A scenic short cut for the Swiss...
The metre-gauge Domodossola-Locarno railway opened in 1923 as a short cut through Italy, allowing the people of Locarno to travel directly to western Switzerland without first having to trek north. Known as the Centovalli or Vigezzina Railway, it's 52 km (32 miles) long but the journey takes a shade under 2 hours through mountainous alpine territory. The line is operated by the Società Subalpina Imprese Ferroviarie (SSIF) in Italy and the Ferrovie Autolinee Regionali Ticinesi in Switzerland, delightfully abbreviated to FART. It's a great ride through a remote region. Read more about the line at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domodossola-Locarno_railway_line.
How to ride the Centovalli Railway
Every hour or two, a regional express train links Domodossola and Locarno in around 1h57 over the Centovalli Railway using one of 3 different types of train: Panoramico, Centovalli Express and ordinary.
Any type is fine, they all give good views, but panoramico trains carry a €1.50 surcharge which can be paid on board or in some cases when you book. You can find timetables at www.vigezzinacentovalli.com. Panoramico trains are shown as PE, the others as RE. The right hand side of the train generally has the best views going east to Locarno, the left hand side going west to Domodossola.
Seat reservation is possible for an extra €4 fee but it's not usually necessary, you can normally just turn up, buy a ticket and hop on. However, seat reservation is compulsory during the busy Christmas markets period and during the Raduno degli Spazzacamini (the international chimney sweep event) in Santa Maria Maggiore.
A day trip from Milan: Trains link Milan with both Domodossola and Locarno, allowing an easy circular day trip. Milan-Domodossola can be done by regional train or swisher but less frequent EuroCity train, buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com or www.trenitalia.com. Then buy your Domodossola-Locarno ticket at www.thetrainline.com or www.vigezzinacentovalli.com. Milan & Locarno are connected by hourly Regional Express branded Tilo, buy tickets for this at www.thetrainline.com or www.sbb.ch.
A day trip from Stresa: On certain days of the week in spring & summer you can catch a lake steamer from Stresa to Locarno, Centovalli Railway to Domodossola and train back to Stresa, see www.lagomaggioreexpress.com.
A day trip from Switzerland: You can use the Centovalli Railway when travelling between eastern & western Switzerland, or as a day trip. Swiss trains link Zurich, Basel, Luzern and Lugano with Locarno, check times and buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com or www.sbb.ch. Then buy a Locarno-Domodossola ticket at www.thetrainline.com or www.vigezzinacentovalli.com. Trains link Domodossola with Basel, Bern, Lausanne, Montreux & Geneva, buy a ticket for this at www.thetrainline.com or www.sbb.ch.
Interrail & Eurail passes are valid on the Centovalli Railway, reservation not normally needed, but a €1.50 surcharge is payable if you use one of the Panoramico trains, this can be paid on board if you like. You can make seat reservations (and if necessary, pay the €1.50 surcharge) at www.vigezzinacentovalli.com.
Swiss Travel Pass, Saver Day Pass: The Centovalli Railway and Domodossola-Brig cross-border line count as part of the Swiss travel system (in spite of being largely in Italy) so are covered by the Swiss Travel Pass and Saver Day Pass.
How to buy tickets
You can buy tickets between Domodossola & Locarno at either www.vigezzinacentovalli.com or www.thetrainline.com.
Using www.thetrainline.com allows you to buy all your Swiss, Italian and Centovalli tickets in one place, in plain English, in €, £ or $, small booking fee. When booking the Domodossola-Locarno train, look for a departure with 0 changes as this means it runs over the Centovalli Railway.
www.vigezzinacentovalli.com is more fiddly to use, but lets you make a seat reservation on the Domodossola-Locarno trains - although these aren't normally essential.
Route map
A journey on the Centovalli Railway
Arriving at Domodossola on foot: Domodossola is the Italian border point where Milan-Geneva and Milan-Basel trains stop. This is the reason why the station is far bigger and more impressive than the size of the town might suggest! The Centovalli platforms are one level down from the mainline platforms. If you arrive at the station on foot or by car, you'll find steps down to the Centovalli platforms (platform 31 & 32) and ticket office at the right-hand end of the station building, indicated by the arrow in the photo above.
Arriving at Domodossola by train from Geneva, Lausanne, Basel or Milan: The photo above shows a EuroCity train from Milan to Geneva calling at Domodossola, looking back south towards Milan. You can see the clearly-marked steps down to the Centovalli ticket office & platforms (platform 31 & 32) for Locarno, these steps are towards the southern end of the platform.
Centovalli platforms & ticket office at Domodossola: Once down the steps, turn left (photo above left) and follow the passageway past the Centovalli ticket office to platforms 31 & 32.
Panoramico train: Several types of train operate the hourly Domodossola-Locarno trains, pictured above is a Panoramico train with 1st & 2nd class and toilet. There's no catering so bring your own food & drink. Seat reservation is possible, but not usually essential. A €1.50 surcharge is levied for travel on Panoramico trains, collected by the conductor or pre-paid if you buy online at www.vigezzinacentovalli.com. That includes Interrail & Eurail passholders. There's no surcharge for the trains branded Centovalli Express which use modern Swiss-built trains.
Above left, 2nd class. Above right, 1st class. On the 17:26 Domodossola-Locarno in early April 2025, it's not exactly crowded.
Although the platforms are underground, below the mainline platforms, the mainline railway is built on a viaduct, so immediately on leaving the Centovalli train emerges into the open air at street level on the far side of the station where ground level is lower. The train passes the Centovalli railway workshop and engine shed.
For the best views, find a seat on the right hand side going east towards Locarno.
The train then crosses the river Toce as it leaves of Domodossola.
The train then climbs steeply out of the valley. And just keeps on climbing, twisting and turning...
Looking back at Domodossola.
Reaching the top, the train now runs past rustic villages.
Passing woods and mountain streams, often with waterfalls.
We pass one of the modern Centovalli Express trains near Druogno.
Santa Maria Maggiore. This may be popular with tourists, but it's a regional train used by local people.
Melezzo river.
The train now follows the Melezzo valley to Locarno.
The valley deepens into a vast and spectacular gorge, easily the most impressive part of the trip.
Lago di Palagnedra
Descending towards Locarno. The train crosses into Switzerland.
The train arrives at Locarno, the platforms here are also underground, adjacent to the above-ground Swiss Railways station.
Locarno: As you walk off the street into the platform area, the escalators down to the Centovalli platforms are to the left of all the above-ground platforms, indicated by the arrow above. If you arrive in Locarno by train from Basel, Zurich or Milan, walk to the rear of your train and on the end of each above-ground platform you'll find steps and a lift down to the Centovalli platforms.
Trains to Milan, Basel, Zurich: Above, Regional Express trains branded Tilo leave Locarno every hour for Milan Centrale. There are also regular direct trains from Locarno to Zurich & Basel.