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general concept
An innovative regional railway
The Venosta Valley railway's main strong point lies in its regional services running hourly virtually all day long from Malles to Merano and stopping at all stations from Malles (first service leaves at 5.47, last service arrives at 23.39) to Merano (first service leaves at 5.42, last service arrives at 22.44). Services are boosted during the morning for students and commuters, while most weekend services operate with more rolling stock.
Additionally, there is a direct connection every two hours with regional express trains (RegioExpress), stopping only at major stations in the lower Venosta Valley. This allows a reduction in journey time from the upper Venosta Valley area to Merano. Operating on weekdays and Saturdays only, these express trains provide a direct connection to South Tyrol's capital town Bolzano.
The entire Venosta Valley railway is run by the provincial government. As a result, the provincial Ministry of Transport and the South Tyrol Transport Authority (STA) decided to turn this infrastructure into a model regional transport infrastructure. A convenient, competitive transport solution for commuters and occasional travellers, a straightforward timetable coordinating train and bus services and the very best in reliability. The service plan, drafted by Ingenieurbüro für Verkehrsplanung Willi Hüsler A.G. of Zurich, also includes bus services in the Venosta Valley, and especially in the upper part of the valley where buses operate to and from the railway stations. CityBus services are available in Malles, Lagundo and Silandro, connecting town centres and stations with the surrounding area.
From Mals / Malles to....virtually anywhere
After tasting a wonderful cup of coffee in Zurich's stylish Bahnhofstraße, you could very well find yourself in the breathtaking Castel Trauttmansdorff botanical gardens in Meran. The Venosta valley railways makes this possible.
Although this is mainly a local service operating in the Venosta valley, and from there to Merano and Bolzano, the Venosta Valley railway is also a feeder service for several national and international services. In the upper Venosta Valley, train services connect with Swiss bus and railway services. To mark the re-opening of the Venosta Valley railway, the Vehe Zernez - Münster/Müstair (CH) postal bus service was extended to provide an hourly connection to Malles through the Ofenpass, replacing a series of services formerly provided by SAD, except for a number of services for schoolchildren and students. In Malles passengers may take the Venosta Valley railway. An important service has now been set up to connect the Engadine and Upper Venosta Valley tourist areas.
Passengers from Zurich and the Swiss Mittelland can now enjoy even greater comfort. Zernez offers a connection with the Rhaetian railways. After travelling through the 20 kilometre Vereina tunnel, passengers may then take a non-stop Intercity service to Zurich. This new route has reduced journey time from Zurich to Merano 5.5 hours, almost 60 minutes less than the Arlberg – Brenner route.
South Tyrol and Switzerland are now much closer to one another: Swiss customers will find it much easier to reach Castel Coira and Merano, while holidaymakers visiting the Veniosta Valley will find it easier to reach the Swiss national park or the Benedictine convent of St. Johann Müstair (Unesco world heritage site). Connections with the Scuol - Nauders – Landeck service have now been improved thanks to an hourly Malles – Nauders service, and a service operating once every two hours to Scuol in lower Engadine and Landeck, and then on to the Arlberg line.
Landeck offers connections to Innsbruck and Vienna through the Austrian federal railway network.
Switzerland and Austria can be reached thanks to bus services operating from Malles, the last station on the Venosta Valley railway. Our neighbours in the Rhaetian triangle can now travel with ease to the Venosta Valley.
