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

[@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

[@frederique.michelle.louise]

Good evening, Originally the 29 electric railcars of the Stadler RABe 501 Giruno SMILE (Schneller Mehrsystemfähiger Innovativer Leichter Expresszug) were intended to replace the Astoro in international traffic on the north-south axis, from Basel/Zurich to Milan or even to Genoa and Venice. after the opening of the Gotthard and Cereni base tunnels, but the COVID-19 period called into question their replacement. Unlike the tilting Astoro, the Giruno are high-speed trains which are also intended for cross-border traffic, but Switzerland does not have a high-speed line as such above (260km/hour), but must also develop internationally, which is why the SBB decided that the two Astoro and Giruno trains would be complementary. The 19 Astoro will be refurbished to last another 15 years and offer more flexibility on twistier tracks. In 2022, SBB ordered 7 additional Giruno trains from Stadler, which will be extended in Germany and can be used on DB's NBS lines from 2026

[@tranconghau-fu9th]

Hi, I plan to take this train from Zurich to Milan. I will travel using Schengen visa. I don't know if there's any immigration/custom check point like at the airport if I take this train?. Thank you

[@itadrummer1]

@@tranconghau-fu9th Italy , unlike Switzerland, is (still….) an E. U. member which means there WILL BE passport controls at the border station of Chiasso

[@egonolivier3429]

@ franconghau. Both countries are Schengen so normally no passeport control, unless there is a random one

[@itadrummer1]

@@egonolivier3429 I don’t know about this shengen thing : what I know and what I PERSONALLY have experienced EVERY SINGLE TIME in Chiasso is the passport control by the Italian police on board of the train , which stops in the station for almost fifteen minutes just for that reason .

[@ryanhopkins5337]

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!

[@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 ;)

[@TransitExplained]

The views when passing along the lakes are insane 😍

[@mysterioanonymous3206]

And he completely missed the most spectacular one too...

[@vpspa7137]

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

[@HansGrob]

The Traverso is definitely nicer. It's not high-speed, used for inter-regio, amongst others across the Gotthard, has no restaurant, but a self-service.

[@eliteiel9747]

@@HansGrob Theyre fairly similar tho not? I live near Zurich and it's always a pleasure to take both. Also the SOB staff is EXTREMELY friendly, I saw them accomodating a like 7 year old child once. They have a sort of childrens department where I accidentally sat down, and there are like animals drawn on the walls and the attendant was explaining to the child how to play that game and gave her a toy, I thought it to be really wholesome. That was something I havent seen on SBB yet.

[@cestmoi1262]

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

[@Fan652w]

The trains are full because the Swiss have superlative public transport. And very few passengers will be paying the full fare. Many will have season tickets. Others will be using a 50% off discount travel card. Tourists should always buy a SWISS TRAVEL PASS. This wonderful ticket allows free travel on all Swiss public transport (trains, buses, trams BOATS etc.) except purely tourist lines in the mountains. On those lines you usually get a 50% discount.

[@markusstudeli2997]

Particularly for crossing the alps on holidays or prolonged weekend like Easter, the train is much more convenient than the car. There's always massive congestions around the Gotthard road tunnel with waiting times of 2 hours or more. The Swiss in 1990 voted for prohibiting the expansion of all transalpine roads and instead focusing on the railroad. This with the aim of re-funneling freight and passenger traffic onto the railroads and thus reducing emissions and the environmental impact in general. Here's some background information: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eidgen%C3%B6ssische_Volksinitiative_%C2%ABzum_Schutze_des_Alpengebietes_vor_dem_Transitverkehr%C2%BB

[@Fan652w]

@@markusstudeli2997 Thanks Markus for information reinforcing what I am saying. As a regular British visitor to Switzerland, I have always been astounded by the traffic congestion which I see on the Gotthard motorway. But I see that congestion from the comfort of the hourly train running on the 'old' 'Panoramastreck'. This 'Gottardo' train is not very quick, but journey times are very reliable. (The IC and EC trains to Lugano and Milano go through the Gotthard base tunnel, and are about an hour quicker than the Gottardos.)

