Zürich to Milan with the BEST high-speed train in Europe

Hallo!

Boy, I wanted to travel onboard the Giruno since its introduction in 2019, I finally got to do it. Is it worth all the hype I saw online ? Well, let's find out ✌🏻

Enjoy :-)

- TRIP INFORMATION -

RECORDED IN JUNE 2023
Railway company: SBB CFF FFS
Train type: RABe 501
From: Zürich HB to Milano Centrale
Time: 3h17
Price: 129€ (I paid 13€ for my interrail reservation)

LINK FOR MY BOOK ABOUT NIGHT TRAINS!

Massive thanks to my following Patreon for their help :
Michael S Wilhelm ; David Hoyt ; Terry Patterson ; Spencer Brownlee ; m kirby ; Stephane Thienel ; Virginie ; Manuel Guedes-Vieira ; Mats ; Allan Waldron ; Michael Joost ; Edwin Coates ; Hugh Johnson ; Gregoire P ; Severin Durand ; Jay Newman ; Calvin Mangubat ; Orion ; MacLean ; Fred M ; Andrew Oliva ; Myles Freborg

00:00 : Intro
01:21 : Entrance of Zürich
02:05 : The Giruno
03:23 : Boarding
03:47 : Seat check
05:07 : Departure
05:35 : A beautiful morning across the Alps
07:12 : Breakfast at the dining car
08:10 : Mid roll ads
08:40 : Breakfast
09:17 : The longest tunnel in the world
10:24 : Walkthrough
11:51 : Toilets Time
12:24 : Approaching the Italian border
13:25 : Chiasso
13:56 : Italy on time !
14:34 : Arrival in Milan
14:50 : The best train in Europe
15:37 : Outro

[tommasoscalese]

I regularly use it. It is very very good and worthy of the Swiss railway network + the Gotthard tunnel. The previous trains were cramped, uncomfortable, this is definitely an improvement vs the past

[sufferingboutlife]

What I really love about this train is the really friendly and sunny vibe inside, with all this wooden decorations etc..

And I think people get that feeling too, as we can see during the dining car review. The atmosphere was really awesome ! People chatting happily etc... I love it ;)

[ryanhopkins]

I live just below Lugano and take this train often in both directions, it never disappoints! I always recommend this journey to anyone visiting Central Europe. Thanks for another great video!

[vpspa]

This is the most beautiful train in Europe! Bright, modern, quiet and leaves an overall feeling of quality! Well done Stadler!

[TransitExplained]

The views when passing along the lakes are insane 😍

[cestmoi]

Amazed at the many people traveling by train. That is so encouraging for the future of railroads.

[yobel_i]

I went to switzerland for the first time this early july. Even though I was pretty impressed with the german railway system when I first moved there from Indonesia (barely any railways except in the Java island and an HSR is currently being built) earlier this year, swiss trains are just on another level

[Pisca-kkcs]

Fun fact! Giruno means “ Buzzard “ in Romansh! I traveled the Giruno last year from Zurich to Lake Como .. waiting for the 300 kph version that is coming from Stadler!!… I loved the train so much I ordered the HO model from Marklin. Now I have my own Giruno at home.

[Fanw]

I share your high opinion of the Giruno trains. I also agree with what you say about Swiss Restaurant cars, and I have often enjoyed Munchermacher breakfasts! The train you were on was well filled IN BOTH CLASSES. On my most resent visit to Switzerland in April 2023, travelling as always on a first class Swiss Travel Pass, I often had to hunt for a seat IN FIRST CLASS!

[valeriebassett]

What a beautiful train. Beautiful views and scenery too. Magnificent! Thanks for sharing. ❤️

[M_K]

Hey there, we live in Switzerland and if we travel to Ticino, we take the Giruno for a fast and save voyage!
We are proud about the Gotthard base tunnel that was built faster than the new Airport in Berlin!😉

[mrs_g]

This is part of our planned journey later this year, when we travel from the UK to Rome via Paris, Zurich and Milan. Looks so lovely going through the alps and lakes. Looking forward to it, especially now after seeing the train!

[itadrummer]

Best trains in the whole continent, hands down . The SBB is the best train system in the world, equally as good, clean, efficient, reliable and ALWAYS ON TIME as the Japanese Railways. Both are #1

[MarcelSchoen-si]

I'm swiss and I use trains in and around Zurich every day, and they are in general very good (compared to a lot of other places); but I gotta say, this highspeed train for the Gotthard route is really something else. It brings me from Zurich to Lugano - a very nice town at a lake in the italian-speaking part of Switzerland - in just 2 hours... and it's just so comfy!

[enricomonti]

I travelled in June on a Giruno on a Eurocity Service from Zurich to Bologna. All amazing in terms of comfort and views. We also had the Swiss customs checking throughout the train between Lugano and Chiasso.

Definitely much bettee than the tilting trainsets of SBB

[markusstudeli]

I took the Giruno and then the Frecciarossa on a trip to Torino one after another. The Frecciarossa is faster, has leather seats in first class and it has a bit of a roomier feel to it. The Giruno's interior on the other hand feels more contemporary, more stylish, and it offers level access, which the Frecciarossa lacks. Over all I'd say they are at par at about the same level of excellence, with different strengths. I'm glad I could experience both on one trip.
I'm a bit surprised the Stadler Smile did not get more attention by other operators so far. Maybe they're waiting for the teething problems to be removed before they order. Or maybe it's just a bit too expensive.

[hughmnyks]

I love the sound in your video. Real railway!

[jptv]

we did this trip end of april this year, wonderful train, and Milano centrale is realy one of the most beautiful stations in the world.

[SimoFDO]

I have used it several times on the Milan-Genoa route. I must say that it‘s a very quiet train, and 'soft' on the tracks. The interior is also often clean and the spaces well used. However, I don’t agree with the comfort of the seats: it‘s true that they‘re more comfortable than other seats on other trains, but I don’t think that anyone can ever beat the comfort of those on the ETR500.

[NormanAllen-psju]

I was impressed with the smoothness of the train by seeing no vibration while watching the window frame !