I've read the seat 61 website (actually been obsessed with it for months!) And all the old threads here about the Bernina express. I was wondering if someone can help me with booking tickets.
I've been on the bahn de website and plotted my journey from franfurt-zurich- chur- tirano. I've picked the specific bernina express train that goes straight through from chur to tirano. I haven't bought the ticket yet as I'm waiting to reserve a seat on the Bernina express first. Am I right in thinking if I buy a one journey ticket (with overnight stop in Zurich) to tirano and pick the train which is the Bernina express I only need to them but a reservation? I'm worried I'll buy the reservation and turn up on the day and they'll say my bahn de purchased tickets aren't for use on the Bernina express.
My second question is if I can't find any availability for the Bernina express (I didn't realise it sells out super fast!) And I get the regional train, can I hop on and off using my bahn de ticket? Is there a special category of ticket on bahn de for hopping on off the regional train chur to tirano (I know you can't hop on off the BE and this works for us as we have luggage and kids!).
Did have a shock earlier when went to book seat reservations for the BE to find they were fully booked. So I've had to play around with the dates and finally found some availability but only a few seats left. If I don't get them I'll just buy the bahn de ticket which includes the regional train from chur but because you've got to change trains from chur to tirano I was hoping to avoid it. Having said that it might be great to hop on and off and see the small towns along the way.
Sorry to ramble! I'm a train novice and usually fly everywhere but just want to travel more sustainably from now on.