aveebee86

Hello!

We have a train from Paris to Belgium next week (TGV via Lille), and of course, it's on a Thursday. With the recently announced strike, what are the chances of it continuing in to next week? If it does, what are typically your options if your train is canceled? Is it pretty easy to switch to another?

If not, what are other alternatives for getting from Paris to at least Brussels?

Thanks!

kerouac

Strike days are often superb. Most trains will be running anyway (usually), but you can hop on any train during the day. Tickets will not be checked, so the SNCF will refund your fare, even if it is a non-refundable, non-exchangeable fare.

You should worry more about Belgian strikes, because all rail traffic stops, unlike in France. 55% of Belgian workers are unionized, compared to 7.7% in France.

StCirq

It's not going to "run into the next week." The strikes are announced for just Wednesdays and Thursdays for the foreseeable future. There will be trains. If the particular one you're booked on is on strike, take the next one and get your fare fully refunded. No one will bother to look at your ticket until you go to the counter to get your refund, which you can probably do online anyway (never tried that, but I'm pretty sure it's possible.)

Whathello

'they' announce 60% of the TGV's running tomorrow.

PalenQ

'they' announce 60% of the TGV's running tomorrow.>

But do they say what those trains are or is it hit and miss?

historytraveler

Don't know if this is a silly question or not, but if one has tickets and reserved seats on a particular train and that train is running, can I still expect to sit in my booked seat or is it first on board, first seated?

mjs

if your train is canceled do you have to get a refund than book another train?
I assume there would be no change fee.

kerouac

historytraveler - you can claim your seat if your train is running. I have had to get up many times on strike day trains when the person who had reserved the seat showed up.

mjs - if your train is cancelled, you can get a refund or take any other train. If you are able to make an official exchange, there is no fee.

historytraveler

Thanks kerouac.

aveebee86

Thanks, all. Is there room on these other trains? I imagine they fill up with other people who had tickets on these trains and/or are in a similar predicament with a cancelled train?

aveebee86

Additionally, how does one apply for this refund? Sorry, I'm obviously new to train travel in Europe.

aveebee86

Please disregard my last question. I see the answer from StCirq.

kawh

We just took the train from angers to Paris. Ours was supposed to go to cdg, but that was cancelled. They told us to take any seat on the train.... It people were jammed in, sitting everywhere....like it was the last train in the world. Those who had actual reservations definitely expected others to move.
At cdg now and, though internet said to expect some strike action here...so far the board does not show any cancellations on air France . hoping.

aveebee86

Thanks for the update, kawh. Does it help to get to the trains early to help try to find space?.

Good to know about CDG and best of luck! That's the other question I have - getting from CDG to Place D'Italie on a Sunday afternoon. It looks like there's:
-The RER (concerns me with my luggage, not huge, but still luggage, and being jetlagged) to Metro
- Taxi (expensive, but direct and works well with being jetlagged and having luggage)
- Air France bus to Montparnasse and then maybe get a taxi from there? Not sure what the feasibility of this/how the cost compares just to getting a taxi straight from the airport.

kawh

Eek...check online. I remember reading this a.m. that place d italie was mentioned as a hotspot.... Google it w strike or manifestation?? We used air France bus...17 each....taxi to right bank will be set 50.... So bus and short taxi will run close to the same, I'm thinking. Should board soon....and no air France cancellations at our terminal yet....

aveebee86

Bad news. The same train we'll take next week Thursday is cancelled for tomorrow. I assume that doesn't bode well for next week Thursday?

Christina

I wouldn't presume that, you could presume exactly the opposite, that the cancelled trains will be rotated so not always the same one.

I stay in Montparnasse a lot and the AF bus to Montparnasse and then taxi would certainly be an option. The bus is about 17 euro one-way, I believe. Would be cheaper than a taxi the entire way for sure. There is a metro line direct from MOntparnasse to place d'Italie, in fact, I'd probably do that myself but it is quite a few stops, so a lot of people don't want to take metro with baggage. It's easy to get down to metro from where the AF bus lets you off, though, it's all escalators, as I recall.

I wouldn't say that 17 euro plus a short taxi ride would be the same as 55-60 euro which is what the taxi will be from CDG. The set fare is 55 euro but I think there may be allowed some surcharges on top of that, not sure, I've read about a 4 euro airport charge. And some people do tip 5-10 pct. All train stations have lots of taxis, there are plenty at Montparnasse.

aveebee86

Thanks, Christina!

kawh

Sorry....when I said taxi would be the same, I was thinking for two people. It was 34 for the two of us....plus we were in terminal 2g....the only one where they stop off, then walk a fair ways, go upstairs, then take a shuttle. A pain in the midst of a stressful day. Good news...after all, flight landed on time in turino and we already enjoyed an amazing typically endless Italian dinner. Best luck next week.

Whathello

for what it is worth, I took metro line 2 + 1 (from De Gaulle) this morning from Rochechouart to La Defense and back at 4 pm, no prob.
Thalys was on time, no prob. A lot of trains at GDN, no chaos.