kasialouise

Hi, I need information on how to take the train from Gare Montparnasse to Chartres and back.

Where do I go inside the station to buy round trip tickets? (with my high school French).

First or second class? (4 persons)

On a round trip am I stuck with a specific return time?

Thanks for your help.

111op

I did this recently. 12.40 euros one way, I think. 2nd class is fine.

Take any train on the return. Just validate your tickets before boarding.

Ticket counters are very visible in train station.

kasialouise

Thanks so much 111op.

Iregeo

How long is the train trip?

PalQ

the validation part 111op mentions is important - after buying your tickets, which can be used on any train, you have to validate them yourselves in the orange (old) machines that are being replaced by yellow 'composteurs' into which you stick your ticket to have it date stamped so it cannot be refunded or reused as trains like this may or may not have conductors aboard who check tickets. Likewise on the return you must validate it in Chartres even if you buy a "aller et retour" (write it down as well as deuxieme class - 2nd class - quatre (4) persons - aller et retour means to go and return - round trip so you need not buy another ticket for your return. If you don't validate it and there is a conductor on the train, likely, you could be considered to be traveling without a valid ticket and be fined. The composteurs are all over the stations and along the quais when you board the train. Like 111op says 2nd class is fine for trains like this. The Chartres station is within eyeshot of the cathedral so easy to find you way and walk the few blocks.

PalQ

Transit time each way is between one hour and one hour and 20 mins according to different trains.
Note this train also stops in Versailles before going onto Chartres.

111op

I think mine took 70 minutes.
People usually say one hour (even the Michelin guide says so), but I think that the trains take more than one hour. SNCF will have the full schedules.

As PalQ notes, you can see the cathedral once you get out of the train station.

If you want to be sure ask the person who sells you the ticket that you can take any train. It doesn't hurt to check. I did. My return ticket didn't indicate a train number (it was left open). So that's why you need to validate. (Even if there's a train number you need to validate.)

111op

By the way, don't worry about speaking French.

The ticket windows have signs with a UK flag that say "I speak English." (That was the case in Jan 2006.)

Have fun.

kasialouise

Thanks to all. We would like to go to Chartres in the morning and return the same evening. The return will depend on how much time we spend in town after the Cathedral.

111op

Good plan. Just remember to print out the schedules from SNCF before you go so you don't to waste time waiting for the next train.

Have fun.

PalQ

Trains run about hourly both ways. If one of your party is under 12 you may get a half-price ticket.