tirano - St. Moritz, descrizione del viaggio di Flavio Capra, viaggio virtuale[/B][/URL]

My friends usually catch a train at just after 10am, I drive yp to San Moritz and they arrive at 1.15pm. We then have lunch ner to SanMoritz and return to the Valtellina via the Maloja Pass - making a long, bt really enjoyable day out.

It travels slowly enough to enable good photography and video's and stops at small stations (one near the cable car to the Bernina) where you can leave the train and catch the next one.

Many say the journey in the winter is the most spectacular with the snow all around - either way it is a journey well worth trying. As the train leaves Tirano it travels in the middle of the road and this continues for several KM until it has climbed sufficiently and then leaves the path that the road to San Moritz takes and begins to cross the mountains and the Bernina...
[URL="http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Tirano+Sudovest,+Italy&daddr=san+moritz&hl=en&geocode=&mra=ls&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=12.657515,24.213867&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=10"][B]>Map Tirano - San Moritz<[/B][/URL]

Browse the site - unfortunately they still haven't done it in English, just Italian, French and German - but you'll see the pictures, times and costs.

Attaced you can see the famous 'Diavolezza' (this is my own photo)

Nice bit of framing with the Diavolezza.

There's a bit too much to take in in one viewing from the website, but it clearly reflects the enthusiasm for it.

Can't compete with yours at the moment, but I might try taking video of our route and then Youtubing it to show it off.

I thoroughly recommend Sulmona to Pescara, and then onwards to Ancona along the coast.

[IMG]http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z294/sallydonaldson/abruzzoimagetorre.gif[/IMG]

The first half hour you are hemmed in by lush trees but thereafter it opens out. You can see Chieti perched on top just before Pescara from the right hand side of the carriage.

[IMG]http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z294/sallydonaldson/pennadomo-chieti.jpg[/IMG]

You change at Pescara to travel north to Ancona. You pass through many, many, pretty towns like Silvi Marina, Giulianova and so on. The coastline is breath taking.

[IMG]http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z294/sallydonaldson/1042304.jpg[/IMG]

I remember traveling by train from Barcelona to Madrid along the coast and tha journey almost as delightful but the train turned inland at Tarragona and for the last part of the journey it was very arrid, dire mountainous terrain.

So the Italian trip wins hands down fo me. It's a truly magical journey.

For really sad 'gricers', this site could be interesting

[url=http://www.steane.com/egtre/maps/map_italy.htm]Map of Italy[/url]

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The only real point to your posts... Try to be a bit more useful, old chap.

[quote=barn_elms;112250]The only real point to your posts... Try to be a bit more useful, old chap.[/quote]

I enjoyed the quirky link provided by Alan. Made a pleasant change from Ryanair...

I forgot to mention ..... At Pescara station I was directed to the wrong platform and ended up on the slower non - inter city train which took one hour longer and getting to the airport with about five minutes to the departure time. Luckily there had been cancellations due to fog so I was okay. Phew

The particular sector Brig to Milano Centrale has always rated with me as one of the best sections of European long distance train rides as it takes passengers first through the Simplon and then down beautiful Maggiore. Have to do it during the day obviously and check train time tables carefully for the fancy ones such as the Orient Express do it in the dark. Catching a morning train out of Lausanne for Milan has always been our favourite way of doing it.
And here in Tuscany we have a couple of local lines that are gems, the hourly one carriage only Chiusi to Siena in particular. Sometimes there's a steam train that meanders along the Val d'Orcia cutting through sensational countryside, often pulling what it calls "the wine train" and taking you to Montalcino. I have a link somewhere if anyone's interested but it's a bit touristy.

There is a great day trip by rail and boat near to our place.

You start by mainline train from Stresa to Domodossola, with great lake and mountain views.

Then you switch to a narrow gauge railway and go from Domodossola to Locarno. This part of the journey takes about an hour and a half on the Centovalli and Val Vigezzo Railway through "wild, romantic landscapes, with daring bridges, pure mountain streams, vines, chestnut woods and villages clinging to the mountainsides".

You complete the round trip with a boat trip lasting a couple of hours or more on Lake Maggiore, from Locarno back to Stresa, with wonderful views - and if you don't go on a Saturday in Summer, there plenty of space on board

A great day out - and highly recommended by friends who have stayed at our place.

[url=http://www.centovalli.ch/maggexpres_e.htm]The Centovalli Railway: LAGO MAGGIORE EXPRESS[/url]

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