Hello all,

I have used the Rail Europe site to see what trains leave from Paris (Montparnasse) to Chartres in the morning during the weekday in October. The site tells me there is one at 7:19 a.m. and the next one is at 11:30 a.m. But I recall there were other trains between those times. Is the site wrong?

We just took that very trip about three weeks ago.

Yes, the RailEurope timetable is definitely abbreviated....you'd probably be better off using either the SNCF or the Bahn site..the latter is much easier to use than the former IMO and it is pretty accurate.

As to the rail trip to Chartres..easily done, frequent timings, and the cathedral is a very easy walk from the train station and no, you cannot miss the place..worth the time IMO, too.

If you do to go Chartres Cathedral be sure to take the tour. It is very informative.

TorontoSteven
Try the german rail timetable. i have always found it to be accurate:

http://www.bahn.de/international/view/en/index.shtml

Thanks for the help. I have been there a few times, but I always remember going around 9:30 a.m. From the Bahn site they show departures mid-morning but with bus connections. I was hoping for a direct train.

There ARE direct trains..from Montparnasse. BUT there was some obvious "engineering work" along the right-of-way when we went over a few weeks ago so perhaps that has significantly changed things.

Hi. We were just there a couple of weeks ago and took the 10:30am train from Montparnasse. Only an hour to Chartres.

We took the 2:30pm train back. No problems either way.

Think I have a schedule somewhere and will try to find it if you need more info.

They have TER direct trains to Chartres every 30 to 60 minutes from Montparnasse, I wouldn't even worry about the schedule. For example, on Wednesday, there is one at 7:19 am, 7:49, 8:19, 9:34, 10:34, 11:34, 12:04 and 12:34.

I am looking into making the same journey in a couple of weeks, and even using the sncf site, it seemed as though lots of trains were not direct and took way over an hour. But from what you all write, it looks like there are lots of trains all morning long. The 10:34 sounds like good timing.

I have done some further research. The line is under construction during the week. They have a regular schedule on the weekends, but from early October the morning trains are stopped in Rambouillet and you go the rest of the way on a bus. You can take a direct train at 7:19 a.m. and at 11:30 a.m. between those times you need to catch the bus from Rambouillet.