[@mysterioanonymous3206]

Take it from a Swiss who spent way too much time of his life in train transit... The network is great but it starts getting a little too congested, frankly. This particular train is always full to the brim and you can barely find seats often. And forget about bringing the stroller if you have kids (so shortsighted, I bet it's even more miserable for wheelchairs). I HATE HATE HATE taking this train. I also commuted by train (around Zürich) for well over 20 years and by now it's so full with rude, loud, smelly, just generally unpleasant people I can't take it anymore. Never again.

[@florianbuchi7156]

@@mysterioanonymous3206 The train system is completley fine, yeah it's conested, but that's going to change soon, with the 15 Minutes Takt on every mainline.

[@mrs_g7168]

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!

[@itadrummer1]

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

[@Braun30]

Problem is that European train companies wish to use swiss lines, most possibly causing havoc in the timeliness of train schedules. How does one insert a train in the system which runs to the standard where three minutes is "late" when it comes from a system where a delay under 30 minutes is "on time"?

[@BackfeetBoi]

​@@Braun30You don't 😅 Simply as that. Trains that are late before entering Switzerland have to delay or get cancelled entirely. So unless you can stay on top of your schedule you won't get on the swiss rail lines.

[@Fan652w]

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!

[@Pisca-kk5cs]

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.

[@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

[@RustyDust101]

The Swiss SBB is way, waaaay better than the DB. That's coming from a German. 😂 They are not even in the same universe in terms of quality, punctuality, etc

[@limbiateshitposter]

@@RustyDust101 trenitalia is even worse than db, italians consider DB to be a good railway

[@M_K1972]

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!😉

[@Braun30]

Problem is that European train companies wish to use swiss lines, most possibly causing havoc in the timeliness of train schedules. How does one insert a train in the system which runs to the standard where three minutes is "late" when it comes from a system where a delay under 30 minutes is "on time"?

[@MarcelSchoen-s2i]

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!

[@markusstudeli2997]

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.

[@arnoldhau1]

The level acess is propably only that important in Switzerland due to its laws, not sure other countries are that strict on it.

[@markusstudeli2997]

@@arnoldhau1 The law is one thing, convenience and service cost reduction the other: If for wheel chair users the railway companies always have to provide a ramp (and an operator), this is costly and time consuming. Also parents with baby carriages and bike riders (particularly those with heavy e-bikes) profit from a level access. Level access also reduces the time needed for regular passenger entry and exit at stations, so time can be saved with shorter stops at stations.

[@arnoldhau1]

​@@markusstudeli2997 Oh I think it is a good thing too. I cycle a lot, so I like level entrances. Many swiss trains are double decker or have level entrance allready. I just think this may be a reason why other operators are not that keen on the SMILE yet.

[@markusstudeli2997]

@@arnoldhau1 The benefit for the operator might not be that apparent at first, but if he realizes he can save operating costs (by not needing to provide ramps) and time at stops, he might reconsider also, not even counting higher passenger satisfaction.

[@Pisca-kk5cs]

The Philippine Railways ordered it… FYI

[@SimoFDO92]

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.

[@jptv5726]

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.

[@markusstudeli2997]

It's a very impressive station indeed. It's one of the best examples of a building that makes the human look small and insignificant. It's fascist architecture at its best.

[@tic-tacdrin-drinn1505]

It's not "fascist" architecture. It is a monumental architecture with impressive Art Deco details and magnificent lamps in different models. One doesn't have to feel small: it can be inspiring.@@markusstudeli2997

[@valeriebassett3107]

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

[@switzerails3668]

I like the innovations of this train regarding accessibility. One huge downside is that a good number of the seats lack a proper table for working with a laptop. Better pick the seat yourself if the reservation system allows it, which is not always the case. In the Astoro / ETR610, IIRC, every seat has a decent fold-out table.

[@haufe012]

I did this trip in 2006 after i received my first paycheck. i had a meal during the climb to göschenen on the old gotthard-route at autumn at the train was lead by a locomotive. but i dont remember if it was a Re645 or a Re6/6 (620). it was nearly 20 CHF, but it was worth it with that view. I can feel you at this point^^.

[@hughmnyks]

I love the sound in your video. Real railway!

[@JulianRyf]

The Giruno certainly is a very nice train. Unfortunately this comes with the cost of very little capacity, even compared to the older ETR 610 it replaced.

