JulieVikmanis

I'm trying to check train availability to Rouen from Paris on the Raileurope site. When I check on schedules I find a train 3191 leaving Paris at 10:36 and arriving at 12:07. There is another train also listed as 3191 leaving at 10:36 but with a stop and connection in Oissel getting into Rouen at 1:17. When I check on view fares and availability, however, the 3191 that arrives in Rouen at 12:07 is not there.

Just to stir the pot a bit more. I also see that there is another 3191 leaving Vernon for Rouen at 11:26 and arriving there at 12:07. and it appears on the availability page. as does a train 3191 from Paris to Vernon leaving at 10:36 and arriving at 11:24. So if there is availability on a train that stops at Vernon enroute to Rouen for each of the two legs of that journey, why would there not be availibility for the entire journey from paris to rouen simply passing through Vernon. I don't get it.

If this explanation isn't too convoluted and someone who knows French trains is reading, I'd sure appreciate some insight here. Is it me or is it the Raileurope site? Thanks.

alihutch

Suggest you use the French Railways site

http://sncf.com/en_EN/flash/

also have a look at http://seat61.com/

djkbooks

Recommend having a look at www.seat61.com.

Then, book with www.voyages-sncf.com. You'll pay less and can print your tickets at home.

Pvoyageuse

Raileurope does not list all trains and often sells tickets with a mark up.
See www.sncf.com (French)
Or www.tgv-europe.com (English page) and enter the UK as your country of residence.

PREM's tickets can be printed at home. Or you can pick them up at any station in France. Make sure you have your reservation number and the same credit card you used when making your reservation.

kerouac

Rouen is a very short train trip from Paris. No need to book ahead (you won't even save much money). It's practically a commuter train.

danon

you are right - there are 2 trains with the same number leaving at the same time - one is direct ( on the French site). Maybe best to follow PP's suggestion.

danon

what date are you interested in?

TimS

The standard 2nd class fare is €20.50. If you book far enough in advance (up to three months allowed) at www.tgv.europe.com, you can get a Prem's fare of €10.00. Prem's tickets are for a specific departure date and time and are non-refundable and non-exchangeable. To keep the site in English and to avoid being bumped to the Rail Europe site, choose Great Britain as your country of residence. If you get a Prem's fare, print the ticket yourself. For any other fare you can pick up the ticket at any SNCF station in France.

JulieVikmanis

Thanks everyone. I got myself PREMS tickets from CDG to Avignon with help from this site. I use Raileurope to check schedules because it seems easier to navigate. I'm trying to rendezvous two groups in Rouen on May 30 with one coming direct and the other stopping for a couple of hours in Vernon to see the Giverny gardens. We intend to buy tickets when we get to Paris but just want to be sure that the trains we're thinking of will all get us to the same place at the same time. I'll try to work with the sncf site (which I find terribly messy) to see if I can make some sense out of things or find different info there.
Thanks for your suggestions and help.

TimS

Julie,

I'll add to what Pvoyageuse said. Rail Europe's timetables are incomplete. It only shows trains for which it sells tickets and routes that require several connections don't show at all.

For France use www.tgv-europe.com which is a multi-language SNCF site. The timetables and fares will be exactly the same on tgv-europe.com as they are on voyages-sncf.com. Or use the German Rail site, www.bahn.de, which has detailed timetables for virtually all of Europe.

JulieVikmanis

Thanks. The bahn.de site seems to be the best of all for planning. I could easily find all stops and see that the train I want goes through Vernon.