UK - French Alps on TGV

And I thought the TGV trains were modern / fast / sexy things, not the
40 year old sleeper trains?

Well the sleeper cars I've used are still the same as they ever were.
Overnight they don't need, or indeed want, to go fast so I guess
there's no reason to update them

Hi Ace

Yeah, fair point about the speed but I'd heard that these trains are
over 40 years old and pretty much only put on the rails at winter to
take Brits to the Alps.

First time I did it was fantastic - a rolling party the whole way but
as the years go by it gets less appealing! I find the couchettes
either freezing cold or boiling hot and never get any sleep anyway!

As it happens we've now made a booking - day time Eurostar to Paris
Gare du Nord, then change platforms to the TGV (which I assume IS the
big, fast, sexy thing) to get to BSM.

Then on the way back we're getting the non-stop Eurstar overnight.
Both ways in first class so I think it'll be a really nice trip with
no farting around at airports & long transfers etc.

Cheers

"John Wilcock" wrote in message news:

I think you'll find it is more than just a platform change - TGVs to the
south-east including BSM leave from the Gare de Lyon, which means
crossing Paris on the RER. Easy enough (direct RER from one to the
other), quick enough, but a pain with luggage.

Oh yes, have just noticed that on the itinerary! I assume RER is the
underground? How long should it take as there's only 45 minutes
between trains.

Would a taxi be a better option?

On 4 Nov 2004 00:30:03 -0800, (Roger)
wrote:

"John Wilcock" wrote in message news:

I think you'll find it is more than just a platform change - TGVs to the
south-east including BSM leave from the Gare de Lyon, which means
crossing Paris on the RER. Easy enough (direct RER from one to the
other), quick enough, but a pain with luggage.

Oh yes, have just noticed that on the itinerary! I assume RER is the
underground?

Yupp.

How long should it take as there's only 45 minutes
between trains.

It's two stops, IIRC, so there should be enough time.

Would a taxi be a better option?

No, it'll take far longer, as it's a lot further to cart all your
baggage out of one station into the other and load/offload it into the
taxi, plus you're then at the mercy of Paris traffic. Stick to the
metro.

--
Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
Ski Club of Great Britain - http://www.skiclub.co.uk
All opinions expressed are personal and in no way represent those of the Ski Club.

Roger Moss wrote:
Fear not: Snowtrains are all high-speed units, i.e. TGVs


I do not understand. It takes the snow train over 12 hours to do the 600
miles or so from Calais to Bourg; on my calculator that is 50mph. I
beleive that the speed is so slow to allow you to get a full nights
drinking followed by a good nights sleep.

When our son was 2(and every year since) we took him on the snow train
and he really enjoyed it. Sleeping in a couchette was an exciting and
novel expereince, but he was still asleep at Bourg and had to be carried
to the taxi rank for the taxi upto Tignes. He woke up just as we arrived
in the resort. For years this was a feature of ski trips - carrying a
still asleep boy to the transfer bus and hence up to the resort (and try
to remember all the bags). I suspect he had it all worked out when he
was 4 - wake up, put skis on and enjoy yourself when every one else has
got you to the resort.

Overall I think it is much easier to take young children in the car all
the way when skiing. Their equipment may fill the pantechnican but that
is much easier than dragging it around airports or railway stations.



John


RM

"Roger Moss" wrote in message
...

Eurostar runs into Gare du Nord, with a quick platform change to onward
Snow Train to the Alps, the trains serving Chambéry, Albertville,
Moutiers, Aime la Plagne, Landry and Bourg St Maurice.

RailEurope is offering deals on 19th (£314 for 2 people) & 26 December
(£358 for two), plus 2nd Jan (£224 for two) - www.raileurope.co.uk 08708
30 44 94

Bon ski...!

RM


"Roger" wrote in message
. com...

Eurostar don't seem to be running direct services to Moutier /Bourg
around Christmas but the web site shows Eurostar to Paris then TGV.

Is this a new way ? Has anyone done it? if so - what was it like?
would you recommend it ? How would it be with a 1 year old?

Thanks

Would a taxi be a better option?

No, it'll take far longer, as it's a lot further to cart all your
baggage out of one station into the other and load/offload it into the
taxi, plus you're then at the mercy of Paris traffic. Stick to the
metro.