[@luciliocogato9746]

ETR 610 is a tilting train which could reach 20% higher speed on conventional lines. But SBB has never fully exploited this possibility. Due to tilting, veichle body an therefore interiors are necessarily narrower than in the non-tilting Giruno. On the other side ETR 610's has seats softer than Giruno"s has overall a more refined design concept.

[@markusstudeli2997]

@@luciliocogato9746 The SBB exploited the tilting with the Pendolino, the ICN and the Astoro. The experience has been a mixed bag: The Pendolino was definitely not reliable enough and affected availability and punctuality negatively. The Astoro is a "second generation Pendolino"; it still has some reliability issues, but over all, it's doing a lot better. The best experience has been made with the ICNs that have become one of the intercity workhorses, used mostly on the Jurasüdfuss iine from Geneva to St. Gallen and on the Gotthard line between Basel and Lugano. It' s reliable, comfy and generally well liked by passengers, reason why the SBB decided to give it an overhaul that will add another 25 years to its life span. It's tilting mechanism also generally works well and is a pleasure to experience for most passengers. One major problem that none of the tilting trains could resolve yet is the accessibility requirement: Train operators by law will soon be required to offer at least one connection every hour to offer level access for handicapped passengers. None of the tilting models can offer level access. The attempt to do this with the new Twindexx failed: It offers level access, but the (passive) tilting mechanism did not work to the passengers' satisfaction, it only made the train shaky and uncomfortable to ride with, reason why it was switched off. So there will be either a new functioning tilting train with level access, or the tilting trains will eventually be all replaced by conventional models again.

[@AlexanderOnFire]

@@markusstudeli2997 It's more likely that they will be replaced by more conventional trains. Because of the bad experiences of the reliability and the massive delays of the FV-Dosto (the Twindexx Swiss Express trains mentioned in the video) and also to some degree with the Giruno (which also had some issues and the beginning) they rather want to focus on already existing train sets. It's a bit disappointing on one hand, but also understandable, SBB run in quite some issues to provide enough capacity when their new trains seemingly took forever to be ready to use.

[@aurelspecker6740]

The lower capacity could also be caused by the 2 level entries that were required to be lowfloor in both, Switzerland and Italy. Both countries have different platform height, which meant they had to juggle around the interior to make both levels possible. I can imagine that this juggling also messed up some more efficient seat layouts.

[@AlexanderOnFire]

@@aurelspecker6740 It‘s not like the train has much less capacity than a ICE 3 neo. With 11 cars the Giruno has around 400 seats and with 8 cars the Neo 440. Though the Giruno has way shorter cars and both trains have about the same length.

[@ILGlocker]

Enjoy your videos very much. Hoping to finally visit Europe this year and the videos are helping me make plans. Looks like a great train. Wonderful views including that stunning woman at 11:30.

[@enricomonti156]

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

[@WeTakeOverIreland]

Man i love your channel, i can watch and chill and read in my head the subtitles without someone randomly saying " HELLO GuYS ^TODAY WE ARe GOiNG ON A BIG TRAIN YAY dasd " i can just chill drink my coffee and watch the video and scratch my balls in peace

[@christianvennemann9008]

"Scratch my balls in peace" 💀💀💀💀

[@EinBahnfan]

My favourite KZbinr in my favourite trainset in my favourite train travel country - what a great day!!! 😊

[@aviano72]

Giruno are really nice and modern but i do have a soft spot for the tilting Astoro and ICN When will Zürich HB refurbishment be finished ?

[@bluelucky2865]

Considering that Flirt and Kiss trains are selling like hot cakes around the world, I'm surprised that Stadler hasn't secured an order outside of Switzerland for this train yet.

