France train ticket retrieval
Feb 20th, 2014, 03:58 PM
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France train ticket retrieval
I booked e-tickts from Avignon to Lyon and was able to print e-tickets at home in the U.S. The next leg from Lyon to Geneve doesn't allow e-printing. There is 25 minutes between trains, is that enough time to retrieve the tickets at the SNCF self-service terminal? Thanks for your help. Annealex
Feb 20th, 2014, 04:07 PM
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You didn't book Avignon to Genève on one ticket? The train from Lyon to Genève is Sans réservation de place (there are no seat reservations on this train), but it should have been booked as one ticket. You might want to double check your ticket if it was purchased from SNCF.
Feb 20th, 2014, 04:31 PM
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Robert, I booked both tickets on capitainetrain.com. It didn't allow me to book that in one journey. So, I broke it up. It seemed pretty straight forward, now I'm crossing fingers I can retrieve my ticket to Geneve in ample time.
Feb 20th, 2014, 04:32 PM
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LOL! Just posted this in another thread. Make sure you have a printout of your confirmation for the tickets. We were unable to retrieve our tickets in Milan last summer - people at desk couldn't either. At the last second the info man stamped our confirmation, wrote a quick note and signed it. We boarded our train just in time. The conductor was somewhat bemused with the situation, but it was fine. We initially had 1.5 hours in Milan, but because train from Florence was late we only had about 15 minutes.
Btw - I had the same situation, except on Trenitalia, booked from Florence to Lugano on one ticket but had to pick up the second ticket for Milan to Lugano, whereas Florence to Milan was an e-ticket.
In hindsight, you can pick up your tickets at any train station, so pick them up in Avignon that way if you're short on time in Lyon you'll already have the tickets.
Btw - I had the same situation, except on Trenitalia, booked from Florence to Lugano on one ticket but had to pick up the second ticket for Milan to Lugano, whereas Florence to Milan was an e-ticket.
In hindsight, you can pick up your tickets at any train station, so pick them up in Avignon that way if you're short on time in Lyon you'll already have the tickets.
Feb 20th, 2014, 04:34 PM
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Janisj, It's a mid-morning (10:15 departure) so I'm hoping it won't be too busy. I won't waste time at the self-serve kiosk then and I'll straight to the window. Is it obvious which window?
Feb 20th, 2014, 04:37 PM
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Hez, WOW, if I can pick them up in Avignon then it should be simple and stress-free!!
I've had similar stressful moments in train stations and, I have to say, it's always worked out. But I'm getting too old for stress.
I've had similar stressful moments in train stations and, I have to say, it's always worked out. But I'm getting too old for stress.
Feb 20th, 2014, 04:45 PM
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So glad you can use that advice!!! Not my ideal way to travel (and will heed my own advice next time). At least we got a good story out of it - it was my sisters first time to Europe and my ability to get us from here to there under a few slightly stressful situations I think may become family lore! 
Feb 20th, 2014, 06:05 PM
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If you are staying in Avignon you can pick up train tickets at the Avignon Centre station, just outside the city walls, anytime you want. Bring your reservation, passport and the credit card used for the purchase. Same procedure at the TGV station on the outskirts.
