27 mins says Google Maps

I need this bus to do it in 38 minutes. With no stops and on an empty road…

It’s a good start - the driver is going quite fast through the tunnels 😀

Made it! Rail replacement bus left 6 mins late (07:11 instead of 07:05) but arrived at Colico 10 mins early (07:42 instead of 07:52)

So I’m now in the train to Tirano and on schedule for the rest of the day 💪

And I’ve made it to the Rhätische Bahn

I’m on the regular local train, not the Bernina Express

#FensterAuf the whole way. Perfect.

Rhätische Bahn

Landwasser Viaduct pics are better going up, and I was descending from Filisur. But this isn’t bad 😊

From earlier in the route
- street running Tirano
- Brusio viaduct loop
- Lago Bianco

My route: Tirano - Pontresina - Samedan - Filisur - Reichenau - Chur

Lunch in the InterCity from Sargans to Zürich with long time reader of my blog Max Wyss, who also came along for a leg of #CrossBorderRail 2022

The train manager was confused how a guy with a DB ticket Tirano - Berlin was happily chatting to someone with a ticket Sargans - Zürich 🙂

Frustrating situation on the IC Zürich - Basel

Train manager asks a guy standing by the door area for his ticket. “My friend has it” he says. “Where’s your friend?” “He’s coming” “How can he be coming - the train is non stop to Basel”

The guy is lying. Has no ticket. No papers. No idea. Doesn’t even seem to know where he’s trying to go. And the SBB guy is doing his job, but what’s he to do here?

The police will pick up the passenger when we get to Zürich.

Not done today’s assessments yet. Here they are!

#CrossBorderRail Extra Days Train 15

R 2812
06:20 Milano Centrale - Lecco 06:59
Trenord

Distance: 49 km
Average speed: 75 km/h

Train type: E.464 locomotive and 7 suburban carriages and driving car
⚡️
🚲: ✅
🦽: ✅ (needs lift on platform)
🛜: ⛔️
🍽️: ⛔️
🧳: 🤔 (high steps, few dedicated multi use areas)
🧽: 🤔 (bit grimy)

#CrossBorderRail Extra Days Bus 1

SEV BUS 2812A/1.
07:05 Lecco - Colico 07:57
For Trenord, subcontracted

Distance: 39 km
Average speed: 45 km/h (but did it a lot faster! It took 32 mins)

Bus type: MAN Lion’s Coach 12
⛽️
🚲: ❓ (would go in hold I assume?)
🦽: ⛔️
🛜: ⛔️
🍽️: ⛔️
🧳: 🙂 (big hold)
🧽: 🙂

#CrossBorderRail Extra Days Train 16

R 33166
07:49 Colico - Tirano 08:54
Trenord

Distance: 66 km
Average speed: 61 km/h

Train type: Coradia Meridian 6 short carriages
⚡️
🚲: ✅
🦽: ✅ (step free)
🛜: ⛔️
🍽️: ⛔️
🧳: 🙂 (decent multi use spaces)
🧽: 🙂

#CrossBorderRail Extra Days Train 17

R 1636
09:00 Tirano - Pontresina 10:56
Rhätische Bahn

Distance: 54 km
Average speed: 28 km/h

Train type: RhB ABe 8/12 3 carriage EMU hauling 7 additional carriages
⚡️
🚲: ✅
🦽: ✅ (a kind of ramp on board)
🛜: ⛔️
🍽️: ⛔️
🧳: 🙂 (luggage carriage if you need it)
🧽: 🙂

#CrossBorderRail Extra Days Train 18

R 1936
11:02 Pontresina - Samedan 11:08
Rhätische Bahn

Distance: 7 km
Average speed: 69 km/h

Train type: RhB ABe 4/16 4 carriage EMU hauling 2 additional carriages
⚡️
🚲: ✅ (whole carriage for bikes)
🦽: ✅ (a kind of ramp on board)
🛜: ⛔️
🍽️: ⛔️
🧳: 🙂
🧽: 🙂

#CrossBorderRail Extra Days Train 19

IR 1140
11:15 Samedan - Chur 13:04
Rhätische Bahn

Distance: 84 km
Average speed: 46 km/h

Train type: RhB Ge 4/4 III electric locomotive, 6 carriage Albula Gliederzug, 1 extra carriage
⚡️
🚲: ✅
🦽: ✅ (a kind of ramp on board)
🛜: ⛔️
🍽️: ⛔️
🧳: 🙂
🧽: 🙂

#CrossBorderRail Extra Days Train 20

IC 908
13:08 Chur - Zürich HB 14:22
SBB

Distance: 116 km
Average speed: 94 km/h

Train type: Twindexx IC EMU, 2 x 8 carriages
⚡️
🚲: ✅
🦽: ✅ (step free)
🛜: ⛔️
🍽️: ✅
🧳: 🙂 (decent multi use spaces for a double deck train)
🧽: 🙂 (spotless)

#CrossBorderRail Extra Days Train 21

IC 572
14:34 Zürich HB - Basel SBB 15:28
SBB

Distance: 90 km
Average speed: 100 km/h

Train type: Twindexx IC EMU, 8 carriages
⚡️
🚲: ✅
🦽: ✅ (step free)
🛜: ⛔️
🍽️: ✅
🧳: 🙂 (decent multi use spaces for a double deck train)
🧽: 🙂 (spotless)

#CrossBorderRail Extra Days Train 22

EC 52
15:38 Basel SBB - Frankfurt (Main) Hbf 18:44
Trenitalia, SBB & DB Fernverkehr

Distance: 333 km
Average speed: 107 km/h

Train type: ETR 610 Pendolino EMU, 7 carriages
⚡️
🚲: ✅
🦽: ✅ (needs lift on platform)
🛜: ⛔️
🍽️: ✅
🧳: 🤔 (overhead racks good, but space for larger bags limited)
🧽: 🙂 (it’s clean, but a bit worn)