Any day you ride the Vigezwina-Centivalli railway will change your life: In just 32 kilometers, the train crosses 83 bridges and viaducts. Instead of a large passenger car designed to carry hundreds of tourists, this train usually has three or four light rail cars, so the journey feels more intimate. Travelers are not only going from one station to another, but actually crossing the border between Switzerland and Italy.
Typical of a train ride in the European Alps, you’ll probably spend the entire time looking out the windows, able to tear your eyes away from the succession of valleys, river villages and Mountadop. Indeed, the area between Locarno, Switzerland and Domodossola, Italy exceeds all expectations, it is so bad to ride three trains in Switzerland that Rick Steves says it is the best situation in Europe. You can fill entire SD cards with landscape photos.
However, the trail is even better in the fall, when the soft forests change color dramatically. Peak time is something to see on the Swiss-Italian border; Unlike most of the Alps, these towns are not high; Locarno stands only 633 feet above sea level, while Domodossola is just short of a thousand feet. This means that the leaves usually change later in the season than the top. Between October and November, the Vigezwina-Centvalli railway invites passengers to the “leaf train,” a colorful transchect through the local forests. Passengers can also stop when they are between these two historic towns, to take in the crisp air and snap pictures of the high places.
Read more: Europe’s favorite things to know before your trip by Rick Steves
The story of the Vigezina-Centivalli Railway
Upcoming train closures around Bend on the Vigezina-Centivali Railway – Images via Shutterstock
The Vigezina-CentivaLi Railway is an incredible feat of engineering and global engineering. For centuries, the only way to travel in these mountains were small paths, either on foot or on horseback. When the railway was first proposed in the early 20th century, it required the construction of many bridges to cross valleys and gorges; Workers also had to blast through mountains to create 31 tunnels. This was slow and dangerous work, and the railway line did not open until 1923.
Not long after, the alpine fighting in World War II threatened to destroy the important railway. A major storm in 1978 also caused extensive damage to the tracks. The train has become a great symbol of peaceful cooperation between Switzerland and Italy; Despite occasional conflicts, the two nations have coexisted peacefully for over 400 years.
Miraculously, the railway has survived the great disasters of the last century, and is now a popular tourist attraction. The railway runs nine or 10 trips every day, all year round, and the trains can carry 142 passengers each way. The direct drive between Locarno and Domodossola is equally beautiful and takes 75 minutes, but the road is narrow and winding, and many drivers find the SS337 highway to be too much to drive. The Vigezina-Centivalli train is designed for maintenance, and you don’t lose much time: The train usually passes between the two towns in less than two hours. This is one of the reasons Steves says that traveling by train in Europe can be better than driving.
Arrival at the Vigezina-Centivalli railway
The old town stands on a colorful autumn hill near the Vigezina-Centivali Railway – Maurice Lesca / Shutterstock
Here’s a welcome surprise: Locarno is located on Lake Maggiore, one of Switzerland’s most beautiful bodies of water. Lake Maggiore is almost identical to Lake Como, which makes it the best route, according to qualifications. If you’ve spent time here and plan to enter Italy, you can buy a ticket for the Vigezina-Centivalli train in Downtown Locarno, just a few blocks north of the Lakefront Giochi Al Burbaglio Park. Second class tickets for the leaf train cost about $42-48 per adult, while first class costs about $53 to $60. Prices vary slightly between days and weekends, with children’s tickets costing less.
You can travel directly from Locarno to Domodossola and back in one day, but many travelers will choose to stop in one place, or break the trip into two days. Both of these towns are famous for their historical beauty and culinary scenes, and each is full of hotels, almost all of which cost $100 or more per night. Naturally, you will need your passport to cross the Swiss-Italian border; Most travelers from Europe and North America should do it without a problem, although you should remember that Switzerland is not part of the European Union and some businesses will prefer Swiss Fransts to Euros.
Both Locarno and Domodossola are about equidistant from Milan, where you’ll find the world’s largest airport. In line with the train network, you can take the RE4 train from Milan to Dododossola and the RE80 to Locarno; Whether you rent a car and drive or make your way to the train station and hop on, the trip to the city should take less than two hours each way.
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Read the first article in the review.
