Overview
The PE72 is not a train you take by accident. It threads its way between Domodossola, on the Italian side of the Alps, and Locarno, on the shores of Lake Maggiore in Switzerland, and in doing so it crosses one of the more dramatic slices of Alpine and pre-Alpine landscape you can reach by ordinary rail ticket. This is the Arcobaleno region, and the name (Italian for rainbow) is a decent hint that the scenery does a lot of the talking.
There is no need to dress this line up with superlatives it hasn't earned in the facts, so let's be plain about what it is: a cross-border regional service run jointly by FART and SSIF, connecting a significant Italian rail junction with a lakeside Swiss town. What makes it worth your attention is the route itself, the valleys it follows, and the sense of gradually swapping one country's landscape for another's without ever boarding a plane.
If you're planning an Alpine rail trip and want something that feels like a proper journey rather than a hop between two stations, the Domodossola-Locarno run deserves a place on the list.
Key facts
| From | Domodossola |
|---|---|
| To | Locarno |
| Operator | FART;SSIF |
The route: Domodossola to Locarno
Domodossola sits on the Italian side, a well-connected railway town where several lines meet, making it a natural starting point for travellers arriving from Milan or further afield in Italy. From here, the PE72 heads towards the Swiss border, tracing a path through valleys shaped by the wider Alpine and pre-Alpine terrain of the Arcobaleno region.
The character of the landscape changes as you go. Expect the steeper, more enclosed feel of mountain valleys near Domodossola gradually opening out as you approach Locarno, where the land softens towards the shores of Lake Maggiore. It's a journey that moves from rock and forest towards water and light, and that shift is really the whole point of taking this train rather than driving or flying between the two towns.
As a journey, it feels unhurried and scenic rather than fast and functional. This is a line built for looking out of the window as much as for getting somewhere.
Timetable and how to book
Because services on this route vary according to season, and because neither operator publishes a fixed year-round schedule that's safe to repeat here, you should treat any timetable you find online as provisional until you check directly with FART or SSIF. Frequency, first and last departures, and journey duration can all shift between summer and winter timetables.
Booking arrangements are best confirmed directly with the operators too. Regional cross-border services like this one sometimes allow turn-up-and-go travel and sometimes require advance reservation depending on the season and any special services running, so check ahead of your trip rather than assuming.
Fares and classes
Exact fares aren't something to guess at here, so check current pricing with FART or SSIF before you travel. What can be said in general terms is how the classes typically differ in feel rather than in cost.
A standard class seat on a train like this will usually give you a perfectly good window view and a comfortable, practical ride, well suited to travellers who are there primarily for the scenery and don't need extras. A higher class of travel, where offered, tends to come with a bit more space, a quieter carriage, and sometimes a more deliberate focus on sightlines out of the window, since scenic lines like this often design their higher-class seating with views in mind. Whichever class you choose, this is fundamentally a scenery-led journey, so don't expect the class distinction to be about luxury extras so much as comfort and outlook.
Which side to sit for the best views
On a route that swings between mountain valley and lakeside plain, your choice of side can make a real difference to what you see. As a general rule on Alpine valley railways, one side will tend to face the rising slopes and rock faces close up, while the other opens out towards the wider valley floor and, as you near Locarno, the lake itself.
Because the line curves and the valley narrows and widens repeatedly, no single side gives you every view for the whole trip, so the honest advice is to be ready to swap sides if the train is quiet, or at least to expect the best views to shift depending on which stretch of the journey you're in. If lake views matter most to you, keep an eye out as the train approaches Locarno, when the landscape opens up and the water comes into view.
The onboard experience
Trains on scenic Alpine routes like this are typically built with the view in mind, and you should expect generous windows designed to let the landscape do the work. This is a journey where the window is the main attraction, so a seat with a clear, unobstructed view matters more than almost anything else.
Catering on regional cross-border services can vary by season and by the specific train in operation, so it's worth checking with the operator in advance if refreshments matter to you, rather than assuming a buffet or trolley service will be running. Either way, this is the kind of line where packing your own coffee and something to eat is a sensible backup, leaving you free to enjoy the scenery without worrying about facilities.
Best season to travel
This is a genuinely four-season line, and the character of the trip changes a good deal depending on when you go. In summer, the valleys are green and the light lingers, making for long, relaxed views and a good match if you're combining the trip with time on Lake Maggiore at the Locarno end.
Autumn brings changing colour to the wooded slopes, which can be a rewarding time for anyone travelling primarily for scenery. Winter turns the higher ground white and gives the mountain stretches a starker, more dramatic feel, though you should expect timetables to be more tightly bound to winter conditions and worth double-checking in advance. Spring sits between the two, with meltwater swelling the valleys and a freshness to the landscape that suits a quieter, less crowded journey.
Alternatives and onward connections
Locarno is a well-connected point for onward travel, sitting on Lake Maggiore and linked into the wider Swiss rail network, so travellers arriving on the PE72 generally have decent options for continuing their journey by rail or by lake steamer services in the region. Domodossola, on the Italian side, connects back into Italy's national network, making the PE72 a genuinely useful link rather than a purely scenic one-off.
If your priority is simply covering the distance between Domodossola and Locarno, there may be alternative routes or connections via other regional or national services, so it's worth comparing options with the operators if flexibility matters more to you than the specific scenic route this line offers.
History and context
The Domodossola-Locarno line belongs to a long tradition of cross-border Alpine railways built to link Italian and Swiss regions that share valleys, trade routes and, in this case, a lake. Services like the PE72, run jointly by FART and SSIF, reflect that shared cross-border character, with two operators from two countries cooperating on a single through service rather than forcing passengers to change trains at the frontier.
Over the decades, lines like this have shifted from being primarily practical transport links between valley communities to also being valued as scenic routes in their own right, appreciated as much for the journey as for the destination. That dual identity, practical and scenic at once, is still very much what defines the PE72 today.
Common questions
- Do I need to book the PE72 in advance?
- This can depend on the season and demand, so check directly with FART or SSIF before you travel rather than assuming turn-up-and-go will always be possible.
- Which side of the train has the best views?
- There's no single best side for the whole journey, since the valley narrows and opens at different points. Be ready to look both ways, and expect lake views to open up as you approach Locarno.
- Is there catering on board?
- This varies by season and service, so check with the operator in advance if you want to rely on it, and consider bringing your own food and drink as a backup.
- What's the difference between the classes on this route?
- In general terms, higher class travel tends to offer more space and a stronger focus on views, while standard class remains a comfortable, practical way to enjoy the same scenery. Check current fares and class details with FART or SSIF.
- What's the best time of year to ride this line?
- Each season offers something different: summer for long green views, autumn for colour on the slopes, winter for dramatic snow-capped scenery, and spring for a quieter, fresher trip. Your choice depends on what kind of scenery you want most.
On the map
Sources & method
- OpenStreetMap route=train (ODbL) — route
See our methodology for how Head Your Way sources and reviews travel data.