We are leaving to Arles from Gare de Lyon. I have seen a number of posts that seem to indicate it is quite a zoo. We are leaving around quarter to 10 in the morning - how much ahead of time would it be smart to arrive at the station.

The station is about a half an hour fronm the apartment we are renting (max).

If you already have your tickets, I think getting there 1/2 hour would be enough time b/c they won't post the platform your train is to leave from until 20 min. before departure. If you don't have tickets, I would arrive an hour ahead. That is probably ample time, but I would feel more comfortable waiting a bit than having to worry about missing the train, etc.

A half-hour is plenty assuming you've got your tickets, which I hope you do, or else you'll be paying way more than you need to. It's no more of a zoo than any other RR station, and a lot less confusing than Gare Montparnasse, for example.

ttt

Two things that have freaked out my more anxious friends:

1. You may not know when or where your train will be leaving from until 10 minutes or so before departure. At Gare de Lyon there are some platforms outside that are not immediately obvious. If you get there earlyish, you can scope out where all the departure platforms are so you won't have to worry when the track is announced on the board in the main part of the station.

2. Having to "compost" the ticket. I don't think you have to do this with TGV tickets but I honestly don't remember, so perhaps someone will tell us. If you do, you will be less stressed if you locate the machines in advance.

It's not that bad, but Ackislander hit on the one biggy that put me into panic for a few moments--the outside tracks.

Here's a map you could print out or at least get an overview of the place and see where the various tracks are:
http://parisbytrain.com/files/2008/0...re_de_Lyon.pdf

By the way, I found the map on a nice link:
http://parisbytrain.com/gare-de-lyon-photos/
This site not only gives you photos but provides a few tips for wending one's way around.

There are two parts to Paris Lyon station. One has numbered tracks and the other has lettered tracks. It takes a couple of minutes to walk from one section to the other.
The actual track number or letter should be displayed 20 minutes before departure. Before then, displays will show which section, identified as blue or yellow. The lettered tracks are blue and the numbered tracks are yellow. You can therefore go to the appropriate part of the station before the actual track is displayed. This shows the current departures from Paris Lyon:
http://www.gares-en-mouvement.com/in...=frply&tab=dep

To say the platforms are a zoo once the track number is announced is understating it. Be sure you have firm hold of your luggage and any children you are traveling with. Otherwise you will surely be separated. The crowds push and shove to get to their tracks. It seems that several trains announce their tracks at the same time, so the crowds aren't all going to your desired track.

I think I will need this. Thanks.

Bookmarked.

DaveMM

It's not TGV tickets that don't need to be composted - it's PREMs tickets, the ones you print out at home and carry with you. A regular TGV ticket has to be composted just like any other regular ticket.

If a ticket has to be composted, it says so right on it. ANy ticket that can be refundable to any extent, or exchangeable, must be.

I have never found Gare de Lyon so horrific, just seems like a regular train station to me. I always make sure I'm right around the boards to see the track when it first comes up, though.

I have e-tickets; we have to actually print them when we get there. Our 10 yo ds is coming will be with us, so we will give him strict instructions to hang on.

Sorry - not be dumb; what is "composting" tickets? We've never travelled by train in Europe, only car or feet.

AlessandraZoe - thank for the links

There is a little machine before you go to the tracks that you stick the ticket into and it stamps it. That is composting. Similar to what they have on the buses. Let a few people go ahead of you so you can watch how they do it.

I think "composting" refers to stamping them in the little yellow machines you will see around the station. If a ticket is refundable at all (which I think is most tickets except PREMS?) then I think you need to stamp it to indicate that you are using it that day and won't try to claim a refund.

If you have a US credit card, then you may need to go to the ticket window to get your tickets printed, but someone else may have better info. on that.

Note that (at least right now) to reach the yellow tracks from the "main" (or "blue") area, it seems like you are leaving the station.

Thanks - I sort of guessed that's what composting meant, but wanted to be sure. We don't have a US credit card (Canadian only), but the e-mail says we just have to go to a self-service kiosk, enter our code and print the tickets. It's all very exciting. We are leaving in a week and a half.

My pleasure, huntersmom. The self-serve kiosk is new since I was there, so I'm excited to find out how this goes.

Again, the station is not terrible. At least it's not dark--it's very bright. Knowing that you have to wait for your track to be posted and knowing that there are tracks you can't see is 1/2 the deal.

You'll be fine.