Cheers Ace, you're a great help.

A specific question now! - what coins do we need for the RER?
Obviously we want to have the correct change with us to save as much
time!

On Fri, 05 Nov 2004 00:12:51 +0000, John Elgy
wrote:

Roger Moss wrote:
Fear not: Snowtrains are all high-speed units, i.e. TGVs


I do not understand. It takes the snow train over 12 hours to do the 600
miles or so from Calais to Bourg; on my calculator that is 50mph. I
beleive that the speed is so slow to allow you to get a full nights
drinking followed by a good nights sleep.

I think there was/is some confusion between daytime trains (which are
TGVs) and the overnight couchette ones of which you speak. Even the
latter, running from Paris, are quite different in character from the
old services that used to run for coachloads of brits from Calais. I'm
not even sure if they still operate.

--
Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
Ski Club of Great Britain - http://www.skiclub.co.uk
All opinions expressed are personal and in no way represent those of the Ski Club.

On 5 Nov 2004 00:42:21 -0800, (Roger)
wrote:


Would a taxi be a better option?

No, it'll take far longer, as it's a lot further to cart all your
baggage out of one station into the other and load/offload it into the
taxi, plus you're then at the mercy of Paris traffic. Stick to the
metro.


Cheers Ace, you're a great help.

A specific question now! - what coins do we need for the RER?
Obviously we want to have the correct change with us to save as much
time!

Dunno. Last time I used it it was a) priced in French Francs and b)
possible to buy the tickets from a human being.

--
Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
Ski Club of Great Britain - http://www.skiclub.co.uk
All opinions expressed are personal and in no way represent those of the Ski Club.

Ace wrote:
On Fri, 05 Nov 2004 00:12:51 +0000, John Elgy
wrote:


Roger Moss wrote:

Fear not: Snowtrains are all high-speed units, i.e. TGVs


I do not understand. It takes the snow train over 12 hours to do the 600
miles or so from Calais to Bourg; on my calculator that is 50mph. I
beleive that the speed is so slow to allow you to get a full nights
drinking followed by a good nights sleep.


I think there was/is some confusion between daytime trains (which are
TGVs) and the overnight couchette ones of which you speak. Even the
latter, running from Paris, are quite different in character from the
old services that used to run for coachloads of brits from Calais. I'm
not even sure if they still operate.

Yes, the Calais train still runs. IIRC there used to be two, one to
Austria and one to BSM, then 2 to BSM now there is only one to BSM. We
still use it every year. The ones through Paris need a very inconvenient
trip across London.


John

I've done gare du nord to lyon a few times now and although it should be
straight forwad they seem to make it quite complicated. 45 mins is
actually quite tight. It's doable but you need to hurry along (I missed my
connection in the summer with about the same time)

Don't rely on getting money at the station (as I did) all the cashpoints
were out of action and I had to go outside onto the streets to get cash.

The RER is downstairs at the end of the platforms, took me a little while
to find it but I think I was being a bit slow! All the ticket machines are
automatic and are downstairs and towards the platforms. You want line D I
think (possibly E) Have a hunt around so you know which one. Took me a
while to find the right button. You want to look at the bottom right of
the screen for the right option. The bulk of the screen has options for
lots of different gares but not lyon. The bottom right gets you a single
journey / central zone ticket.

The gates are a pain in the arse when you have luggage. They never seem to
stop the locals getting on without paying but make it hard when you have
paid! They aren't manned and the gates are high so you can't pass your
bags over the top. There are some disabled gates which work better, you
have to hope someone is on the other end of the phone.

At lyon it's fairly straight forward to get the TGVs, the other trains are
hidden away which took some time for me!

All that said 45 mins is doable, just don't take your time / have the
right money and check which line you need.

D


On Fri, 05 Nov 2004 11:44:57 +0100, John Wilcock
wrote:

On Fri, 05 Nov 2004 10:14:33 +0100, Ace wrote:
A specific question now! - what coins do we need for the RER?
Obviously we want to have the correct change with us to save as much
time!

Dunno. Last time I used it it was a) priced in French Francs and b)
possible to buy the tickets from a human being.

Haven't been to Paris for ages either, but a quick look at www.ratp.fr
shows that single tickets are now 1.40 euros.

John.




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