bbarton

Can anyone tell me what train to take from Paris to Caen? I have looked on the website of sncf and cannot get a time schedule for departure or return from Caen. Is this the correct website?

rkkwan

Found it with no problem on www.voyages-sncf.com or www.bahn.de

About hourly train from Paris St. Lazare, no change, takes about 2 hours

For example:
3331 6:42 - 8:46
3303 7:12 - 8:57
3337 8:40 - 10:44
etc...

adrienne

Here are the directions for the sncf web site:

- Go to sncf.com
- Click on English
- Information Schedule and Booking
- Enter Paris as Leaving From and Caen as Going To
- Enter the date and time and submit

The information posted above will pop up.

Take a careful look at how long the trip takes since the time varies from and hour and 45 minutes to three and a half hours, depending on time of day.

ira

Hi bb,

A more user-friendly site for train schedules throughout Europe is

http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en?

Steveboy

bbarton:

I booked my Paris-Caen-Paris train tickets last month on the sncf site without a problem. If you follow Adrienne's directions you should be fine, and she is right about the variation in trip length.

One other thing to keep in mind: If you return to Paris in the morning or early evening the train can be extremely crowded (not nearly so much on the outward train to Caen). I highly recommend reserving seats. We reserved in first class for a little extra and I was glad we did.

bbarton

Okay, got on sncf website outward journey to Caen no problem. Inward journey to Paris only gives me one time with a stop in Lisieux and makes the journey over 4 hours. Does this mean they are sold out of other times or is this the only time the train leaves Caen for Paris? I even tried two separate days and got the same results, and it says no reservation needed well I see why, a 4 hour journey!

rkkwan

Funny, I can find trains like

3340 7:52-10:03
3302 9:24-11:10
3360 9:37-11:46

etc...

Again, about 2 hours to Paris St Lazare.

adrienne

I've looked at every return from Caen to Paris and none of the trains take 4 hours. Even the trains that connect in Lisieux take 3 hours or less.

Why don't you tell us exactly what you're doing. What date will you travel and what times.

rkkwan

I went to www.voyages-sncf.com [If you're there the first time, you may need to switch the language.]

Leaving from, I type "Caen"
Going to, I type "Paris St Lazare"
Date & Time, I pick a random one, say "25/4/2004", "8am".
I click the "Search Timetable" button, then "Search".

I then get several options. I pick the first one, train 3340, leaving 7:52, and then click "choose this outward journey".

I then get to input number of passengers, etc. Continuing and pick "France" as the country to receive ticket, I get the quote of €26,20 for full-fare single ticket.

bbarton

I am a real novice at computers and finding info on computers I appreciate all the help I'm getting so I am going to try again, rkkwan I am going to try your suggestion! Thanks. Oh! I am looking at dates in June the 16th from Paris and the 21st from Caen.

bbarton

Okay I tried I choose the train leaving Paris the 14h30, 2 adults 1 young, 2nd class, return trip, click on full fare and I get consult the next day's train. I GIVE UP! Is it necessary to purchase before leaving the USA?

adrienne

Maybe it's your browser. Are you using IE (internet explorer) or Netscape.

Anyway, here are the fares:

Second Class:
45.00E (non exchangeable/non refundable
78.60 full fare (exchangeable and refundable

First Class:
88.20E

It's not necessary to travel first class. Second class is fine.

You do not have to order the tickets in advance. You can buy them at the train station (any train station) as soon as you get to Paris. Will you be staying in Paris first and then going to Caen for the week or are you arriving in Paris and going immediately to Caen?

During this time I don't think it's necessary to book and pay for the tickets ahead. June 16 is still early enough in the season to get the tickets when you get to Paris even if you're arriving on June 16.

If you're going to the D Day beaches bring jackets. The beach area is brisk in June.

bbarton

Thanks Adrienne I appreciate your help! Will take jacket or sweater. We are arriving in Paris by Eurostar, then going to take the train on to Caen. Eurostar arrives at Gare du Nord and train for Caen leaves from Paris St Lazare, correct? Now I need to figure out what metro line to take that connects these two? I read on here that one can buy tickets for metro on Eurostar, wonder if I could buy tickets to Caen on Eurostar?

adrienne

Can't help you with buying tickets on the Eurostar.

About taking the metro between the train stations. If you have heavy luggage you might want to hop in a cab since there are lots of stairs in the metro.

It looks like the easiest route involves one change.

- From Gare du Nord take line 4 in the direction of Porte de Clignancourt
- Change at Marcadet Poissoniers (3 stops?)
- Change to line 12 in the direction of Marie D'Issy (8 stops? to Gare St-Lazarre)

There is another route that looks a bit shorter but involves 2 changes. At each change you'll encounter stairs.

Again - take a cab. The distance between the 2 stations isn't very far and shouldn't cost very much.

I would take an early enough ES from London to allow ample time to change stations and get yourselves some lunch or some provisions for the train. The train to Caen probably doesn't have food service.

rkkwan

There's another way to get from Gare du Nord to Gare St. Lazare without changing trains. You can take the RER-E train [the station is called Magenta, and is one block east of Gare du Nord, near the back of Gare de l'Est] to Haussmann-St Lazare. It's just one stop on the RER-E train, for the same price as Metro.

But I agree that a taxi should be the best way unless you have no luggage at all.

grandmere

I think you can only book 60 days in advance; that might be why it's showing no seats for your dates in June.

bbarton

Thanks so much for all the replies. Will consider a taxi just seems much easier. Never been abroad so this trip of 21 days living out of one carry on bag each will be an experience for our family. Thanks again.