Welcome to today's thread - #CrossBorderRail 2026 Tour Day 31 - 4 May - Rimini - Bologna - Milano - Lugano - Basel - Strasbourg
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@jon @meganL I agree it's good and improving. Some things could be better though:
- Frequency is top-notch on high-speed lines, but clockface scheduling would help on regional lines.
- Luggage space design is poor on high-speed trains. But there is an understanding that in practice some leeway is important for tourism.
- Official options are sometimes terrible with bicycles. e.g. 2 Milano-Napoli connections per day that are very slow and at inconvenient times. No bike spaces on night trains.@cycling_on_rails @jon @meganL I agree, truth be told the "meh" transit in Italy is the main reason why I'm looking to leave the country
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#CrossBorderRail 2026 Spring Tour Train 105 of 125
R 80 (25518) / RE 80 (25518)
12:43 Milano Centrale - Lugano 13:58
Trenord – SBB (Tilo)Train type: Stadler EMU, 2x 6 short carriages
️ (3kV dc, 15kV ac)
: 
🦽: (step free)
🛜:
️
️: ️
🧳:
(good Stadler design)
🧽:
Interrail: (accepted)@jon I took a Tilo on my 2025 UK trip (stayed overnight in Strasbourg), I found them alright but the seating in first class is quite disappointing imo - 2+2 and no tables! Although the general design is quite nice
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@jon The problems with timetables for this specific connection are endless. I’ve reported broken schedules at the border multiple times personally but somehow new issues pop up frequently.
@stefanlindbohm @jon It's one of these frustrating cross-border cases where the service is genuinely awesome - modern trains, clockface scheduling, companies cooperating to have one end-to-end regional train between big cities - and then the passenger software is terrible.
Same with the Léman Express around Geneva, figuring out how to buy a single cross-border ticket (advanced mode: with discount cards on both sides) without wasting time splitting tickets is terrible.
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@stefanlindbohm @jon It's one of these frustrating cross-border cases where the service is genuinely awesome - modern trains, clockface scheduling, companies cooperating to have one end-to-end regional train between big cities - and then the passenger software is terrible.
Same with the Léman Express around Geneva, figuring out how to buy a single cross-border ticket (advanced mode: with discount cards on both sides) without wasting time splitting tickets is terrible.
@stefanlindbohm @jon That said, it looks like the SBB app can sell a Milano-Lugano ticket now. So it seems that it's just a missing Trenitalia integration?
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Interrail is a bit odd these days. In neither Trenitalia Frecciarossa or IC, nor regional trains of Trenord or Trenitalia TPER has anyone wanted to scan the Interrail QR. Do their devices not scan it?
And a cursory look at a reservation isn’t very secure!
@jon the Italians got a weird inspection system. They have like the seat map open on their device, when they check the ticket they must tap the correct seat and enter a specific digit of the 6-digit Code on the ticket, then it's checked.
But with the Interrail that only works for the reservations with that, not the Interrail itself. -
Interrail is a bit odd these days. In neither Trenitalia Frecciarossa or IC, nor regional trains of Trenord or Trenitalia TPER has anyone wanted to scan the Interrail QR. Do their devices not scan it?
And a cursory look at a reservation isn’t very secure!
@jon I’ve seen info from Interrail that qr codes can’t be scanned in Italy but I can’t find it right now
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@stefanlindbohm @jon It's one of these frustrating cross-border cases where the service is genuinely awesome - modern trains, clockface scheduling, companies cooperating to have one end-to-end regional train between big cities - and then the passenger software is terrible.
Same with the Léman Express around Geneva, figuring out how to buy a single cross-border ticket (advanced mode: with discount cards on both sides) without wasting time splitting tickets is terrible.
@cycling_on_rails Speaking of Léman Express - how DO you do that actually?
It’s one of the cases I have on my radar to try to sort out. -
@cycling_on_rails Speaking of Léman Express - how DO you do that actually?
It’s one of the cases I have on my radar to try to sort out.@stefanlindbohm @jon Short answer: buy with SBB for hassle-free quick purchase, or split in Annemasse.
Long answer:
- SNCF Connect doesn't work in CH.
- You can get up to 50% off on a round-trip on this line with SNCF Carte Avantage (at off-peak times).
- SBB doesn't know about SNCF discount cards.
- The border station is Annemasse.(If you travel Geneva-Bellegarde it's simpler as the border station is Geneva so the train always stays "in France".)
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@stefanlindbohm @jon Short answer: buy with SBB for hassle-free quick purchase, or split in Annemasse.
Long answer:
- SNCF Connect doesn't work in CH.
- You can get up to 50% off on a round-trip on this line with SNCF Carte Avantage (at off-peak times).
- SBB doesn't know about SNCF discount cards.
- The border station is Annemasse.(If you travel Geneva-Bellegarde it's simpler as the border station is Geneva so the train always stays "in France".)
@cycling_on_rails Very helpful! Thank you.
