French Train Specifics - How to get
 

Maybe I just missed this part and it's in morganb's great train info...how do you find out what stops a specific train makes along it's route?

An example: I can find a train Paris to Rennes by putting the cities in the required fields in the voyages-sncf, but that doesn't tell me if I can get off a stop or two before Rennes ...which might be closer to Mont St. Michel (the ultimate destination).

Another train question. this time getting from Paris-Loches...on the web site, it looks like I would need to change to an autocar in Tours, but does this mean I need to leave the gare and find the gare routiere? Do I need to buy 2 tickets, one for the train and one for the bus or is what is showing on line "all-inclusive" and the bus is in front or alongside the train station?


Any info would be appreciated.

Hi,
There's a pdf map of the train network in France here: http://www.entreprise-sncf.com/nos_l...principale.pdf
The TGV lines are shown in purple.

For stops see bahn.de

France rail map, schedules, tickets:

http://downloads.raileurope.com/map_...pe/france.html

http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en

http://www.voyages-sncf.com/dynamic/...geUK&WB=HP

Use www.bahn.de for schedules. Look at the details for your journey then click on the train number to see that train's route and stops. From Paris to Rennes, trains are TGVs identified by a four-digit number, like "TGV 8715" - click on this number to get the details.

If the SNCF web site shows a bus as part of your journey, it will be an SNCF bus running between railway stations and the fare will be calculated as if it were a train. On many rural lines, buses are run at quiet times but you catch the bus at the railway station and must validate your ticket before boarding the bus exactly as if you were boarding a train. Big stations like Tours will have a board displaying train departures, and the SNCF buses will be included in the display.

I should add that on the Paris-Rennes line, the nearest station to Mont St Michel is Rennes.

Wow! You are great! thanks y'all!