muhdeeco

Hello!

My boyfriend and I are going to be staying in Paris for a week in February and then going to Barcelona for the following week. We had originally looked into traveling on an overnight train, but I've ha some difficulty navigating the train websites. Specifically, we were looking at the Elipsos train's, but I was told that they stop running as often after March and the timetable wasn't showing me any times. I understand that they show 90 days in advance, but even then I'm having trouble finding times.

We have to check in at the apartment we rented anytime during the day after 10am, so we don't mind taking a longer day train if we have to.

If anyone has any advice ot knowledge they'd like to share about the Elipsos train that would be greatly appreciative. I also read good things about the faster day trains being nice as well. I need all the help you can possibly give, this is my first time navigating longer train trips in Europe (especially in France/Spain, I've only been to Italy).


Thank you!

michelhuebeli

The French website www.voyages-sncf.com shows night trains leaving Paris Austerlitz at 21:57 and arriving in Perpignan at 07:10, with a continuation from Perpignag at 08:58 that arrives in Barcelona Sants at 11:48.

Or make it much quicker during the day, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 07:15 with a quick switch of trains at the border in Figueres Vilafant (arr. 12:41 lvg 12:55), arr. Barcelona Sants 13:48.

A Brit chap by the name of Mark Smith has made it his life's ambition to provide info on trains, and not only trains originating from the UK - check out what he says about the Elipsos train and night trains in general at www.seat61.com

kanadajin

Starting Dec 15th, there will be a new high speed train service (AVE/TGV) between these two cities. Total trip time is around 6:15. I cannot seem to find the media link announcing the service just now, but you may want to investigate this option. It pre-empts the current need to change trains at Figueres when crossing the border.

I found this link, although it is not the original one I had in mind, but you will get the idea. http://www.thelocal.fr/20131121/pari...ecember-launch

Christina

They've been announcing that AVE thing for over a year, I believe it was supposed to start last Spring. In any case, it's a long train ride, I"d just fly. Easyjet has flights twice a day from CDG to BCN, costs about 50 euro and takes 1:45 hours.

Seamus

Another vote for flying. Traveling in the other direction, we flew on Vueling for about 80€ per person BCN to ORY.

I had originally thought about the train as I love train travel but the time and expense (even allowing for saving cost of a hotel night) did not compute.

PalenQ

Have you cecked ther Elipsos web site www.elipsos.com?

Like others say kind of up in the air as to when the new high-speed Figueras-Barcelona line is fully opened - but I think michel has it right - the first post above. And yes check ww.seat61.com for the latest update on the new line opening - there has been talk about scrubbing the overnight train when it opens but France apparently will keep one going to Perpignan it seems.

Besides www.seat61.com for great info check www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com. Night trains can save on the cost of a hotel and even time over flying as you travel at night. Plus you can always fly around the U.S. but taking an overnight train could be romantic in many ways (but only if you get a private double! A friend of mine says his first kid ws conceived on a night train to Venice!

The cheapest tickets are for 4-person mixed sex berths where you will be with others you do not know. Lot more expensive to book a private double.

michelhuebeli

Here is what Mark on his www.seat61.com said a few days ago:

Direct Paris-Barcelona TGVs postponed again...
Direct Paris-Barcelona TGVs will not now start on 15 December with the new pan-European timetable. It's been put back again until 2014. The present change-at-Figueres service will continue, although it's still not open for booking yet as I write this (on 1 November) for any date after the timetable change. Elipsos is likely to continue running on Fri, Sun & Mon nights southbound, Thur, Fri & Sun nights northbound, but is also late opening for booking. UPDATE: Or has this changed yet again? One report and several rumours suggest TGVs may indeed start on 15 December, and that there may be a formal announcement on 27 November. But after so many rumours, expect them when you see them.

michelhuebeli

muhdeeco - to clarify the references to Dec. 15, a date that otherwise wouldn't involve you: All of Europe changes or at least adjusts train timetables on or around that date, and often last-minute changes are in the works (as you can imagine, all this cross-border planning has to be synchronized), so things get a bit weird until it all falls into place.

In your case I'd wait until after Dec. 15 to be sure you see routes and times and fares that will actually be real by the time you make your trip.

Flying is certainly an option, but if you compute the time it takes to get to the airport and to check in etc., the cost involved and the hassle factor, it may not be any better than sitting on a fast train, or - if you take a night train - saving a night in the hotel.

smithgardner

Flying between the two is so easy, and you have Easyjet and Vueling both flying that route. The high-speed train would surely be 2 or 3 times as much. Even if you count 3 hours of transit time to airport, you still come out ahead by flying, in my opinion.

jan47ete

We too looked into train versus flying and opted to fly, quick, easy and cheaper than train even adding in costs to the airports.

Man_in_seat_61

There's been a MAJOR update in the last few days:

1) Direct Paris-Barcelona TGVs WILL NOW START RUNNING from 15 December.

2) Initially two per day, at either 07:17 & 14:07 or 10:07 & 16:07 depending whom you believe.

3) We'll know the departure times for sure next week (w/c 25 Nov 2013) as tickets will go on sale then (but don't know which day).

4) Journey time by train 6h20 at up to 320km/h (199mph), 20 minutes quicker than now, and direct, no need to change in Figueres.

