Train from Geneva to Venice

Hi,

I will be travelling to Geneva, reaching at about 1345H, and would like to travel to Venice straight. I have checked out several of the resources and search the forums, but would like to get more updated information.

Information from seat61:
Switzerland
- www.sbb.ch (trains in Switzerland generally don't need pre-booking, so easy to buy tickets at the station)

So I've looked up the website, found a train, which is from Geneve - Milano Centrale, Milano Centrale - Bologna Centrale, then finally Bologna Centrale - Venice. Departing at 1842H, arriving at 0526H. Duration over 10 hours. No indication of the price on the site. Not sure if this is considered an overnight train.

Looked at raileurope, they have direct trains which are 6 hours, but cost about 112 euro. However, the train only starts on the next day morning at about 0700H.

1. Are there any other trains, or journeys that I can look at to get to Venice? I would like to reach by early morning if possible.
2. What are the prices?
3. Can I really get tickets on the day itself?

If you depart at 18:42 and arrive at 05:26, you will change trains in Milano and Bologna, with nearly a two-hour layover in Bologna in the middle of the night. Both the Milano-Bologna and Bologna-Venezia legs are on night trains.

You could go Geneve-Brig-Domodossola-Milano-Venezia, departing at 21:36 and arriving at 09:32, with a four-hour layover in Domodossola.

While I love trains, making multiple connections in the middle of the night doesn't sound like much fun.

I suggest that you take the direct train that departs at 07:42 and arrives at 14:40. The standard 2nd class fare is 130 CHF. If you book well in advance on the Swiss Rail site, you can get a discount fare as low as 38 CHF.

Going from Milano to Venezia via Bologna is just like going from New York to Los Angeles via Calgary - much longer and therefore more expensive. I know that the Swiss Railway System website gives this connection, but to say the least, I consider this ridiculous. The connection timothysolberg mentionned (Geneva - Brig - Simplon tunnel - Domodossola - Milano - Verona - Venezia) is the obvious and logical one. The regular ow 2nd class fare is 130 Sfr. Just walk up to the ticket counter at Geneva Cornavin station and get your ticket instantly.

Perhaps a happy medium--if you don't want to wait til the next morning--is to book a train from Geneve to Milan on sbb.ch, and then book a train from Milan to Venice when you get to Milan, or in advance at Trenitalia.

Milan's Porta Garibaldi train station is only two metro stops away from the central station, on the same metro line. So a train arriving there presents little problem.

Re # 2, first line: Replace Milano+ by +Geneva.

I like #3's suggestion. The first train from Milano to Venezia Santa Lucia departs at 06:35 and arrives at 09:10. The standard 2nd class fare is €32.50. If you book in advance at www.trenitalia.com, you can get a Mini fare as low as €9.00.

Train: Geneva airport dp 15.27 - Venice Mestre ar 23.56. Change at Brig, Domodossola, Milano Centrale. Fare: 95 EUR
Reservation compulsory for the Milan - Venice leg
http://www.sbb.ch/en

#3, What's the reason to stop at Milan's Porta Garibaldi train station? Is it due to cheaper accomodations around that area? I was initially only thinking of arriving at Milan Centrale station

#5, I did consider that, as it is pretty cheap. It also means i'll spend a day in Milan, which I am keeping my options open about.

#6, how do you guys see the fare price. I've always only been able to request for a price information, with no feedback yet. Is there a special fare for under 26?

Timetables and fares:
GVA - Domodossola (in CHF): http://www.sbb.ch/en
Domodossola - Venezia Mestre (in EUR): http://www.trenitalia.com/
If you book Domo - Milan and Milan - Venezia separately, you may get the Mini fare for the Milan - Venice leg.

Thanks neckervd.

I figured that it has to be booked separately... which is sort of troublesome, especially if there's many changes in the stop. Welcome to the world of Europe train travel I guess. At least I've learnt something new.

Anyway, I've decided on travelling from Geneva-Milan, spend a day there, before moving on to Venice. Much cheaper in terms of transport.

It would have been super easy to get all the tickets and reservations (the latter for Milan - Venice only) at once at the Geneva airport railway station counter.
If you will get a cheaper Geneva - Milan ticket (I suppose for the 16.47 train) you will have to book it in the net. The whole Geneva airport - Venice journey will then cost 93 EUR instead of 95 EUR.