[@MatthiasWiesmann]

The Smile is kind of an oddball train. With a top speed of 250 km/h, it's not really a high-speed train (which typically go to 300 km/h), and there are 200 km/h version of both Flirt and Kiss. There are not that many networks where such a train actually makes sense. They would be perfect for the Acela line in the US though…

[@Edelweiss1102]

While it may seem odd that there aren't more Girunos, or SMILEs, as Stadler calls the Plattform, yet, I think there are a couple of reasons why that's the case. - The Girunos are still fairly new and have only been in commercial use for about 2-3 years. And while they function very good for the most part, there have been and still are some children illnesses as we call them in German, which is normal for any new train set. But given the short time and that it still has to reach its full potential yet is one aspect that there aren't more orders yet. - Connected with the point above, the Giruno is Stadlers first true entrance into the really high-end flagship long distance train sector, and like any new competitor, their product will have to prove itself first in the long run. Flirt and Kiss are well established names and products at this point, but they started out small as well and had to prove their ways to what they are now. - Again, connected to the points mentioned above, the high speed sector is much smaller and more contested as the regional train units one. Only a few national operators operate high speed trains and even less private ones. And there is also a sense of nationality in it, it's not surprising that DB mainly uses Siemens build ICEs while France has Alstom build TGVs and Italy has Frecciarossa. China bought established products at first and no produces their own. There isn't much room for foreign newcomers. - Finally, the Giruno is a bit of an Oddball in the grand scheme of things. It's faster than most trains with 250 kmh, but doesn't quite reach the true high speed land of 300+ kmh most operators use on their nets. It's perfect for Switzerland and the international routs it runs on, but it was purposefully developed for these and it will be rough to establish it in a different environment.

[@lzh4950]

@@Edelweiss1102 What I can observe for my country (Singapore) so far is that we now mainly buy rolling stock from companies that make them in China, maybe because its nearer & cheaper. For high-speed rolling stock, meanwhile for Japanese manufacturers, the work tends to be split across multiple manufacturers e.g. within the same trainset, some cars may be made by Hitachi, others are made by Kawasaki etc.

[@nashorn9745]

The smile is to unreliable to be considered by other companies. It hasn’t actually reached the point at which SBB has set its minimum of 8000 Kilometers between major problems. Something the FV Dosto actually reached 3 Years ago.

[@vermart9607]

@@Edelweiss1102 the giruno could also fit well in spain, there are many high speed lines that have many near by stops like murcia-elche-orihuela-alicante, a route that's done in 45 minutes with 4 stops and there are many others examples, In spain we use for those shorts routes CAF made trains that reach 250 km/h max, and are used as avant (high speed for shorts distances), but i don't think they are as good as the giruno, also if the giruno had gauge changing mecanism it would fit perfectly spain as a way to use the hsl and the regional lines (using the tilting system to go faster) to reach cities that are not well connected to the high speed network. (Those are called here alvia or Euromed)

[@philippenaluna2312]

Looked good, Thibault. I'd like to be able to travel, but for the time being it's not an option. Incedentally, the Tyne and Wear Metro in north east England is due to put new Stadler units in service later this year. Despite not being 'heavy rail', you might like to give 'em a try.

[@williammerry4746]

All your videos are excellent, Thibault but this is outstanding. Great train. Don't be afraid to include a few pictures of yourself, a fine looking young man.

[@timnewman1172]

Awesome trainset! My bucket list is to one day go to Europe to ride some of these trains. I guess I have to live vicariously thru Simply Railways for the time being... Thanks Thibault!!!

[@joemeyers3127]

Great train, excellent food, beautiful scenery - life is good. 👍👍👍

[@NormanAllen-ps9ju]

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

[@marklee1194]

Best scenery ever, hands down.

[@kenwbrenner]

Good job on filming this ride. I can see why you liked it so much!

[@cheeseblog]

Love it! Only problem the ride wasn’t long enough.

[@timnewman1172]

This would be a relatively short trip in North America...

[@Someone-wh8hi]

I don't know if you knew, but you can use the onboard wifi to see an overview of the train journey (location, speed, etc). I always found it annoying that the overview at 5:25 is skipped for commercials or whatnot ...

[@roundandroundmyworld]

Amazing looking train and I picked up on the quietness of the ride almost as soon as the train began rolling -- that's almost unbelievable! SBB is my favourite, hands down, of all main line rail companies I've ever ridden with!

