Is it possible to take the tgv from the airport to Tours direct or do you have to change trains at Montparnes station? If so it seems that it might be easier to take the air France bus to Montparnes first, avoiding having to get luggage and then probably have to go through customs in order to get to the tgv station. Anyone done this?
Posted by
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
4088 posts
The website for SNCF, which runs the trains, will show your options for trains from the airport. https://en.voyages-sncf.com/en/
Nothing goes straight through to Tours; all require some sort of transfer. The easiest, and fastest, are two mid-afternoon services to St. Pierre des Corps. There is either a shuttle bus or a shuttle train, five minutes at most, to reach Tours. The website describes the full route. Since it is a high-speed train you should be able to buy and print-out your tickets, including seat reservation, on-line.
Slower itineraries involve an earlier transfer to a slower regional train which may or may not offer seat reservations.
By the way, the Air France bus to Montparnasse (note spelling, to help the Internet work) departs from the front of Charles de Gaulle terminals . You go through the border security and immigration process, gather up your bags and stroll through customs to get outside the secure area and walk to the bus. No baggage service. Pleasant if possibly slow bus ride, and tickets can be bought in advance. In all, it will probably double the time of your trip. The train from CdG would be my only choice.
Posted by
Green Bay
21157 posts
According to https://en.voyages-sncf.com/en/tgv, there are 4 direct trains on weekdays to St Pierre des Corps, 7:19, 12:15, 16:21 and 18:15. As was said, that is just 3 miles from the city center and there are shuttle trains and buses that meet the TGV's to take you into Tours.
You will have to go through Schengen Immigration and customs no matter what when you get off the plane.