My husband and I want to go from Bruges to Calais, where we will pick up a rental car at the "Ferryport Station". RailEurope shows a few options, with a couple of changes in each. I can't tell where the changes are. Lille is one perhaps? Also, I presume the destination in Calais should be "Calais Ville" rather than Frethun, right? Anyone have experience with this?
Posted by
Green Bay
20070 posts
Why don't you pick the rental up in Lille? Otherwise, Bruges to Gent to Lille to Calais is the way to go.
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
Do not use RailEurope to look up train times, use www.bahn.de which is the German Railways site.
Brugge to Calais will require 2 changes, Brussels (in most cases) and Lille, and take about 3 to 4 hours.
Calais Ville is, as the name suggests, the main station in the town centre. Calais-Fréthun is well outside Calais and is used by High Speed trains and a few Eurostars heading to or from London. There is no longer a station at the ferry docks, "Ferryport Station" must be referring to a car rental station, not a railway station. You will need a taxi to get to the ferryport from Calais Ville.
But, may I ask why you are picking up a hire car in Calais? Do you actually want to go to Calais? Brugge to Calais by train is a U-shaped journey. If you are picking up a car to drive further into France, you would be better off doing this at Lille.
Posted by
OP
6 posts
Have changed rental car pickup from Calais to Lille. the train connections from Bruges to Lille look much simpler and quicker. Thanks for the advice!
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32732 posts
That's a very good decision.