Help! We only have 40 minutes to get from Paris St. Lazare station to Paris Gare de Lyon for a train to Avignon. Is it possible and if so, what is the quickest way to get there???

You're in luck.

Fortunately, Métro Ligne 14 goes directly between the stations - in 8 minutes.

Can you kindly explain the procedure after we arrive at Paris St.Lazare?

On the picture linked below, access to Line 14 is at the circles marked with a 3.

http://bonjourlafrance.net/france-tr...int-lazare.jpg

Gare de Lyon is more complicated, but by following the "SNCF Grandes Lignes" signs, you should come out in the lower level transfer zone of Gare de Lyon, where there are numerous screens and panels to direct you to your platform. The most important thing to note is whether your train leaves from the "yellow zone" or the "blue zone" as there are two distinctly different groups of tracks. (There will be a blue or yellow square displayed on the departure screens next to the train number.) In an attempt to reduce confusion, in one of the zones, the tracks are numbered and in the other zone, the tracks are lettered, as I recall.

How much lugagge will you have?

How many stairways will they have to negotiate, Robes????????

Gare Saint Lazare and Gare de Lyon and most particularly metro line 14 are fully equipped with escalators and elevators. Line 14 is the only metro line 100% handicap accessible with elevators going to street level at every station.

It's definitely possible but it could be pretty tight.

As I'm sure you realise, if anything goes wrong, you could well miss your train to Avignon (if you get lost/confused in either station, if have problems or a long wait getting metro tickets, if your incoming train is late, if you have to wait longer than expected for the metro...). That said, the metro is still likely to be the quickest way to travel between the two stations.

For your own peace of mind, is there any way you can get a different train on either leg of the journey to give yourself more time? If you have non-refundable/non-exchangeable (PREMs) tickets to Avignon, for instance, you'll have to pay for new tickets if you miss your train. However, other types of TGV ticket allow you to get on the next train if you miss your original TGV.