Hi- <BR>My daughter is traveling to Paris in March 2002 with some friends and would like to plan a day trip to Chartre by train. She wants to find out how long the train ride will be and approx. how much it might cost. I've been to Paris a few times, but never did the train to Chartre, so I'm of no help to her! Any suggestions for websites that might help her? Thanks to all who respond.

The trains leave from Gare Montparnasse for Chartre virtually all day long. In terms of minutes, the shortest trips are just under an hour; the longest ones are about an hour and 15 minutes. I think the differences in time are a function of the number and duration of the stops the train makes. <BR> <BR>I would tell you how much money it will take, but the SNCF web site has forgotten what it is doing for the moment. (Or perhaps the system is on strike.) <BR>It is an abomination in the best of times and right now it is not working at all. <BR>You might try www.sncf.com when the moon comes full, or give it a shot after you sacrifice a rubber chicken on the alter. <BR>If you need the English version, just keep telling it you want English. After about the 3rd try it gets the message. <BR>There is a little Union Jack symbol in the upper right corner of the screen. Keep clicking. <BR> <BR> <BR>

Here are some good links. Also do a search for Malcolm Miller on the Fodors Travel Talk site. He gives tours at the Cathedral. <BR> <BR>http://gallery.sjsu.edu/chartres/home.html <BR> <BR>http://www.ville-chartres.fr/anglais/index.html

Take the train from Gare Montparnasse . A British gentlemen by the name of Malcolm Miller gives gives tours twice a day - at 10:30 and 2:30 when he is there - he sometimes travels. He charges a modest amount for each person in the group. Morning and afternoon tours are different - studying different stained glass windows, for example. Bring small binoculars. Then walk to the square, buy a baguette, cheese, ham, and have lunch outside. Or take them for a picnic on the train back to Paris. About $30 round trip; about 1 hour trip. For more Paris information e-mail me – [email protected]

My wife and I took the train to Chartres last November. My credit card bill showed $ 36.72. Took about and hour and twenty minutes. The station in Chartres has a video display showing the returns to Paris. You can walk to the cathedral in about ten uphill minutes. The town is very pleasant, we wish we could have spent more time there.

I just got back. The train I took was about an hour and 15 minutes and for some reason I think the ticket from Paris (Gare Montparnasse) was around $25 US for 2nd class but I'm not sure. Tell her to make SURE she takes the Malcolm Miller tour that others have mentioned. I think it's at noon and 2:45 pm and it costs 50 francs (about $7 U.S.) for adults and lasts about an hour and 15 minutes. It is well worth it.

Thanks to all who responded. She now has a plan! <BR> <BR>Bob - thanks for the laugh! I needed it.

I guess someone made the necessary sacrifice because the SNCF system has decided to spit out prices again. <BR>The second class full fare, one way, from Gare Montparnasse to Chartre depends on the train you ride. <BR>The most expensive fare I saw was 84 francs to ride on the train that left at 8:56. The fare to ride on the <BR>train that left at 9:30 was 74 francs. <BR>First class seats undiscounted were 110 francs.

ttt