[@mysterioanonymous3206]

But what you don't realise is that this particular train is always full to the brim. You'll often find yourself near a group of noisy teenagers blasting music from their low quality sound system, or bikers, hikers, climbers, campers, backpackers all of which block the entire passage and the seats with their luggage and are oh so smelly. Then you have cyclists and their bikes, people with skis, whole groups of Asians with their massive rolling suitcases... Seriously. Ive been on this train many times and quite often you can't even find a seat because it's so full. Try standing all the way, 2h30mins, between the stench and the sports gear and then tell me how you like it! MISERABLE. Nearly every damn time.

[@RailChannel]

The design of the front part of this train is similar to that of the Korean prototype HSR350X. KTX Sancheon is based on the HSR350X.

[@ScorpiaBoost]

It's my favorite train in Switzerland :) Love it!

[@chrismv102]

Thank you for taking along on the trip

[@theaw.4798]

Every train in Switzerland is a splendid one. All companies are top! Trains are top! And ALL so clean!!! And together with the great landscapes is travelling in Switzerland with public transport top!

[@rasferrastfarian739]

What a lovely train! Thank you for the journey!

[@Phaios95]

I love the Giruno. It is a beautiful, stylish, quiet and comfortable train. I went to Ticino last year and I was amazed that I had full 5G in the Gotthard tunnel. I watched KZbin videos 🤣

[@strafrag1]

Wonderful video. Thanks for the super ride along. Cheers.

[@jf6395]

Great Channel long-time viewer from the state of Montana in the US

[@der_eisenbahnfotograf2089]

The Giruno or RABe 501 is my second favorite Trainset for traveling to the southern part of Switzerland. What I like about the Trainset is in a Total of 202 Meters long (11-Carriages) and is the Frist Class with the wooden Interior.

[@samtrak1204]

I'm glad the ride is smooth and quiet. The dining car looks delicia!

[@Nicolas-zw2hv]

so many more railways should order it it's such a good train!

[@puffypegion7815]

You gotta review the Japanese Shinkansen one day! The OG HSR!

[@alfredocoelho8088]

Hola Thibault! I did that same trip back in february 2020 aboard Trenitalia. It was very good!

[@nichtwichtig9]

I have traveled the to line where the Giruno is, from Zürich to Milan/ Venice/ Bologna/ Genua/ Lugano and the other one from Basel to Lugano and Milan! My favourite train! (and the IR 36 from Zürich to Basel…)

[@nichtwichtig9]

This is also the first highspeed train from Stadler so good job guys👍

[@nickmorgan1690]

I would love if Amtrak would buy this set. I'd ride it more than I already do

[@timnewman1172]

It will be interesting to see how Amtrak service improves once all the new trainsets are in operation. If we could just get more and better rail lines to operate them on!!!

[@nickmorgan1690]

@timnewman1172 the better rail lines is key. Fingers crossed! Even imagine if they ordered double-decker stock from Alstom!

[@tomzitiger]

I loved those trainsets. I took from lugano to zurich and they were really comfy

[@anthonywarrener1881]

Thank you for this excellent video. I completely agree with you, for I too find the Giruno is a superb train. It oozes quality, like all Stadler products, and can certainly accelerate very quickly !

[@MrJimmy440]

Another great video. Thank you !

[@bellissimo4520]

This train is a frikkin masterpiece!

[@TreasureBlubbi]

i love your sign language ;D great video

[@Luigi-uj5ml]

In the past, the only train that didn't stop in Genoa Brignole was the mythical Palatine from Rome to Paris (it was also the only train with a global price). Now, on weekends, even the Girono from Zurich to Sestri Levante doesn't stop in Brignole!

[@stephenwinter8892]

Greetings from Canada 🇨🇦 thanks for the presentation

[@buzzukfiftythree]

We travelled on the Giruno several times during a week’s stay in Bellinzona last year. Totally agree with you that it’s far more spacious than the pendolinos that SBB used on that route - they’re cramped and uncomfortable. We used the dining car a couple of times and the food is good, if a little expensive (but then pretty much everything is expensive in Switzerland compared with its neighbours). One of the Girunos we travelled on made a strange noise - sounded like it was groaning loudly. I think it was the articulated running gear. We actually thought that the man sitting opposite had a severe throat problem until we realised what the noise was! Great video, many thanks.

