Paris to Avignon by Train

Old Jul 11th, 2014, 07:25 AM
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Paris to Avignon by Train

What train should we be taking for the fastest way to get to Avignon from Paris? We will be flying into cdg airport on Oct 6 at 9:30 is it feasible to order train tickets for noon or 1pm? I have checked different schedules for trains from cdg airport 3-4 hours! when I just put in Paris to Avignon it tells 2+hours. we want the high speed train!!! Confused
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Old Jul 11th, 2014, 07:37 AM
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Direct trains to Avignon TGV station from CDG TGV station take 3 h 09 minutes - but there are only a very few of these each day.

Other routes have you taking a TGV from the airport and changing in Massy TGV or in Lyon.

and others have you going into Paris vis the RER to Gare du Lyon and taking direct trains to Avignon TGV from there.

These all involve the fastest trains - the time difference comes in having to change trains and or going into Paris to Gare du Lyon.

But the trains themselves all go the same speeds - the TGVs train that is.

So say two hours after landing you could start searching - but note if you get a discounted ticket then that ticket is train-specific and if you miss it you will be, I believe, out the fare and then have to buy a full-fare ticket for another train - so if doing discounted tickets leave even more time.

Full-fare tickets too can sell out so you may want to book a train ahead of time at full-fare and then if you miss the train I believe it is just the reservation fee you lose and you can use that ticket on subsequent trains (over the same route as your ticket was for).

For lots of info on French trains check out www.seat61.com - great info on discounted tickets; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.

Of course go to www.voyages-sncf.com or www.capitainetrain.com to book tickets - same trains same fares on these competing booking sites.
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Old Jul 11th, 2014, 08:15 AM
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thank you that was helpful. so let me get this right, it just picking the right train for the shortest train ride. one more question do all the trains transfer or is there a non-stop to Avignon?
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Old Jul 11th, 2014, 08:43 AM
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what is the difference between tgv and idtgv?
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Old Jul 11th, 2014, 08:48 AM
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idtgv = special extra cheap TGV, booking opens 6 months ahead, your credit card may fail when booking an iDTGV, see workaround here: http://www.seat61.com/voyages-sncf.htm#iDTGV

tgv = regular TGV, no problem using credit card

The TGV trains from central Paris (Gare de Lyon) run directly to Avignon, sometimes even non-stop. They by-pass France's second city, Lyon, on the by-pass line.

The TGV trains from CDG to Avignon are inter-regional TGVs from Lille or Brussels to the south of France, by-passing Paris on the line via CDG, usually making more stops including going through the middle of Lyon to call there. Hence not as quick - but they still reach 186mph.
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Old Jul 11th, 2014, 09:00 AM
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there a non-stop to Avignon?>

not from airport it seems as Man in Seat 61 says - do you mean a direct train without changing or non-stop - very few would be non-stop and I could only see one from CDG that was direct to Avignon - at 13:58 - others from the airport had at least one change of trains - pretty simple really changing from one platform to another.
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Old Jul 11th, 2014, 09:01 AM
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Today, you could make this booking on the voyages-SNCF website. Paris Roissy Charles de Gaulle, departing at two minutes to 1 p.m., direct service to Avignon taking 3 hours and 9 minutes. "Direct" means no train changes (although there may be stops; I haven't done it in two years.) Current price for second class is 40€ and 45 for first, non-refundable. Much higher prices apply to tickets that can be changed. I would be comfortable with over three hours to make the connection but nothing is 100 per cent guaranteed in long-distance travel, particularly at CdG. You can be sure, however, that those prices will go up.
Tip: When you open the SNCF orders page, click the box that says Direct Journey Only to avoid seeing connections.
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Old Jul 11th, 2014, 09:02 AM
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There's a difference between having to transfer trains and being on a train that makes stops. You won't have to do any transfers between CDG and Avignon, but the train may make stops. They typically take just under 4 hours. You can get direct nonstop trains to Avignon from the Gare Montparnasse that take about 3 hours, but then you have to account for about an hour's time getting into Paris, so it's a wash.

They are ALL high-speed trains, but you don't get to choose which routes they take or whether they make stops or not or how long they take as a result. Just get tickets from www.capitainetrain.com or www.voyages-sncf.com if you read French and make sure you allow at least 3 hours from your stated landing time to boarding the train.
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Old Jul 11th, 2014, 09:24 AM
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Even if you end up with a train that leaves from Gare de Lyon in Paris (the place with the most trains to Avignon), you will probably have an excellent experience, as long as you allow enough time to make your connection from your flight to whichever train you take.
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Old Jul 11th, 2014, 02:54 PM
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StCirq: Perhaps you mean Gare de Lyon rather than Montparnasse?
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Old Jul 11th, 2014, 03:22 PM
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so it takes an hour to get to the Gare de Lyon from the airport! and this one we could get direct train. whereas the airport makes many stops and arrives in the same amount of time counting the travel time to the train GdL. So I will tell my sisters and we can decide. Thank you all for the help.
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Old Jul 12th, 2014, 04:53 AM
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I'd aim for one of the few direct trains from CDG to Avignon even if they have to wait a few hours at the airport - lots of shops anc cafes, etc there -folks not familiar with the RER system may find it a struggle, especially with baggage, schlepping over to the Gare de Lyon.
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Old Jul 12th, 2014, 06:26 AM
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Ditto PalenQ's advice. Given your early arrival, you have plenty of time to catch a direct train from the airport. Adding the RER trip into town simply adds to the possibility of things-going-wrong. Keep it simple when you can.
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Old Jul 12th, 2014, 06:46 AM
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Ditto PalenQ's and Jeanne's advice. If you are arriving after a long overnight flight, you'll be sleepy and jet-lagged. Keep your transportation as simple as possible.
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Old Jul 12th, 2014, 08:32 AM
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Yes hang out in the airport but if that don't cotton them then the easiest way for them would be to take a taxi to Gare de Lyon - right to the door near where their TGV train will depart from - have the platform number printed out as well - zillions of platforms there - in CDG TGV station only a few - hard to get it wrong. But RER, especially changing, can be daunting for novices again with probably too much luggage.
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Old Jul 12th, 2014, 01:13 PM
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Yes, I meant Gare de Lyon, sorry.

Just take one of the direct trains from CDG to Avignon. You're going to need plenty of time after landing, anyway.
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