Here's today's #CrossBorderRail intro filmed earlier in Trieste
https://peertube.netzbegruenung.de/w/2qVxVCnCRqCciKnzfYPsDf

Today I am making the very well known cross-Europe trip - Trieste Centrale - Nuits-sous-Ravières

But because - of course! - nothing works with the timetables in France, I am going via Switzerland rather than direct from Italy to France

This one should strike FYRA into you!

#CrossBorderRail 2026 Spring Tour Train 37 of 86
FR 9718
07:07 Trieste Centrale - Milano Centrale 11:15
Trenitalia

Train type: AnsaldoBreda ETR 700 EMU, 7 carriages
⚡️ (3kV dc, 25kV ac, 3kV dc)
🚲: ⛔️
🦽: ✅ (lift on platforms)
🛜: ✅ (but 😡 it needs a silly registration)
🍽️: ✅
🧳: 😐 (there's only one small rack for large bags, were it full it would struggle)️
🧽: 🙂
Interrail: 😐 (needs compulsory reservation, costs €13)

FR 9718
07:07 Trieste Centrale - Milano Centrale 11:15

Distance: 401.9km
Average speed: 97km/h

10 stops:
Monfalcone
Trieste Airport
Portogruaro-Caorle
Venezia Mestre
Padova
Vicenza
Verona Porta Nuova
Desenzano del Garda-Sirmione
Brescia
Milano Centrale

This train, mapped: https://umap.openstreetmap.fr/en/map/crossborderrail-2026-spring-tour_1361108#9/45.615913/11.487165

#CrossBorderRail

The ticket control here on this Frecciarossa is sensible, for a compulsory reservation train (OK, comp res is silly, but bear with me)

The train manager has the seat plan on their device, so they can see which seats are newly occupied at every station, and only goes to check those passengers' tickets

Why does SNCF not do that on TGVs?

Because it'd mean the train manager has to go along the train after every station and that's too much effort?

So how is the ex-FYRA ETR 700?

It's OK

The interior is rather bland, the colours resembling something from a doctor's surgery. There is noticeable noise from the motors, more than in some other EMUs. But the ride is smooth, the seats fine, the wifi works

Trenitalia promises new faster WiFi. And it’s indeed solid.

The downside?

Italian businessmen screaming “Pronto!” at their Teams calls

(There is a quiet zone somewhere I assume but I was allocated this)

ex-FYRA AnsaldoBreda ETR 700 on the Brescia - Milano high speed line at 250km/h is smooooooth

These trains might have had reliability issues, but someone designed some good suspension! Either that or the track is impeccable

#CrossBorderRail 2026 Spring Tour Train 38 of 87
RE 2363
11:25 Milano Centrale - Milano Lambrate 11:31
Trenord

Train type: Hitachi Rock EMU, 5 double deck carriages
⚡️ (3kV dc)
🚲: ✅ (inc e-bike charging)
🦽: ✅ (step free)
🛜: ❓ (trip too short, did not check)
🍽️: ⛔️
🧳: 😐 (odd design, vestibules large, luggage racks tiny)️
🧽: 😐 (graffiti on the windows)
Interrail: 🙂 (accepted)

Distance: 3.6km
Average speed: 36km/h

1 stop:
Milano Lambrate

This train, mapped: https://umap.openstreetmap.fr/en/map/crossborderrail-2026-spring-tour_1361108#16/45.484939/9.222083

#CrossBorderRail

Last decent connection Zürich - Dijon today: 15:34 (and every Zürich - Paris TGV goes through Dijon)

80 minutes later I’ve still got a passable connection Zürich - Berlin! 🤯

Meanwhile I am approaching the IT-CH border at Como, and I am the only passenger in my whole carriage in EuroCity 30 (SNCF fans following are likely 🤯)

But that means when the customs pass, that they usually do here, they are going to check me

Question is how to play it

Switzerland is in Schengen, so there should be no border control

But Switzerland is NOT in the customs union, so customs controls ARE allowed

So they *ought* to check what I am carrying, not ask for ID first, because then that would be a border control dressed up as a customs control, that they'd NEVER DO 😅