That compares to almost 5 hours by air once you include the trek by local train to the airport, all the check-in and security nonsense, the flight itself, then more trains or buses or taxis the final stretch into Barcelona. Far more relaxing than the train-airport-plane-airport-train relay-race, and the direct TGV train saves up to 90& of the CO2 emissions over flying.

5) Fares will allegedly start from €59 each way, centre to centre. No extra cost to get to and from airports, no baggage fees, no check-in fees, no hidden extras.

6) The best place to book is arguably www.capitainetrain.com as you get a choice of upper or lower deck on the TGV (upper deck strongly recommended for views of the scenery along the Rhone Valley and all those flamingos on the étangs in the south of France)

Christina

I sometimes take the train also, it's a choice, but why with the biased rhetoric? YOu sound like you own stock in the train system. I suspect you have never been to BCN or you wouldn't talk about what a big deal it is to get from there into the city. There is a very convenient airport bus that costs about 5 euro, and it isn't that far out from city center. Furthermore, you can't arrive at the train station the minute before the train leaves, either, you have to get there in advance, and then you have to get where you are going from Barcelona Sants, also, so you can't say one method has all these issues and the other has none.

Furthermore, why call something a "race"? there is no race, that's just you trying to influence people with your biased language. And the language about "hidden" fees is nonsense. No fees are hidden on Easyjet, they are mentioned right on their website. The only one I ever pay is to check my bag if I have a large enough one, it still could be cheaper than the train even with that.

I personally just hate long trips doing nothing, and 6:20 hours on a train isn't my idea of a fun time, and then you have to add several hours onto that for your time getting there early, getting to/from etc., so it isn't just a matter of comparing 6:20 hours to flying, it's more than 6:20 in time.

I would never do an overnight train as an alternative to a good budget flight.

So, both are alternatives, but just because seat61 guy has some business around trains doesn't mean his way is the only way and everybody else is wrong.

PalenQ

I personally just hate long trips doing nothing, and 6:20 hours on a train isn't my idea of a fun time, and then you have to add several hours onto that for your time getting there early, getting to/from etc., so it isn't just a matter of comparing 6:20 hours to flying, it's more than 6:20 in time.>

I agree on long-haul day trains but for those who can cotton the night train that is the perfect solution - time-wise and often money wise since you save on the cost of a hotel.

But going the whole way by day I'm with Christina - too long for me to sit - I'd break up the journey with a stay in Avignon, etc.

Pvoyageuse

"Direct Paris-Barcelona TGVs WILL NOW START RUNNING from 15 December."

I hope I am wrong but I doubt it. It was indeed announced by the Spanish Minister of Transport but neither Renfe or SNCF has confirmed it. The problem is not technical but political.

muhdeeco

Sorry for the late reply!

This has all been a lot of help. I have looked at the Elipsos website, but I found it to be a little confusing. My boyfriend and I originally wanted to splurge a little bit to get the experience of having a private two-berth sleeper car for the two of us, but after reading all of the difficulty people were having with booking seats on that specific train we wanted to look for a plan B.


We're supposed to leave Paris the 23rd of February and arrive, hopefully, in Spain in the morning/late afternoon on the 24th. We were never really planning on flying, because we didn't want to risk losing our luggage or anything on the flight....although Veuling was, and still is, an option for us.


I suppose the highspeed train, if it's running, would be a huge option to save us some money and still get to see some sights on the train right there.

muhdeeco

We were having the same issue with going to Venice from Barcelona! Although, we plan on flying there.


Does Ryanair/Veuling have ridiculous fees for baggage? Every flight I find is relatively cheap, but then the fees I see make it go up.

thursdaysd

" then you have to add several hours onto that for your time getting there early, getting to/from etc., so it isn't just a matter of comparing 6:20 hours to flying, it's more than 6:20 in time."

No, adding extra time is what you have to do with flights. Train stations are in town, and you only need to arrive 10 minutes or so ahead of time - NO security checks, no check-in, (aside from the Eurostar), just get on the train.

Dukey1

I've done the Elipsos trip twice. There now seems to be some question as to whether that route will continue daily or not. It can get pricey depending on which accommodation you pick. Not sure about the supposed "difficulty" in booking as the elipsos.com site is pretty straight forward.

As to flying. We used Vueling this past July to fly from Amsterdam to Barcelona and it was very smooth. You can look at all the baggage charges on the airline's website.

You can either take a train into the city or a cab or a bus. All are easy to do; cab is faster but may not fit your budget.

Alan_CT

We've flown both Vueling and easyJet within Europe, and have found both reliable and easy to deal with. They are budget airlines, so yes, they tack on fees. It's usually worth taking the first premium fare and getting a bag free, priority boarding etc.
We also take trains, although not long distance. But certainly the TGV offers more space and comfort than a packed 737. Don't forget you must handle your own luggage, which may not be a challenge for young people.
Flying is likely to be less expensive, unless you can get PREM tickets, which sell out quickly right after the date's schedules are posted. Sign up for alerts at voyages-sncf.com, so you get announcements of specials.

opaldog

We did the Paris Barcelona route with a change in Figueras I loved the trip. It was relaxing and I enjoyed the scenery. We brought our lunch and wine. I also like not having to hang around the airport and deal with security and the rush of getting on to the plane and jostling for seats (on some of them). There is also the benefit of going from downtown to downtown and not having to get in to the city from the airport. Personally I would recommend the train if you have the time.