Gare Montparnasse to Gare de Lyon
Dec 3rd, 2011, 09:55 PM
#1
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Gare Montparnasse to Gare de Lyon
Hi everyone
We are planning our trip to France (first time), and are going from Tours to Avignon.
There is one direct train, but it doesnt get in to Avignon until 18.45 ... and we would actually like to get there a bit earlier as we will still have to hire a car and drive 30mins or so to Carpentras where we are staying.
The earlier trains have a transfer from Gare Montparnasse to Gare de Lyon.
How long do I need to allow? and how difficult is it? It doesnt look very far (about 6.5km's) but that often doesnt mean much.
alternatively, there is a train with a transfer at Gare de Massey - but again it appears to involve changing train stations. Having said that - I understand that Massey-Palasieau and Massey TGV are right next to each other. Is 25 mins here enough?
We are planning our trip to France (first time), and are going from Tours to Avignon.
There is one direct train, but it doesnt get in to Avignon until 18.45 ... and we would actually like to get there a bit earlier as we will still have to hire a car and drive 30mins or so to Carpentras where we are staying.
The earlier trains have a transfer from Gare Montparnasse to Gare de Lyon.
How long do I need to allow? and how difficult is it? It doesnt look very far (about 6.5km's) but that often doesnt mean much.
alternatively, there is a train with a transfer at Gare de Massey - but again it appears to involve changing train stations. Having said that - I understand that Massey-Palasieau and Massey TGV are right next to each other. Is 25 mins here enough?
Dec 3rd, 2011, 10:26 PM
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Which booking site are you looking at? There are many more options than you mentioned according to
reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query2.exe/en, www.voyages-sncf.com, or www.tgv.com.
What mode of transportation do you have in mind between Gare de Lyon and Gare Montparneasse - taxi, metro, bus? I have done this by taxi around 3pm weekday. It took about 30min with some stop and go traffic. Metro is more predictable, however, it is not recommended unless you are traveling very light and you don't mind walking a lot with luggage.
reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query2.exe/en, www.voyages-sncf.com, or www.tgv.com.
What mode of transportation do you have in mind between Gare de Lyon and Gare Montparneasse - taxi, metro, bus? I have done this by taxi around 3pm weekday. It took about 30min with some stop and go traffic. Metro is more predictable, however, it is not recommended unless you are traveling very light and you don't mind walking a lot with luggage.
Dec 3rd, 2011, 10:48 PM
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was looking at tgv-europe.com.
There were a few other alternatives, but these times etc suited me best. (Want to go in the morning, least number of transfers as we will have luggage and a 6 yr old)
As for mode of transport, am open to suggestions but the metro is not really an option (as again, have luggage and child, so long walk with loads of steps isnt a great thing).
There were a few other alternatives, but these times etc suited me best. (Want to go in the morning, least number of transfers as we will have luggage and a 6 yr old)
As for mode of transport, am open to suggestions but the metro is not really an option (as again, have luggage and child, so long walk with loads of steps isnt a great thing).
Dec 4th, 2011, 01:16 PM
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I don't think the number of transfers is a relevant metric for your circumstance. Gare de Lyon and Montparnasse are both mega stations requiring considerable moving around inside. They are also quite confusing. Even more transfers at smaller stations might be actually matching your desire.
I don't know when you are traveling, but according to www.voyages-sncf.com, at least for this week, there is 8:16 Tours Centre train with change at Lyon Part Dieu. There is another one at 8:45 connecting at Tours Saint Pierre de Corps (medium size station), then again at Marne la Valee.
Austerlitz to Gare de Lyon just across Seine from each other is a possibility, but are 1/3miles from each other.
Since you are getting a car at Avignon end anyway, driving from Tours seems to be an option. It will be a long drive and you have to deal with autoroute and gas payments which often cause problems if you only have U.S. issued credit cards.
I don't know when you are traveling, but according to www.voyages-sncf.com, at least for this week, there is 8:16 Tours Centre train with change at Lyon Part Dieu. There is another one at 8:45 connecting at Tours Saint Pierre de Corps (medium size station), then again at Marne la Valee.
