how early to get to the train station

Old Dec 10th, 2006, 07:38 AM
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how early to get to the train station

We will be in Paris the first week of Jan and taking an overnight trip to Marseille via the TGV (from Gare de Lyon). I know that you need to arrive hours early for the airport, but how early do we need to get to the train station? Since we are only staying one night/2 days, we'll have one small bag, no luggage to check. Have pre-printed our tickets from the internet.

Also, it's a very early train (6:20 am)...so any tips on best way to get a taxi? We're renting an apartment, so can't have someone call for us (like in a hotel). I'm unsure if taxis would be at the stand at that early an hour.
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Old Dec 10th, 2006, 07:55 AM
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They post train platforms 20 minutes before the train leaves. If you have been to Gare de Lyon you can arrive 15 minutes before the train leaves. If you have never been there I suggest 25 so you have time to get your bearings.
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Old Dec 10th, 2006, 07:57 AM
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As far as getting a taxi is concerned , Taxis are at the stand in my neighborhood very early in the morning. With so little luggage you could also take the metro or a bus.
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Old Dec 10th, 2006, 08:12 AM
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Listen to MorganB.
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Old Dec 10th, 2006, 08:14 AM
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I suggest giving yourself 30 minutes if you have never been to Gare de Lyon before. For some reason, I find that station to be bewildering.

I do not consider myself a novice at train travel either. I have used that station 5 times and I never seem to use the same part of it twice.

The TGV to Marseilles will probably be crowded, so a little extra time will not hurt. You will have an assigned seat, so you must first locate the train, then coach, and then find your place.

The number is posted on the outside of the coach, so you should be able to find it easily.

There is no luggage checking that I have observed when I have traveled by train in Europe. You carry it on with you.

The procedures are not like those of an American airline. If you have your ticket already, you simply get to the station and board the train.

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Old Dec 10th, 2006, 08:30 AM
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>> They post train platforms 20 minutes before the train leaves.

Hi Morgan,

I never understood that one, for train platforms are writte long in advance in the internal timetables. But anyway ...

The French anti-terror plan demands that your luggage be labeled. I never saw a conductor chiding someone for missing to do so, but...

For some TGVs and Corails, you may be greeted at the head of the platofrm by a conductor team who will check that you have a valid (and punched, but for home-printed ones) ticket.
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Old Dec 10th, 2006, 09:09 AM
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Once you find out the track from which your train will leave, hustle along to the stands with signs depicting the cars. That makes it easy to find out where you need to go to board.

Most of the TGV's to the south leave from the far left-hand side of the station, unless things have changed.
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Old Dec 10th, 2006, 09:20 AM
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> for train platforms are writte long in advance in the internal timetables. ...

MorganB is right. You have to check the platfrom number on those small TV screens and on a big board. As she said, they will post it only about 20 minutes before. If you look too early, the platform number is blank, just like flight gate number at the airport. There may be those big poster like timetable board with platform numbers as in old time but it has been a long time since I saw one at Paris Lyon Station. In any case, they can change platform at last minute. In Switzerland, I still count on those timetables on the wall though.

I have used Paris Lyon many times (including about 10 times this year)but still I try to get there at least 30 minutes before. As bob brown said, it's a large station and it does not hurt to be there a bit "too" early. In your case, however, I understand you don't want to be there too early in the morning.
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Old Dec 10th, 2006, 09:49 AM
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I'm a pessimistic person who likes to arrive early at airports and train stations. I agree with suggestions about arriving at the train station 25-30 minutes in advance (as it might take you 5-10 minutes to find your way around). When it comes to catching a cab, I usually budget 10 minutes to find a taxi in my neighbourhood (I live 1 block from a taxi stand, but there are never any taxis there) - 15 minutes if the weather is miserable. Usually it takes a lot less time - 5 minutes on average, but 10 minutes will give you a cushion of time to work with.

You might also scout out the locations of reasonably large hotels (that are likely to have waiting taxis) near your apartment, so that, if nothing comes along, you can scoot over to the hotel and try to pick one up there.

I'm a little confused about your post, which says that you're taking an overnight trip to Marseille from Paris on the TGV, but that you're leaving at 6:20 in the morning. Those two statements seem inconsistent to me.
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Old Dec 10th, 2006, 10:02 AM
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Kate - I read it as a trip to Marseilles that includes staying there one night before returning to Paris.
harry - As mentioned, presuming you have your tickets, there is not a lot of use in getting to the station any more than 20-30 minutes prior to departure, unless you want to spend a few minute purchasing some food from a kiosk there. Also, you can also order a taxi the evening prior.
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Old Dec 10th, 2006, 10:40 AM
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well, I don't agree with that, I think there is plenty of reason for getting there more than 20 minutes before departure -- at least for someone who has never been there before and isn't even familiar with train travel, as this appears. First, just finding the right place in the train station can take a while. Then, after they do post it, it can take you a while to get and find your car and get in it (especially if it's at the far end). You can generally tell from the board about where your train will likely depart and be near those quais. Besides, you have to plan for contingenies just on the transportation to the train station, as you can't be sure how long that will take. But I am cautious about these things and hate feeling stressed because I think I might be late or miss my train.

