Simplon Route Closure Summer 2024

[LNW-GW Joint]

After booking flights to match trains on the Simplon-Lötschberg route in June, I've just discovered the Simplon route is closed in Italy (Arona-Stresa, but effectively Domodossola-Milano) from June 9 to September 8.
EC services from the north are truncated at Domodossola, and there are Trenitalia buses from there to Milano Centrale taking 2h20m (the EC trains take 1h36m).
The work around Stresa is apparently gauge clearance for larger international freight trains.
Given the long-term problems on the Fréjus and Gotthard routes it's a pity RFI have to close a third trans-Alpine route.

My intended route was on local trains from Malpensa airport to Domodossola via Gallarate, but that is now impossible.
I've booked on the Malpensa-Domodossola express bus instead to catch up with my Swiss itinerary.
I'll miss the scenic rail route along Lake Maggiore.
I'm posting this in case others have plans to use this route in the summer.

 

[peteb]

If tunnel remains open for local services then Brig-Domodossola-Locarno-Milan and vice versa should be feasible via Centovali route. Maybe that's a possibility for you to salvage the trip?

 

[StephenHunter]

How does that affect VSOE operations?

 

[eastwestdivide]

How does that affect VSOE operations?

Probably goes via the Gotthard Pass, as it occasionally does/did. I photographed it at Göschenen 10-ish years ago.
edit: in fact this pdf brochure shows Gotthard on the map on p15:

https://pdfs.belmond.com/Brochure-Venice-Simplon-Orient-Express.pdf

alternatively, Arlberg+Brenner.

 

[StephenHunter]

Probably goes via the Gotthard Pass, as it occasionally does/did. I photographed it at Göschenen 10-ish years ago.
edit: in fact this pdf brochure shows Gotthard on the map on p15:

https://pdfs.belmond.com/Brochure-Venice-Simplon-Orient-Express.pdf

alternatively, Arlberg+Brenner.

That's right - they haven't used the Simplon route since 2016. The other routes are more scenic - the Simplon one has a tunnel long enough for a good fist fight though.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

If tunnel remains open for local services then Brig-Domodossola-Locarno-Milan and vice versa should be feasible via Centovali route. Maybe that's a possibility for you to salvage the trip?

The SBB journey planner offers some routeings via Centovali, but with extended journey times.
As a result I can't reach my Swiss destination (Interlaken) from my flight without resorting to the bus (which is quicker than the train anyway from Malpensa).
If I had more time it would be a enjoyable diversion.