soundnesss

So, I'm a little under 90 days out from my travel date and I was checking the SNCF site for availability for 2 tickets from Paris to Brive. They are showing limited trains on this route on this particular day (9/20), either very early in the morning or mid afternoon. On other days, there are quite a few mid-morning trains, which I would prefer. Any reason why? Have they sold out, have they just not shown up on the schedule yet?

Also, if I arrive in Brive at 1800 is there enough time to get through the car rental by closing of 1830?

Thanks very much for your assistance. Christine

taconictraveler

I wiash I had the answer for you, because I have a similar question for train travel to the Dordogne on September 23. I will be watching this thread, and hope you get good answers.

Carlux

I don't really know why the train that usually leaves about 10.15 isn't showing up any more. It shouldn't be that it's too early, or sold out - I checked the 'Horaires' - timetable section, and it still shows the morning train in mid-October.

If you do get the later train, you should notify your car rental agency that you will be arriving at 6 - normally if they know you are coming they will wait.

Judy

We rented through Autoeurope and returned in Brive last fall. The agency office (I think it was Europcar but can't be sure)was only a block from the train station. They knew we were coming but closed and had us return the car at a local restaurant (message written on their locked door.) I think, if they know to expect you, they will make arrangements.

soundnesss

Thanks everyone,

I called RailEurope to get their take on it, since *supposedly* they are using the same schedule as SNCF. The agent said that she could not find the ~10:00 am train I was looking for in the schedule for most of that week or the next. She said that she has seen schedules drop off after the summer season and some trains are taken out of service for repairs. She also said that all the available trains/schedules should be up on the site and it is not a circumstance of it already being sold out. I don’t know if SNCF would have the same explanation.

Not sure what I'm going to do yet, either get up at the crack of crazy for the 6:30am train or take the 1:57 and rush to the car rental agency hoping that I can get off to Sarlat that evening. I've emailed to ask my apartment rental agency if a very early check out is an issue, or if they would want to do the check out the evening before? Gotta love the domino effect of trip planning. grrrrr. Christine

StCirq

Do you have to take the train to Brive? There are other options: Périgueux, Libourne, Bordeaux, Toulouse....

soundnesss

St Cirq, I wanted the quickest drive down to Sarlat, so I first chose Brive. I'm looking into Perigueux and it seems like there are some more comfortable schedule options there so that might be the way to go. BTW, loved your trip/home reports from St. Cirq, but it has been too long since the last installment. Christine