hbo6

I know I saw a thread on this but cannot find it now with even using the "search".
I just need to find departure times from Gare St.Lazare to Bayeaux and then return times back to Paris. Would someone please direct me where to find this info. Also, is construction still going on within this route? Thank you.

StCirq

The RER doesn't go to Bayeux. Regular SNCF trains do. Schedules can be found at www.voyages-sncf.com. Note the correct spelling of Bayeux so you can look it up correctly.

Christina

or if you just want schedules, you can use www.bahn.de

nytraveler

The trip is about 2.5 hours each way - allowing for a few minutes to get the train in the station. Bahn.de has all of the schedules.

PalenQ

www.voyages-sncf.com not only has schedules but fares and take a look to see if you want to lock yourself into some non-changeable non-refundable trains at specific times you may get a minor discount (unlike on TGV lines where the discount could be major) - but this is not a high-speed line and features regular trains at a fairly flat pricing schedule where if you just show up in Paris and buy your tickets it would not be a whole lot of difference I think - or has been but take a look at the SNCF (France's national railway) site and see if there are significant differences for booking in stone weeks or months earlier as those tickets are generally limited in numbers.

Full fare tickets can be often used on any of a similar type of train that day so you could keep your going and coming times flexible - you never really know on a day trip when you will want to come back.

You can take RER E to Saint-Lazare or regular metro lines. For lots of good info on French trains check out www.seat61.com; www.ricksteves.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com. You will have no problem getting tickets on those trains once there, even just before the train as many trains on that route do not have the compulsory seat reservation policies that high-speed (TGV) lines do.

hbo6

Thanks everyone! Realized the misspelling...thank you

PalenQ

there are about hourly trains to Caen and about every other hour direct to Bayeux - sometimes you may have to change trains at Caen but it is always better IME to try to get a direct train.

PalenQ

Though some construction work has been occurring on the line it has not much hindered trains except on a few days and then just made it a bit slower.

StCirq

You can easily check construction on the SNCF lines on the voyages-sncf.com site or by googling Travaux SNCF. There is a considerable amount of construction on the western France lines in June and later this summer.

PalenQ

but the construction will not hinder travel much on one of France's main rail lines - just slow down some trains a bit.

StCirq

The construction on a number of days makes it a 4- to 5-hour trip to Caen and Bayeux from paris. I'd call that hindering travel.

Scootoir

hbo6,
Are you planning on renting a car in Normandy? You might consider traveling to another city then picking up the car avoiding the route to Caen. I would look into travel to Rouen and driving west. On our two trips we took the train to Caen and picked up cars across from the train station. Sounds like that route may not be the best choice currently.

PalenQ

Well if it is likely to take up to 5 hours each way by train to Bayeux from Paris as St Cirq adamantly says it does on many days then maybe you want to re-think that day trip - trains normally take only a few hours - it is hard for me to believe that trains routinely take 43-5 hours on that route but St Cirq certainly knows more about that than moi!

PalenQ

SNCF schedules say 2:15 on all services I've looked at - I would be very surprised that trains just stand idling for 2-3 more hours - St Cirq where did you get that bit about trains commonly taking 4-5 hours on that route? Could find nothing about that on the link you gave (but found it hard to navigate as a novice user) - so can you document what you say as if wrong it would deter folks from making that trip - lots of folks day trip by train to the D-Day area. Thanks in advance.

rncheryl

Now this is making me nervous: we are meeting a tour company in Bayeux, and they make it clear it is at 9:30. The only way to do that is to leave Paris st Lazare at approx 7 and change in Caen.

Will this still be possible/?

Christina

no, I don't think it is at all possible. It would be possible to meet someone in Caen at 9:30 but not Bayeux. There is a direct train to Caen on some days that is around 6:45 am to 9:00 or so, which is why you could do that. But I don't see any connections for Bayeux that early that would get you to Bayeux by 9 to 9:15.

Why do you think it is possible if you leave at 7 am and change in Caen? All of those type of schedules I see take about 3 hours (or at least 2.5 minimum) including the connection, but there isn't one that will get you that at that time. There are some direct trains to Bayeux but not that early. I see plenty of trains to Bayeux that take 2.5 to 3 hours including connection, it doesn't take 5 hours.

PalenQ

The fact that times can be so important is why I ask St Cirq to document her claims that trains often take 4 or 5 hours - if that info is correct, which I doubt having traveled on trains throughout France for years but is possible - once again I ask St Cirq where that info comes from:

<The construction on a number of days makes it a 4- to 5-hour trip to Caen and Bayeux from paris. I'd call that hindering travel.> Again where can folks like those above check on this as plans depend on reliable train times!

PalenQ

4-5 hours does anyone have any proof of that claim - on a number of days?

janisj

rncheryl: If you have to be someplace that far away - at 0930 - you really need to travel the night before. That is IF you must meet up w/ the tour.

There could be construction, there could be a strike or there could be clear sailing. But even w/o a glitch that is nearly an impossible connection.

StCirq

SNCF has in the past week totally revised its construction schedule. Originally, track construction was to take place starting May 31 and continuing until the mid- to end of June, with massive disruptions on the Paris lines to Normandy, making many runs take 4 hours or more (there are countless posts on TA about this). The schedules are now more or less back to normal, with disruptions on two evening trains and a few weekend ones. It changes all the time. France Mystique Tours has posted about this also. You can always check for the latest updates on the SNCF site under travaux et perturbations.