[@pinderclips5642]

I recently did this trip in the other direction, it's a very enjoyable journey with amazing views. The standard class seats are a bit on the firm side but it's overall a quality train. Great review 👍

[@Fan652w]

As we saw from the train display screen, The Gotthard Base tunnel is the longest railway tunnel in the world. But there are no special security measures imposed on passengers. Contrast the Channel Tunnel.

[@petitkruger2175]

the channel tunnel is a approaching 30 years old, saftey has improved a lot since then

[@Fan652w]

@@petitkruger2175 I agree that tunnel SAFETY (against accidents) has improved in the last thirty years. But when I write 'special security measures' I am thinking of security measures like those imposed at airports, eg baggage X-Rays. If I want to travel through the channel tunnel from London to Paris I have to check-in and have my luggage X-rayed. Check in queues at London St Pancras sometimes stretch to over an hour, and have been known to stretch to outside the station. If I travel on the 07 33 from Zurich to Milan (featured in the video) I just get on the train like any other Swiss train. I do not even need a reservation!

[@maxwyss7447]

@@Fan652w You have to be aware that the security kindergarden for the channel tunnel train was established before the Good Friday Agreement. So, some people did fear some attacks on such a lighthouse project, like the channel tunnel. Nowadays, it is not needed anymore, but it would be up to the british so-called "government" to terminate it… and considering their aversion against anything on rails, it won't happen…

[@Fan652w]

@@maxwyss7447 Max, i am not sure about about your last eleven words, but otherwise I would agree with you.

[@maxwyss7447]

@@Fan652w I agree that the last 11 words are a bit wishi-washi… however, if I would state the reality, the Netiquette Filter would redact it. And if you look at the recent developments caused by that so-called "government", the only conclusion is that they want to kill off rail.

[@nvire5202]

Have taken the Giruno from Luzern to Lugano, then Zurich and then Basel in one day, love it

[@sevs17]

I personally really like this train, took it on a national route in Italy and good travel experience. The only criticism that I have is that the first class does not include table service unlike the Frecciarossa. Two small notes: 1) In Chiasso there is a long stop mainly because the SBB CFF FFS staff leaves the train and full operations are taken over by FSI Trenitalia staff. 2) Switzerland is part of Schengen but not of the EU therefore there is mainly a customs control and limited passport checks. The ID/passports are mainly checked by the Guardia di Finanza military police force, the civilian Polizia di Stato since when Switzerland joined Schengen has got a much smaller detachment in Chiasso.

[@kobichief]

lovely, did that trip in reverse 1 months ago, also love the Giruno.

[@andreaspraschfotografie4921]

I took this train from Lindau to Munich. I really enjoyed the ride! It's comfy, it's fast and it tilts in the curvy landscape of the Allgaeu!

[@mac760]

Made exactly the same trip last year , the service on this train is incroyable!

[@TransitExplained]

Amazing trainset 😍 I don’t think any HSR operator will buy it cause it’s limited to 250 kph, however I hope we will see it in other countries where there is no need for trains that goes over 300+ kph

[@Hurri1Kane]

I think there will always be a need for proper high speed lines to challenge short-haul flights, I don't know why it won't be needed.

[@CreatorPolar]

@@Hurri1Kaneyeah but for example small countries like Slovakia or Moldova don’t really need full 300km/h high speed rail, slower speeds are also fine. Also let’s not forget that trains also compete with cars

[@arnoldhau1]

Well quite a few operators in Europe require trainsets with that kind of speed, only very few operate at speeds higher than that. The ICE 4 is also only 250 km/h, the Railjet only 230 km/h max speed. Plus if they require they may be able to upgrade it to 300km/h propbaly. But as I said, that is a very limited market and most operators have perfered local suppliers for those prestige trainsets.

[@barvdw]

@@Hurri1Kane high-speed trains need high-speed infrastructure. That infrastructure is expensive and needs a lot of upkeep, as tolerances are much lower. Not every country can afford that, and definitely not on all lines. You also want to separate as much as you can trains of different speeds, so the difference in speed doesn't affect capacity (one train at 200 on a line for 300 can seriously impact the number of trains you can expedite). High-speed trains aren't always the most effective, either, they need distance to reach their top speed, when stations are relatively close to one another, they don't have time to reach their top speed and building for it is quite a waste of money. And lastly, true high-speed infrastructure can cost a lot more depending on the landscape you're travelling through. There's a reason why Switzerland chose the relatively modest 250 km/h top speed for their new lines, their mountainous country makes it much harder to really pick up speed, as well as their polycentric set-up with multiple stops along the way. Perhaps if these trains or a derivative gets permission for France, but otherwise, there are currently no lines from Switzerland where a top-speed of 300 or more would even be possible. We need more high-speed lines and trains, but we can't do it with only that. I think the Swiss made the right call, here.