Austerlitz to Gare de Lyon just across Seine from each other is a possibility, but are 1/3miles from each other.
Since you are getting a car at Avignon end anyway, driving from Tours seems to be an option. It will be a long drive and you have to deal with autoroute and gas payments which often cause problems if you only have U.S. issued credit cards.
Dec 4th, 2011, 03:23 PM
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thanks greg.
Driving to Avignon isnt really an option (even though we will have a car at either end, DH isnt too keen on a 6.5 hr drive)
The decision is only whether to take the train via Paris (Montparnasse and Gare de Lyon) which the timing suits best, or a bit earlier train via Marne la Valee, or just to suck it up and take the direct train which gets in late.
Sounds like going via MLV might be the best option for us.
Driving to Avignon isnt really an option (even though we will have a car at either end, DH isnt too keen on a 6.5 hr drive)
The decision is only whether to take the train via Paris (Montparnasse and Gare de Lyon) which the timing suits best, or a bit earlier train via Marne la Valee, or just to suck it up and take the direct train which gets in late.
Sounds like going via MLV might be the best option for us.
Dec 4th, 2011, 04:07 PM
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Biting my tongue, as a 20-time visitor to France.
The idea of traveling from Tours via Marne la Vallée to Carpentras is.....
Well, biting my tongue.
I would drive. Through some of the prettiest and most relaxing French countryside, esp before Lyon.
But hey, that's just me.
The idea of traveling from Tours via Marne la Vallée to Carpentras is.....
Well, biting my tongue.
I would drive. Through some of the prettiest and most relaxing French countryside, esp before Lyon.
But hey, that's just me.
Dec 4th, 2011, 05:32 PM
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18:45 is only 6:45 in the evening. You should get to Carpentras by 8:00, no problem. What time of year is this trip? Will it still be light at 8:00?
With luggage and a 6-year-old, I'd prefer no changes, yet alone a trip between train stations.
With luggage and a 6-year-old, I'd prefer no changes, yet alone a trip between train stations.
Dec 4th, 2011, 11:20 PM
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From what I can see, there are two train stations in Massy-Palaiseau: The RER station and the TGV station. I would think that you have a relatively short transfer from one train to the other in Massy-Palaiseau.
Dec 5th, 2011, 09:31 AM
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I've drive from Avignon to Carpentras and I wouldn't say you would get there by 8 with no problem if the train doesn't arrive until 6:45. The drive on the road would take about 45 minutes but it depends on traffic, of course right between the gare and going north along the river for a bit until you are outside Avignon metro area. And once I drove that route and the main road was blocked or had some issue so that it one only one lane and tha tpart took a long time (D942). However, one has to get from the gare to the auto rental company, do the paperwork and get the car, etc. I bet that part takes at least a half hour. So I agree it would be possible to get there by 8 pm if you know exactly what you are doing and the road (and then it really depends where in Carpentras or the surrounding area), there is no leeway. If it's July and doesn't get dark until 9-10 pm, maybe not so bad.
However, when driving in a strange area, I also prefer to arrive at my destination when plenty of time during broad daylight to get where I'm going as you never know what kind of problems may occur or if you'll have trouble finding it, etc. If you knew this route already and were familiar with it, I'd probably take the direct train, also.
However, when driving in a strange area, I also prefer to arrive at my destination when plenty of time during broad daylight to get where I'm going as you never know what kind of problems may occur or if you'll have trouble finding it, etc. If you knew this route already and were familiar with it, I'd probably take the direct train, also.
Dec 6th, 2011, 02:59 PM
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yep thats it exactly Christina.
We are staying at Chateau Talaud, which is just outside Carpetras and appears fairly easy to find .... but would much much prefer to arrive in daylight.
It will be September, so apparently sunset is around 8pm, which is why we are considering the hassles of an earlier train with a transfer.
We are staying at Chateau Talaud, which is just outside Carpetras and appears fairly easy to find .... but would much much prefer to arrive in daylight.
It will be September, so apparently sunset is around 8pm, which is why we are considering the hassles of an earlier train with a transfer.
