I have a client who is accustomed to sending his luggage ahead a day or two before on the Swiss trains. He wants to do the same thing from Milan to Kandesteg in Switzerland. I wonder if any of our train experts know whether it can be done and, if so, how to arrange it.

Thanks.

Jim -- as you know, one of my other hats is as a Certified Switzerland Specialist, and I will try to find out for you. It works great in Switzerland...and for checking through luggage from USA gateway cities and not seeing it until you get to your destination in Switzerland (such as checking baggage in Atlanta all the way through to Lucerne, though you fly to Zurich and then train to Lucerne). I do not think it yet links to other country's rail systems, but will find out for you.

I am quite sure that no such service is available on Italian railways, where luggage is not checked. But I may still be wrong.

Jim -- I've talked to the Swiss Tourist Office in NYC, and they say it is possible. As long as baggage is going into the Swiss Rail System, it can be done. BUT, expect the baggage to take up to three days to arrive! The woman could not explain the 'why' of this, but said the luggage would not arrive the same day as the traveler unless he/she sent it ahead.

To send the luggage this way within Switzerland, or from a USA airport city, you purchase for $ 15 or so a tag to put on the baggage -- you get that from Rail Europe. You would do the same to send within Europe, and the Swiss Tourist Office thinks any major rail station in Europe would be able to sell those tags and enable the process. I'm not quite so sure, myself!

I suggest you call Rail Europe and visit with someone there. Ask about the Swiss Rail send-ahead-baggage...since Rail Europe sells the tags to put on when you are flying the bags into Switzerland they should be familiar with this.

Best wishes!

Thanks Sally. The client knows all about the parameters of shipping luggage within Switzerland...his concern was with starting it on the Italy side. He may end up sending it from Lugano the day before.

Thanks for checking.