[@Hurri1Kane]

@@barvdw100% agree, I still think the original guy comment was worded a little weird. Makes it sound like there will no longer be any high speed lines in Europe

[@bigpirate7513]

As Thai you did the great job your filming was the great views keep go on

[@Rocko76]

Living in Lugano and working for a company in Zürich, I often use this train and it’s always a pleasure. Just 1.54 hour trip from LU to ZH and it’s nice, as you’ve shown here, making breakfast and enjoying the view. 👍

[@jerea8607]

I usually go to the coop at the Zurich station before departure train food is too expensive.

[@florianhug9801]

Anouncements are depending in which region of Switzerland you go. So when you travel from Basel to Geneva, you get German, French and English. To, for example, Lugano you get Italian instead of French. and so on

[@schaeme]

Hey, I'm missing the different kind of toilets on that train. The speciality on thet train, you have toilets for M an F. You hav also e special Pissoir for the men. But the train is great, smooth and it's a nice way to travel through the longest railway tunnel on earth. ;-)

[@rezaalan3991]

Great trip. Overall great train and great experience onboard.

[@jurgantenen4907]

Giruno trains are also used in swiss domestic IR Inter regio services e.g. on IR 36 from Basel to Zurich airport. My last ride on this train was 23.6.2023 from Baden to Zurich airport. I love the ride on this train.😊👍

[@TrainSpotterTVIndia]

Incredible

[@e-mobility-factory9927]

A fantastic Video 😍😍thanks 😍✌️✌️

[@imdadshah7481]

Beautiful journey Nice video ❤

[@Humberto-F7]

I was left wondering if you made it in time for the connection. I think you did. A good service, considering price, time and the panoramic view. In addition to leaving the city centre and arriving in the centre of the other city. Thanks for the ride. 🇺🇾

[@senthilrajakumar1010]

Awesome video!!!

[@Zurich_for_Beginners]

Zürich HB is under construction since the 80's. I work as test engineer for trains. On some days I run through the Gotthard base tunnel 6 times a day. So for me its starts getting old. So when ever have the time to do it use the old tracks with the tunnel from 1882

[@colinseeney471]

Did I like this video, oh yes it was really good and made me want to do that trip 😘

[@naturallyherb]

Those meals from the dining car looks so nice. Considering that I'm from Canada and being more or less used to the eye-watering Canadian prices (taxes are NOT included and you have to pay them on top of the total!), Swiss prices, judging from the menu you've shown, actually are quite reasonably priced in comparison, even with the exchange rate in mind.

[@holnrew]

I'd prefer the floor be level throughout personally, I don't like the seats up high to accommodate the bogies and wouldn't mind a bit of carpet.

[@europeroads]

What a beautiful train and Beautiful views 😃

[@pakrailofficial1062]

Amazing

[@weifengjiang7579]

I have to say I find the variable floor height interior layout a bit messy, and the 1+1 layout above bogies in First Class does show compromised space efficiency. All that said, still a thoroughly decent train - comfortable seats and well aligned with the windows, something the Swiss consistently get right.

[@maxwyss7447]

You get used to it, and the big advantage is that there are no steps; it is all ramps.

[@sunny_muffins]

Oh damn! ma boy travels first class! 😎

[@Fan652w]

Swiss trains are famous for their punctuality, despite the fact that much of the system is still single line. That is the case, EG, for the section of line along the Zugersee. I am not surprised that the train made up the 14 minutes delay, as the schedule through the Gotthard Base tunnel is generous.