So, I would be at the station at least 30 minutes ahead myself, but I've taken trains from Paris a lot. I would definitely be there more than 20 in this case, maybe even 40.

There are always taxis at train stations.
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Old Dec 10th, 2006, 10:58 AM
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------I never understood that one, for train platforms are writte long in advance in the internal timetables. But anyway ...-----

Hi Superhet! So we meet here too

If I had to guess,(you do know more about the SNCF than me being an insider and all) I would say that gives them time to get food loaded onto the train and to clean it before departure.

I have seen when they are running late and 800 passengers are crowding onto the platform while the cleaning crew is trying to leave and someone is trying to drive the vehicule with food to the dining car. Makes for an interesting dance.

Kappa: Its He not She


Just to add, there are two "color zones" in Gare de Lyon for the platform. One is blue and the platforms are indicated by blue signs with letters on them. One is yellow and the platforms are indicated with yellow signs with numbers on them. When you look at the board, prior to them posting the actual platform, they will post a colored square to let you know which general area you will be leaving from. If the OP takes a taxi they will be dropped off at the main entrance below Le Train Bleu which will lead them to the blue lettered platforms.

The Blue platforms have both access from the head of the trains as well as a long hall that is actually below the platforms. I find the whole underground area of GDL ugly and dreary. I always stay above where I can enjoy the architecture of the gare.
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Old Dec 10th, 2006, 11:17 AM
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> Kappa: Its He not She.

Well, I have always thought MorganB is a woman. Don't know why. Maybe because I know a girl (swiss-french) whose name is Morgane. Ok, nice meeting you, Mr Morgan
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Old Dec 10th, 2006, 11:23 AM
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> I'm a little confused about your post, which says that you're taking an overnight trip to Marseille from Paris on the TGV, but that you're leaving at 6:20 in the morning. Those two statements seem inconsistent to me.

I think harry is making a 2-day trip to Marseille, leaving early am on Day1 so he will have as much time as possible in Marseille on Day1 and return to Paris on Day2.
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Old Dec 10th, 2006, 12:25 PM
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MorganB is right. You have to check the platfrom number on those small TV screens and on a big board. As she said, they will post it only about 20 minutes before. If you look too early, the platform number is blank, just like flight gate number at the airport. There may be those big poster like timetable board with platform numbers as in old time but it has been a long time since I saw one at Paris Lyon Station. In any case, they can change platform at last minute. In Switzerland, I still count on those timetables on the wall though.

Thank you, but I know. I used to work at the Montparnasse station while studying and I have seen those boards perhaps two or three times a day for 20 years (I used to live above Gare Montparnasse - litterally).

I wanted to point out that the station manager does not decide on the spot which will be the right platform - from the humblest omnibus to the flagship TGVs, the platforms are known in advance and printed in the internal timetables. Thus I don't understand why this information is not publicised in the general public timetables, at least for major stations. The German, Swiss and Austrian railways manage to do so - if you look on bahn.hafas.de you will see that the platforms are shown, even for minor stations.

Platform shifts at the last second, although not unknown of, are quite always due to traffic regulation problems, signalling failures or weather conditions.
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Old Dec 10th, 2006, 01:55 PM
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> Thank you, but I know. I used to work at the Montparnasse station while studying ...

Well, I couldn't tell from your 1st post, could I ? ;-)
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Old Dec 10th, 2006, 06:37 PM
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harry, you won't need to get there that early-and by that, I mean hours early-an hour and a half should be fine. As far as the taxi situation, you don't know whether there will be a taxi stand in your area, so you need to check that out beforehand, get a number for a taxi service that you can call the night before and make a reservation, or arrange with an individual taxi driver to come pick you up.
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Old Dec 10th, 2006, 06:46 PM
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Girlspytravel, are you serious? You are suggesting that someone should be at the train station an hour and a half before departure? I guess you can kill 15 minutes or so, but what on earth do you do for the remaining hour and 15 minutes?
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Old Dec 10th, 2006, 07:10 PM
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Yes, I'm ABSOLUTELY serious. Lots of things, like, eat, people-watch, buy newspapers or other snacks for the train trip, and allow myself time for delays getting to the train station-you eliminate a lot of stress if you arrive earlier-and I would never recommend otherwise.
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Old Dec 10th, 2006, 09:10 PM
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In January, the train station will be COLD -- no joy in hanging around doing nothing when it is freezing. And frankly, Gare de Lyon (along with Gare d'Austerlitz) is one of the least interesting and least user-friendly train stations in Paris.
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