Thanks for the feedback. I liked your suggestion Grov, but maybe that is for another trip with just Mrs C and I. As we have the 2 elderly grannies with us, your side trip suggestion may be a little optimistic for us this trip. Looking further at it, point to point with the rail operators would have saved some money, but not 75% of the price. The trips are Milan airport - Varenna, 5 days later Varenna to Interlaken, 4 days later Interlaken to Salzburg and then 4 days later Salzburg to Budapest. I know now for next time how to do it better.