Connecting trains in Chambery

Old Dec 12th, 2017, 08:51 AM
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Connecting trains in Chambery

Maybe I'm a bit paranoid, but the trains I'm looking at to go from Annecy to Milan involved a change in Chambery, with only 8 minutes to make the connection. There will be four of us making the trip on a Saturday morning. I have no idea how realistic this connection time is - how large the station is, whether a RER train will arrive at a platform near the TGV train to Milan. We will have "some" luggage, meaning a carryon for each of us, backpack(s), and maybe one or two larger/rolling suitcases (24").

I'd appreciate any information that could help. Our only other option is to drive to Chambery, drop off the rental car there, and catch the TGV directly in Chambery. But I have no idea of the travel time - but I suspect the google-map estimate of 1.5 hours may not be correct.

TIA
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Old Dec 12th, 2017, 09:31 AM
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It'll only take 2-3 minutes to walk from one train to the other.

The only problem is if the TER will be late. Probably not, they are usually pretty good.
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Old Dec 12th, 2017, 12:05 PM
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Well on Saturdays on www.bahn.de/en - German Railways pan-European web site for all European train schedules and easiest I've seen to use quickly says that there are also TER trains Annecy to Chambery at 7:38 and 7:45 - so simply leave earlier on those trains and have absolutely no worry about connecting.

The banh.de/en site is great - it tells you so much about each train and again quickly - for lots on how to use it go to home page of www.budgeteuropetravel.com as it has a whole box explaining how to access lots of info about trains not apparent at first encounter - like facilities aboard - whether reservations are mandated, etc. check www.seat61.com for lots on French trains too.
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Old Dec 12th, 2017, 01:05 PM
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Thanks to both of you. I think PalenQ's suggestion would really put our minds at ease. Don't know why I look only at the SNCF website, which "placed" us on the Annecy-Chambery leg of the journey with the shorter connection time.
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Old Dec 12th, 2017, 02:52 PM
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www.voyages-sncf.com is often difficult for Americans to get to work others here say but www.thetrainline.com has same fares for same trains and they say is a snap to use.
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Old Dec 12th, 2017, 08:42 PM
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Time to update the name of your SNCF link, Pal. Last week, Voyages SNCF became www.oui.sncf.

When the SNCF gives you an 8 minute connection, it is because they know the connection only takes 3 minutes. Since the TGV doesn't pull into the station until the last minute, it saves people from waiting for a train on a cold and windy platform.
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Old Dec 13th, 2017, 06:58 AM
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I'm not too worried about cold and windy conditions in late September. Still think we'll take an earlier TER train from Annecy, just to reduce the stress level in my household. We also tend to arrive at airports long, LONG before we really need to.
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Old Dec 13th, 2017, 07:04 AM
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Well, just be prepared to be bored as you watch the train that was recommended finally arrive at the station on schedule and the TGV arrive 8 minutes later.
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Old Dec 13th, 2017, 08:36 AM
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Timetables:
https://www.ter.sncf.com/auvergne-rh...iant/recherche
https://shop.flixbus.com/search?ride...730.1504795457
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Old Dec 13th, 2017, 12:25 PM
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Well, just be prepared to be bored as you watch the train that was recommended finally arrive at the station on schedule and the TGV arrive 8 minutes later.>

And instead of being anxious on connecting train bored will be better. Just have a coffee in Chambery station and relax.
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Old Dec 13th, 2017, 02:05 PM
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Time to update the name of your SNCF link, Pal. Last week, Voyages SNCF became www.oui.sncf.>

Merci did not know when that took effect!
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Old Dec 14th, 2017, 07:06 AM
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PalenQ - yes. Boredom beats anxiety every time! We just need to remember to buy and take wine, cheese, bread, and salami for our lunch enroute to Milan.
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Old Dec 14th, 2017, 08:33 AM
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Do you have a non-refundable non-changeable ticket Chambery to Milan - if not maybe take later train as you will a full-fare ticket can hop next train if remote chance train will be late.
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Old Dec 14th, 2017, 11:31 AM
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Oh I see that the train you are connecting to is one of the few direct France to Milan trains - next one would be many hours later. Yes very important to make that connection regardless of type of ticket you have.

Pretty pretty route too - along Lake Geneva -up Rhone Valley to Simplon Tunnel and then along Lake Maggiore to Milan.
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Old Dec 15th, 2017, 08:59 AM
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Pretty for sure, but endless.
for example:
Annecy dp 10.32 - St. Gervais 11.56/12.05 - Chamonix - Martigny 14.36/14.43 - Milan ar 17.37
or
Annecy dp 10.10 - Geneva airport 11.44/12.02 - Brig 14.32/14.44 - Milan C ar 16.37
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Old Dec 16th, 2017, 08:58 AM
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I'm sure not Pal's route, but, per neckervd's comment, I've found a much shorter and not so endless trip. Leave Annecy at 7:45 am, arrive Milan at 1:50 pm. That's with an hour or so connection time in Chambery. Pretty sure we'll have great views on other parts of our journey, including Tirano to St. Moritz and back on the train - Bernina Express route but on a regional train. Also staying in Varenna for Lake Como for 4 nights.
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Old Dec 16th, 2017, 01:45 PM
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Bernina Express - wow -mos awesomely scenic train ride in Europe IMO -no need to go to St Moritz at all but just to summit stations halfway along - can walk around Alpine lake to a glacier. Not much in St-Moritz really - a town that seems to excite few - and no need to take Bernina Express either way - regional trains run over same tracks and have windows large enough to see everything and these you can just show up buy a ticket at Tirano and hop on and off. BEX requires reservations that must be made far in advance to guarantee as many tour groups book these trains up. But BEX is spiffier - extra nice doilies on seat backs - panoramic observation cars and commentary - maybe take one way and locals the other. I prefer the locals as can move around as rarely full as scenery dictates.

easy day trip from Varenna!
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