hpeabody

How many days in advance can the 25.00 € fares be booked? I will be traveling on Apr 21 Easter Monday (still considered a holiday I believe in Europe). I thought it was 90 days in advance, but I see no 25.00 € yet , nor do I even see TGV Lyria trains at all. Is it calendar days? actual days? Do they load schedules and fares right at midnight? (I have heard that) The closest to my date TGR Lyria train I see is on the 19th at 14:34. Do they run a normal schedule on holidays? I have been looking at SNCF (Using Switzerland) and Capitaine Train.

Thanks to those who have been helping me, European train stuff just boggles my mind.

PalenQ

You can also try: http://www.idtgv.com/fr/

PalenQ

TGVs link Paris also to Geneva and Lausanne via a different route - check those too - depending on where you will be going in Switzerland they may be as close as Basel.

hpeabody

Thank You Capitaine Train. I think I was successful last night. Suddenly the 25 € fares and TVG Lyria schedules appeared. I got a nice green check mark but there is a notice that credit card payment is pending. I suspect this is normal. I copied that screen that even shows my seat assignment. Immediately the charge showed up on my credit card as pending (I looked at the website) I called and the credit card rep said it is approved and good and should appear in my posted transactions with 4-5 days. I think it all looks good, but have not got the email with eTicket yet, still waiting on that. Ohhhhhhhh, I just looked and the 25€ is now all gone from my train at 10:34 AM.

I sure wish you covered Switzerland trains, The Capitaine Train website is so nice and friendly unlike others I have to deal with.

hpeabody

UPDATE: My PDF document/eTicket just arrived moments ago. YAY! and Phewwwwwwwww

PalenQ

How much train travel re you contemplating in Switzerland? It does not take much to make a Swiss Pass, Swiss Card, Half-Fare Card or Swiss Transfer ticket to pay off - so if going around at all check those out vs regular fares (www.sbb.ch for those) - these fine IMO sites - www.seat61.com; www.swisstravelsystem.com; www.budgeteuropetravel; www.ricksteves.com. Currently there is a special deal of a 2-day Swiss Flexipass for those who travels are finished before the end of May - normal a 3-day flexipass is the lowest one - check the Swiss Travel System site for that.

hpeabody

Thank You Palen Q
Swiss travel: In April, Easter holiday time
Basel - Lucern Saturday
Lucern - Murren 2 cable cars, return Leuterbrunnen - Lucerne Sunday
Lucerne - Basel Monday

Quick, visit, I know

I don't know that this is enough for any kind of pass. I have heard of 1/2 price last minute kind of discount?

Now, I will go look at what you posted above

PalenQ

I have heard of 1/2 price last minute kind of discount?>

not on those trains or in general IME - simply go to www.sbb.ch and see what the fares for each segment will be and calculate against the pass which does cover in full either of the two cable ways linking the Lauterbrunnen valley to Murren, including train from Grtuschalp where one cable directly from lauterbrunnen train station goes to Murren - the Stechelberg to Gimmelwald to Murren lift is at the end of the valley and you'd have to take a postal bus the few miles there - but if possible go each way - the Stechelberg-Gimmelwald gondolas are thrilling and for some hair-traising - like in an airplane!

PalenQ

I don't know that this is enough for any kind of pass.>

Yes just buy tickets as you go along but check www.sbb.ch - Swiss Federal Railways site for the occasional special offer oninter-city trains but Lucerne to Basel is not a huge fare.

hpeabody

OK, I will. I am trying to see where my seat is on the Basel to Paris TGV Lyria train. Looking at the TGV Lyria website at trains between Paris and Basel-Zurich. I can not tell which is my seat. Car 1 is 1st class, I am 2nd class. 2nd class begins at car 5. Am I looking at the wrong diagram. Boy, I feel dumb.

http://www.tgv-lyria.com/main/FCK/Fi...ating_plan.asp

My ticket says

TRAIN N°9214
VOITURE 01 - PLACE 16
2e CLASSE / PLACE ASSISE
FENETRE CARRE
A UTILISER DANS CE TRAIN

Translation

CAR 01 - 16 PLACE
2ND CLASS / SEAT
SQUARE WINDOW
USED ​​IN THIS TRAIN

PalenQ

Looks like you're in the first class car with a 2nd class ticket!

Sarastro

Car #1 is not necessarily a first class only car.

Phil

hpeabody:

Actually, you are assigned seat 16. This is one of the "Club 4" seats at one end of carriage 1, just behind the cycle storage (to the left of the diagramme; the xx/yy seat numbers change according to the direction of travel). There are 4 seats across, like in 2nd class, so it is first class in name only. This small compartment is rather quiet, as there are virtually no passengers going past.

Enjoy your trip.

Phil.

hpeabody

Thank you all for your replies. Yes, I was seeing that I am in the bicycle area. I thought that just could not be right. I do hope there will be ample room for luggage. I just thought it was strange that I was not assigned a seat in a 2nd class car. That is why I thought I was perhaps acccesing the wrong diagram. Bottom line .... I am on the train and got the great 25 euro fare

PalenQ

Sounds like you'd be better off in a regular 2nd class car than stuck in the back of a first class car with perhaps no windows - but I supposed the cheap fares get the worst seats?

MaineGG

PalenQ - Why do you think there are no windows? The seat reservation says "fenêtre", which implies that it is a window seat. It also looks like it is a seat facing another passenger across a table.

Sarastro

I believe that seats labeled <i>fenêtre carré</i> would indicate a window seat in the square or face to face configuration; not that the window itself is square.