TGV from Tours to CDG
 

The SNCF Prem website lists a shuttle leaving Tours at 8:53am arriving St Pierre des Corps at 8:58am and the TGV to CDG leaving St Pierre at 9:02am arriving 10:50am. Is it really possible to transfer from the shuttle to the TGV in 4 minutes. Also, the shuttle does not have reservations. Do you just book this and hope you get a seat? Thanks....

You need a seat for 5 minutes? Why bother? :-)
Stand at the door with your baggage and be ready to get off at ST P-d-C.

Whenever I've done this either way the TGV and shuttle were on the same platform. You stepped out of the one train, walked across the platform and climbed onto the other train.

If you do want a little more time, the shuttle trains run about every half hour between the two. Show up and catch the earlier one.

Even though the Prem's fare is for a specific train I can't imagine a conductor would even get to you, let alone care that you were on an earlier train. The few times I've taken the shuttle there wasn't a conductor who came through.

If you don't want to risk a discussion with a conductor, you can buy a separate earlier ticket. The snce web site says the full fare is 1.20euro. Hardly much to worry about if you need the extra time.

I was in Tours in 2001. I thought it was a great little city with half timbered houses in the old quarter, a nice fine arts museum and a beautiful cathedral.

If you get a chance go see the gemmail museum in Tours. It's illuminated glass art. They are gorgeous. Photos do not do them justice.

That would be "sncf" as in www.sncf.com and not "snce." Typos, tpyos.

topping

Indytravel -

I'm so glad you posted things to see in Tours! That was one of the things to research today! If you know about any places (in Tours or nearby via taxi) that did wine tasting, you would make me a very happy girl!

I don't know of any specific wine tasting tours. Dang I won't be spreadin' the happiness today. :-)

However as you exit the Tours train station you'll see a modern building across the street. It's their convention center. In the lobby is the tourist office, well that's where it was in 2001. They'll have options on wine and chateau tours of every sort. From personalized to mini-bus to full-sized charter bus. They should be able to point you to something that suits your need if you don't find it on the internet ahead of time.

To the west of the train station a few blocks is Plaza St Jean. South of it is a pretty tree lined street that has several restaurants with outdoor dining.

I did not bother with the chateau at Tours. When I read that it had been converted to an aquarium I decided to spend time elsewhere.

Here's a link to the gemmail museums. It gives info about Tours' museum.

www.gemmail.com/ENmenu1.htm

I will repeat that photos do not show how incredibly beautiful and intricate they are.

Finding info about Tours isn't that easy. Once you key in the word "tours" you get all kinds of hits about tours from everywhere. For the wine you might want to e-mail the tourist office directly. Here's a link to their website with an e-mail address:

www.tourisme.fr/office-de-tourisme/TOURS.htm

there are no conductors on the 'navettes' that link Tours in town station with its mainline suburban station at St-Pierre-des-Corps - like previous said comes in on same platform and is coordinated with TGVs so won't miss connection - can ride any navette with a TGV ticket - similar navettes operate at Orleans - to suburban mainline station at Les Aubrais. Navettes are old train cars, no reservations possible.