Train from Le Havre to Paris
Mar 30th, 2014, 02:22 AM
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Train from Le Havre to Paris
Why are there no trains scheduled from Le Havre to Paris on Saturday, May 10, 2014. I have been trying to book a train through every source I can find but no luck. I have been told that there is track repair, but I cannot imagine shutting down service for an entire day. Our cruise ship docks at Le Havre at 7AM and we plan to spend three days in Paris before returning to the USA. Now, if we could get to Paris other than hiring a private driver. HELP!
Mar 30th, 2014, 02:30 AM
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What about all the responses on your other thread
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...m#last-comment
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...m#last-comment
Mar 30th, 2014, 02:31 AM
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What about all the responses on your other thread
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...m#last-comment
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...m#last-comment
Mar 30th, 2014, 07:24 AM
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It is certainly possible they close a particular line for a day, why not? That probably isn't the most trafficked line. I've seen them close lines down along the Riviera for a day or longer. And Saturday isn't a work day, either, I'm sure that's how they look at it.
It sounds like you simply don't believe a rail line could be closed for a day, and it can. So you have to find an alternative. I checked other trains, it appears it is the rail line between Rouen and Paris that is the problem, you can't go direct between those two cities on that day.
These are your options, as I see them:
1) get a private driver, very very expensive;
2) find a bus (I wouldn't bother);
3) stay in Le Havre for the night and go to Paris the next day on the 1:58 pm train, you at least get there and have 2 days in Paris;
4) go an alternative route by train from Le Havre to Paris, which will take a lot longer but is possible. Rouen is the problem, as I see it. You can get from Rouen to Paris, but not direct, you will have to chance once or twice. But you can do it. These are the best times as I see it -- take the train from Le Havre to Rouen at 7:50 am (the next one isn't until 12:37 pm) which I personally doubt you can make if your boat docks at 7 am. If you can, then you take take a train from Rouen to Paris at 12:17 pm which arrives in Paris at 16:56 (you have to change once at Amiens).
Otherwise, if you take the 12:37 pm train from Le Havre to Rouen (arrive 13:52), there isn't a train from Rouen to Paris until 18:15 and it arrives in Paris at 22:41 (changes in Arras). That's almost midnight. So it will take all day, you'll have to have a hotel where you can arrive that late, but you will be there that day and have 2 full days for Paris.
5) the only close direct route to Paris by train on Saturday that I can find is from Lisieux. However, it is at 8:11 am (arrives at 9:57 am). Lisieux is about 60 km from Le Havre and takes about an hour drive. I don't know what the taxi fare would be, if they'll take you over there but again, if your boat docks at 7 am, that isn't really feasible. If you docked at 6 am, it might be.
As for buses, I believe kerouac said when they close a rail line, they offer buses. They don't on voyages-sncf.com for that date, so not sure about that or how you'd book that if not on their web site. I think the issue is that it is really the rail line between Rouen and Paris that is the problem, and you can get between the 2 cities by train that day, just not direct. So perhaps they don't offer buses if you can get there, just not as quickly.
YOu do have an option, you can stay in Le Havre that day and then take the train to Paris on Sunday, 5/11 (at 1:58 pm). That's what I would do if I were you, as a private driver will be expensive. There are buses probably, but that still gives you a couple days in Paris if your flight home is from there.
It sounds like you simply don't believe a rail line could be closed for a day, and it can. So you have to find an alternative. I checked other trains, it appears it is the rail line between Rouen and Paris that is the problem, you can't go direct between those two cities on that day.
These are your options, as I see them:
1) get a private driver, very very expensive;
2) find a bus (I wouldn't bother);
3) stay in Le Havre for the night and go to Paris the next day on the 1:58 pm train, you at least get there and have 2 days in Paris;
4) go an alternative route by train from Le Havre to Paris, which will take a lot longer but is possible. Rouen is the problem, as I see it. You can get from Rouen to Paris, but not direct, you will have to chance once or twice. But you can do it. These are the best times as I see it -- take the train from Le Havre to Rouen at 7:50 am (the next one isn't until 12:37 pm) which I personally doubt you can make if your boat docks at 7 am. If you can, then you take take a train from Rouen to Paris at 12:17 pm which arrives in Paris at 16:56 (you have to change once at Amiens).
Otherwise, if you take the 12:37 pm train from Le Havre to Rouen (arrive 13:52), there isn't a train from Rouen to Paris until 18:15 and it arrives in Paris at 22:41 (changes in Arras). That's almost midnight. So it will take all day, you'll have to have a hotel where you can arrive that late, but you will be there that day and have 2 full days for Paris.
5) the only close direct route to Paris by train on Saturday that I can find is from Lisieux. However, it is at 8:11 am (arrives at 9:57 am). Lisieux is about 60 km from Le Havre and takes about an hour drive. I don't know what the taxi fare would be, if they'll take you over there but again, if your boat docks at 7 am, that isn't really feasible. If you docked at 6 am, it might be.
As for buses, I believe kerouac said when they close a rail line, they offer buses. They don't on voyages-sncf.com for that date, so not sure about that or how you'd book that if not on their web site. I think the issue is that it is really the rail line between Rouen and Paris that is the problem, and you can get between the 2 cities by train that day, just not direct. So perhaps they don't offer buses if you can get there, just not as quickly.
YOu do have an option, you can stay in Le Havre that day and then take the train to Paris on Sunday, 5/11 (at 1:58 pm). That's what I would do if I were you, as a private driver will be expensive. There are buses probably, but that still gives you a couple days in Paris if your flight home is from there.
Mar 30th, 2014, 07:57 AM
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Your question has been answered on your other Fodors thread and your Trip Advisor thread. I'll repeat it again. There are indeed trains going from Le Havre to Paris on May 10th and the departure times until noon are 7:58, 9:11, 9:58 and 11:58. As I mentioned before, tickets for these trains are not yet on sale. When you look on the SNCF site you will see it says "non ouvert". Track works in that area will be complete by May 12th so not all trains may be running on a normal schedule prior to that date. Keep checking back each day and at some point in the near future (no one can say when) tickets for that date will go on sale.
I've noticed many people asking questions about trains in that region for May and I've already seen tickets go on sale for some lines that were previously not on sale (and where the SNCF site said "non ouvert"). Further, whereas there had previously only been a few travel times shown, once the tickets went on sale more times opened up and the trains were back on their normal schedule.
If you want to see more info about the track works in Normandy look at these links:
http://www.ter-sncf.com/regions/bass...x/default.aspx
http://www.ter-sncf.com/regions/haut...x/Default.aspx
I've noticed many people asking questions about trains in that region for May and I've already seen tickets go on sale for some lines that were previously not on sale (and where the SNCF site said "non ouvert"). Further, whereas there had previously only been a few travel times shown, once the tickets went on sale more times opened up and the trains were back on their normal schedule.
If you want to see more info about the track works in Normandy look at these links:
http://www.ter-sncf.com/regions/bass...x/default.aspx
http://www.ter-sncf.com/regions/haut...x/Default.aspx
Mar 30th, 2014, 08:13 AM
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I'll add that if tickets don't go on sale by the time your cruise ship departs you can buy them at the train station once your ship docks. They will cost 34.50€ and trains will be direct to Paris.
