Thought I would try this question here, since no replies on Transportation.
On 4 June I plan on heading out to Chateau Fontainebleau on my own. I will have a Navigo Decouverte Card that covers this route as well as the bus from the station to the Chateau. My question is do I need to or am I able to purchase the SNCF train ticket a head of time or is it as simple as heading to the station that morning and getting on the 08:49 train? Do I just find a seat and have my Navigo Card ready for when the conductor walks by?
Thank you.
Posted by
Florida (previously California)
3989 posts
It's as simple as showing up at the train and taking a seat. There are no seat assignments and assuming that you have a valid Navigo card, you are good to go.
Posted by
SF Bay Area, CA
2030 posts
I took this train a lot when I lived in Fountainebleau, but did not have a Navigo Card. But I believe you have to swipe the card at a machine before boarding the train to register your trip, perhaps you can do this on the train also....?
Posted by
Chicago
8552 posts
you need to validate the ND before entering the platform -- there is a little post with a swirly purple thing on it that you validate the pass on. if the conductor were to check the navigo and it had not been validated for that ride there is an on the spot fine. since you would have a paid for navigo, this fine is much less than actually not having a ticket, but it does need to be validated. (on the metro traveling with a valid ND that has not been validated for the particular ride is 5 Euros (compared to 30 and up for not having a ticket); I don't know if it is the same amount on a train. in many train stations there is an actual turnstile that you validate the card on just like you do the metro before being admitted to the platform -- but at others, you can just walk on to the platform so you have to find the machine that validates -- just as if you had a paper ticket you would have to find the composting machine.
Posted by
OP
Vacaville, Ca
1441 posts
Thank you all for the info.
Posted by
freelton, ont, canada
183 posts
And once you get off the train in fountainbleau, walk through the small train station to the bus stop and you can use the navigo pass for the bus to the chateau , about a 10 minute bus ride. When you are done your tour enjoy one of the cafes near the chateau before heading back on the bus .