Overnight Train from Paris to Madrid
 

I will be taking a group of about fourteen high school student sto Europe in Juen. Part of our travel includes an overnight train from Paris to Madrid. The tour says we are to have couchettes. I thought I knew what a couchette was, but a recent post has made me realize I don't. Many anxious parents want to know exactly what their kids will be doing (obviously), and I'd like to be able to ease their concerns. <BR> <BR>So, what exactly is a couchette? Any precautions necessary? Do parents need to buy deadbolts, chains, or crossbows? <BR> <BR>Thanks, <BR>Mary

A couchette is typically a small room with 6 beds, 3 beds on each side stacked in bunk-bed style. The door can be locked from the inside. If your group members take up all 6 beds then the room will be secure enough. If there are non-group members in your room, then anything goes. There is not much room inside the room for luggage. There is some room underneath the bottom two beds, but otherwise luggage can be put at the head or foot of the bed (though it's a bit cramped that way). If that isn't enough there are storage compartments at the end of each car, but not the most secure way to go unless you have someone standing guard all night. Otherwise just make sure money, passports and other valuables are on the person, tucked under clothing for maximum security.

Thanks for the info. Posts about reclining chairs made me nervous. I'm fairly certain that the tour company would book us in rooms with other group members. We are limited to one back and a small carryon-type bag, so hopefully we'll be self-contained.

Hi! just to emphasize what Sam explained - if there are 14 high school students + 1 adult travelling together, 12 of them will likely be in a couchette compartment together, but the last 3 would be in a couchette with other people. <BR> <BR>I've taken couchettes twice - both times in a group of 4 people, both times in March (low season), both times out of Paris, and both times the other 2 couchettes in our compartment had people in it. This is not to "alarm" anyone, but rather to make sure that you have realistic expectations.

Something a bit odd here. The reference library of a city near you may have the Thomas Cook European Timetable. Table 46 shows that the through train from Paris at 1943 to Madrid at 0858, the Francisco de Goya Hotel Train, has 4-berth sleepers, but no couchettes. The train with couchettes involves a change beside the Pyrenees at Irun: Paris 1555, Irun 2126 to 2245, Madrid 0745. The points helpfully made already by others apply: tweve of you will be in their own compartments, but the remainder will share. No problem, but you'd like to know. <BR> <BR>With the e-mail version of this message I'm adding a longish note that I keep on file about the enjoyment of couchettes and sleepers. Please quote ad lib to parents. In particular, you see that sleepers have doors that both lock and chain, while couchettes have a conductor per car to check upon comfort and security. I fear your major problem will be quite other: to get the young blighters to go to sleep. <BR> <BR>Your agent does need to decide which service he or she has booked you on ! If on the hotel train, you'll find good sales talk for it on http://www.renfe.es/ingles/index.html. But if you want real sales talk please tell me: I delight in European night trains. And more generally, please write if I can help further. For example, have you plans fior England ? <BR> <BR>Welcome to Europe. A bit of a way from Kentucky. <BR> <BR>Ben Haines, London