[@CreatorPolar]

Not only that but if trains are delayed then they can go 30-50km/h faster through the tunnel depending on how delayed you are (which is probably what you mean by generous schedule)

[@maxwyss7447]

@@CreatorPolar It is even more so through the Ceneri Base Tunnel; I recently went to Lugano, and we left Bellinzona on time, ran through the Ceneri tunnel at a leisurely 185 km/h, and arrived in Lugano 3 minutes early. So, yes, there are reserves built in. And there is also some potential to shorten the dwelling time at the stations.

[@CreatorPolar]

@@maxwyss7447 lol “a leisurely 185km/h” in Slovakia that’s the fastest train most people will ever see

[@mfxx888]

These Stadler low floor high speed train is amazing, I also enjoyed this route a lot. what a contrast when you compare the easy access of Zurich HB vs Milano Centrale. arriving in MIlano is like landing on a different planet comparing to when you boarded the 1st class Girono at Zurich HB.

[@mfxx888]

it has to do with the amount of visitors, and station planning. Milano Centrale requires a ticket to access the platform, making it even more chaotic, also in many cases Italian railway stations announce platform information 10~15 minutes before departure, everyone is looking at the board before they run to the departure platform, compare to Switzerland, platform assignment is done 6 month before departure@@Wisteria__Lane

[@HyperionCH]

One beautiful lake is missing ("Vierwaltstättersee") right before the Gotthard tunnel. A very beautiful view for the passengers. I was several times in the Giruno. It really a good experience. But I think the seats (1st class) is a litte bit too hard for a ride over 3 hours (it OK, for 1-2 hours). But in the 1st class there is a lot of room for passangers so if you get hurt a little bit caused by the hard seat, you could stand up and walk a little bit. And very important in the 1st class: there is a lot of room for the luggage. I think this is very important for a long-distance ride and here the Giruno is really better than most other trains.

[@lucaspublictransport995]

14:00 please do note, that EC trains used to stop there, in Monza, but this stop was cancelled on December 2022. The new "best practice" in Italy, is to cancel intermediate stops without changing travel times to "catch up delays".

[@elegant_travelling]

Probably the best restaurant car in terms of service, seats and menu options on any non-luxury train currently in service. I wish more companies reintroduced real restaurant cars even if offering a relatively limited selection. No matter how fancy the meal, eating it at your seat on a fold-down table will never beat the feeling of doing so the more social environment of a restaurant car.

[@scottyerkes1867]

I would definitely book first class on this train. Comfy seat, pleasant atmosphere and breakfast with a fantastic view!! Worth the price. Thanks Thibault.💚👌

[@markusstudeli2997]

Small hint: you can also access the dining car with a 2nd class ticket. It sort of turns your 2nd class ticket into a first class experience.

[@jfmezei]

Am curious if this Stadler Smile train could be produced tin a 320kmh version, and of not, what would prevent it. Bogies too low to accomodate larger electric motors for traction? The gap fillers between train and platform are HUGE. Is the train significantly narrower? Why ? The interiors look nice and love that SBB still puts a restaurant/café car on a daytime train. However, with an average speed of 76kmh between the 2 end points, I'd like to know under what definitison it would be qualified as "high speed" train.

[@barvdw]

The top speed of the train makes it a high-speed train, but I agree that the many stops and overall slow infrastructure (except in e.g. the tunnel) is making it slower than need be. That said, SBB has been upgrading their infrastructure a lot, for political reasons (Switzerland is a staunchly federal country where each canton defends their own needs), I don't see many stops being skipped, though.

[@maxwyss7447]

I think the reason why the retracting steps are bigger than for example for a FLIRT has to do with restrictions of the loading gauge on that level in Italy (or Germany).

[@vladimirskokan]

Every year the core of Europe moves north. Even within SUI the least developed part is Tessin! North to the future!!!😊

[@natehill8069]

6:00 Oh crap - I thought the Alps were 200' tall and flat on top because EVERY time I have gone to Switzerland its raining.

[@crafter89]

I miss the tilting technology on the giruno. I'm a big fan of tilting trains.

[@paulthiel5145]

Same

[@Sofi-zq7ye]

Thank you for the video, May I know where I can book the ticket from Zurich to Milan? thanks

[@charleswen361]

Hey Thibault awesome content. How about train to churchill, manitoba. Thr panama canal railroad or trains on malta. Cheers bonne chance