Looking for help getting from Belgium-Normandy
 

I will be visiting Brugge, Belgium, then want to go to Normandy before moving on to Paris. I was thinking I could take the TGV from Brugge into France somewhere, then rent a car to tour Normandy. The TGV does stop before Paris in Lille and someplace called TGV Haute-Picardie, but the only description that I can find of Haute-Picardie is that there isn't a building<BR>around for miles, and Lille looks even further of a drive than Paris. <BR><BR>Does anyone know if I can rent a car at Haute-Picardie, or if roughly how long the drive would be from Lille? Any suggestions on this route would be greatly appreciated. <BR><BR>

Well, if I well going this route I'd take the TGV from Brussels to Paris, transfer from Gare du Nord to St. Lazare and take the TGV to Caen where I'd pick up a car--the rental companies are lined up across the street from the station there. You will need to take a local train from Brugge to Brussels Midi/Central to catch the TGV. If you rent a car at Lille or Haute Picardi, you will be touring much more than Normandie!!!

The station of Haute Hicardie is indeed a car pool station in the middle of nowhere. Maybe you'd better surch for another option.

I would say Info has presented the most direct and efficient intinerary possible short of flying. Either Lille or Picardie would be strange starting points to get to Normandie.

The reference library of a city near you may have the Thomas Cook European Timetable. Twice times a day, not Sundays, there are journeys with two changes to Rouen. <BR><BR>Not Sundays Bruges 1131, Lille 1251 to 1257, Amiens 1428 to 1612, Rouen Rive Droit 1740<BR>Monday to Friday Bruges 1331, Kortrijk 1412 to 1422, Lille 1455 to 1646, Rouen Rive Droit 1940.<BR>There are other journeys with three changes. Monday to Friday Bruges 0631, Kortrijk 0712 to 0722, Lille 0755 to 0816, Amiens 1050 to 1229, Rouen Rive Droit 1404. They can tell you about others at Bruges station, where they speak English and take credit cards. On these local trains you do not reserve a seat. You can hire a car at Rouen.<BR><BR>Please write if I can help further.<BR><BR>Ben Haines, London<BR>

Thanks so much for your help. I would have never figured out that I need to transfer from Gare du Nord to St. Lazare to get to Caen (think it's time to buy a France-only guide book instead of Fodor's Europe).