So we should
1) For domestic segments always use either SNCF or SBB
2) Ticket cross-border journeys through SBB by default as one ticket
3) Unless the user added a SNCF Carte Avantage, then split in Annemasse and use the separate systems. (Provided we add support for split tickets - we will do this sooner or later due to UK.)Assuming split tickets are allowed in this specific case? I guess the border crossing is what would make a difference?
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They're also not the most motivated, I assume. A recent article discussed the Bundespolizisten being away from family for weeks, staying in hotels, knowing it's just for show. That does take a toll on them as well.
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Interrail is a bit odd these days. In neither Trenitalia Frecciarossa or IC, nor regional trains of Trenord or Trenitalia TPER has anyone wanted to scan the Interrail QR. Do their devices not scan it?
And a cursory look at a reservation isn’t very secure!
@jon the go live of new interrail barcodes is…. Tomorrow! I hope they have that functional
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@cycling_on_rails Very helpful! Thank you.
So we should
1) For domestic segments always use either SNCF or SBB
2) Ticket cross-border journeys through SBB by default as one ticket
3) Unless the user added a SNCF Carte Avantage, then split in Annemasse and use the separate systems. (Provided we add support for split tickets - we will do this sooner or later due to UK.)Assuming split tickets are allowed in this specific case? I guess the border crossing is what would make a difference?
@stefanlindbohm @jon Yeah no clue if splitting is officially allowed or not, but in practice given the cross-border context I doubt any member of staff would make a fuss. Ticket checks aren't frequent on this line anyway.
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@stefanlindbohm @jon Yeah no clue if splitting is officially allowed or not, but in practice given the cross-border context I doubt any member of staff would make a fuss. Ticket checks aren't frequent on this line anyway.
@stefanlindbohm @jon It might be relevant if you buy a saver ticket (discounted train-bound) on the SBB side but the incoming French train was delayed/cancelled.
Once my train caught delay between Annemasse and Geneva so I missed my connection, but as I was already on a Swiss ticket from Annemasse the train-bound restriction was levied as customary. However I was surprised that the ticket inspector didn't see a warning about it upfront & I had to tell them to check the delayed train's schedule.
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Interrail is a bit odd these days. In neither Trenitalia Frecciarossa or IC, nor regional trains of Trenord or Trenitalia TPER has anyone wanted to scan the Interrail QR. Do their devices not scan it?
And a cursory look at a reservation isn’t very secure!
@jon Renfe rarely scan the interrail ticket, or even ask to see it, and it's about 50/50 with SNCF, I've found…
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@jon the go live of new interrail barcodes is…. Tomorrow! I hope they have that functional
@maartje LOL. I‘m awaiting all sorts of shit then!
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Interrail is a bit odd these days. In neither Trenitalia Frecciarossa or IC, nor regional trains of Trenord or Trenitalia TPER has anyone wanted to scan the Interrail QR. Do their devices not scan it?
And a cursory look at a reservation isn’t very secure!
#CrossBorderRail 2026 Spring Tour Train 106 of 125
IC 680
14:02 Lugano - Basel SBB 16:55
SBBTrain type: Bombardier Twindexx EMU, 8 double deck carriages
️ (15kV ac):
🦽: (step free)
🛜:️️:
🧳: (as double deck designs go, it’s good)
🧽:
Interrail: (accepted)
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#CrossBorderRail 2026 Spring Tour Train 106 of 125
IC 680
14:02 Lugano - Basel SBB 16:55
SBBTrain type: Bombardier Twindexx EMU, 8 double deck carriages
️ (15kV ac):
🦽: (step free)
🛜:️️:
🧳: (as double deck designs go, it’s good)
🧽:
Interrail: (accepted)IC 680
14:02 Lugano - Basel SBB 16:55Distance: 263.9km
Average speed: 92km/h5 stops:
Bellinzona
Arth-Goldau
Luzern
Olten
Basel SBBThis train, mapped: https://umap.openstreetmap.fr/en/map/crossborderrail-2026-spring-tour_1361108#9/46.781301/8.315225
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IC 680
14:02 Lugano - Basel SBB 16:55Distance: 263.9km
Average speed: 92km/h5 stops:
Bellinzona
Arth-Goldau
Luzern
Olten
Basel SBBThis train, mapped: https://umap.openstreetmap.fr/en/map/crossborderrail-2026-spring-tour_1361108#9/46.781301/8.315225
#CrossBorderRail 2026 Spring Tour Train 107 of 125
TER 96234
17:21 Basel SBB - Strasbourg 18:39
SNCF for TER Fluo Grand EstTrain type: GEC Alsthom, MTE BB 26000 locomotive, 8 Corail carriages, driving control car
️ (25kV ac):
🦽: (lift on platform)
🛜:️️: ️
🧳:
(narrow doors, high steps)
🧽: (it has been cleaned sometime in the past 12 months, which is progress, but still grimy)
Interrail: (accepted)
