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Direct train: St-Pierre-des-Corps to Avignon?

Posted by (Seattle) on

Hello,

I need to get from Amboise to St-Remy-de-Provence on Friday, May 8 of this year. Searching this forum, I found several posts that mention a train that goes directly from the St-Pierre-des-Corps TGV station, near Amboise, to the Avignon TGV station (e.g.: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/france/train-from-tours-to-avignon-need-help#1090734). I want to rent a car for when I'm in Provence, so I thought taking this train to the Avignon TGV, renting a car there, and then continuing on to St-Remy would make sense.

But I can't for the life of me find a listing for this train. I've checked SNCF official site, Rail Europe, and Trainline. All the trains for St-Pierre-des-Corps to Avignon go through Paris first. Am I doing something wrong with how I'm searching the timetables? Or does this train not run any more, or perhaps not on Fridays, or perhaps not this early in the year?

And, if there is no direct train I can take, I think my options are just taking one of the trains that goes through Paris, or renting a car in on near Amboise and just driving down to Provence, and arranging to drop it off somewhere there, probably Avignon I would guess. If you were faced with those two options, which would you do?

Thanks in advance for any help!

Posted by
21155 posts

Looking at www.bahn.com, I don't see it. Your best is a 7:54 am departure with a change at Massy TGV, arriving at Avignon TGV at 12:41 pm. That is the fastest, and also avoids all the other itineraries that require a station change in Paris.

PS, yes, that thread is 3 years old. SNCF changes its schedules from time to time, just like airlines.

Posted by
16895 posts

I agree that the connection at Massy is simplest, so that you don't have to change train stations within Paris. FYI, there's a 10:54 departure also connecting at Massy, but it's a long layover there (2.5 hours), so you wouldn't get to Avignon until 17:40something.

In the absence of the direct train, I'd probably pick up the car earlier and use it for both the Loire and Provence.

Posted by
7303 posts

The Massy connection listed above is early, but it's quite good.
Otherwise I'd much rather transfer between Montparnasse and Lyon stations than drive the whole way to Avignon. The transfer is quite easy, just take a taxi, ideally from Hall 2 of Montparnasse Station (stairs and escalators go up there from the middle of the platforms) where there is typically no line and the walk is shorter than to get to the taxi stand off the side of the main concourse (Hall 1).

Else, bus 91 is direct and almost step-free. Métro line 6 to Bercy +14 to Gare de Lyon is a hair faster, but with steps.

Posted by
10203 posts

Please be aware that May 8 is a holiday in France — you will need to check carefully to see if there is a car rental place open on that day when you arrive (if you plan on renting on the 8th).

Posted by
10203 posts

And I agree with Balso — even with a change of trains, I would prefer to take the train than to drive all that way (I would prefer the Massy connection though).

Posted by
2 posts

Thanks everyone! This is all really helpful, I appreciate it.

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