Questions about leaving Paris by train

Also anything I should know about seat selection? What are the pros/cons of upper vs lower levels?

I would take the earlier train. We left the 7th for Montparnasse for an early train via taxi with a 10 minutes drive and had no traffic. We gave ourselves plenty of wiggle room, time to get coffee, use the bathroom (pay to use) and find out which platform our train departed from. That does not happen until about 10 minutes prior. It’s a large train station but manageable. Without traffic your taxi ride is about 15 minutes.

We went last April and the school across from our hotel was on spring break. Did that make a difference? Was it spring break all across Paris? I don’t know. Does June mean school is out? And lighter traffic that early in the morning. I have no idea.

But it all went smoothly. I chose downstairs because I don’t want to drag my suitcase up more stairs. Also if it all goes sideways with the earlier train you can take the next train and still make it to your tour. I always like options.

I bought my tickets online through SCNF. Use the SCNF app when you travel. . Your tickets will be in the app.

Thanks KD! Do you have any advice about where to sit in order to minimize the luggage theft issues? We will each have a US-airline-size carry on suitcase plus our daypacks.

I guess closer to the back of the car since the luggage is stacked back there. Luggage is a mob scene as I recall as if the trains were never designed for so much luggage. The little shelf above our heads wasn't designed for luggage. More for coats and maybe a backpack size item. But I wouldn’t put my backpack up there out of my reach.

All I remember is we chose a train car and seats in advance. Let’s call it car 19. We start down the platform and the first train car is 35 then 34 then 33. On and on….walk walk walk. Finally we get to what should be 19 and the suddenly the numbers change to 1, 2, 3. Two trains attached. One backwards. We must have walked a mile to get to our train car! So I’ve blanked out on luggage except that I remember thinking the Fire Marshall’s in the US would not allow this much luggage blocking exits etc. Stand up a few minutes before you are getting off the train to give yourself time to maneuver to get your luggage. That’s when it was pretty hectic.

But the train station, train ride and all the being in Paris and other parts of France were all marvelous. Of course we took every precaution and were situationally aware, but I didn't feel that anyone in the train station or on the train had any agenda other than getting coffee and trying to get to their own destination. All very pleasant!

I just looked back at my timing for when I took this tour of Mark's in 2024. My train left at 10:26A and I changed trains at Angers. It's a fairly small station and was very easy to do.

Is Mark picking you up at the train station in Saumur at 5 or do you need to get to Fontevraud Abbey?

I always take a taxi to the train station. I'm not going to mess with the Metro even though I just do carry on luggage. It's still a pain to get up and down flights of stairs. I'm on my own so no one to watch my back, hahaha.

Do you have the city mapper app? It will give you an estimate of time for a taxi. Looking at it right now it is showing a travel time from "Rue Monge" to Gare Montparnasse as 26 minutes and costing 11E. This would be about 6P Paris time today.

Hi Pam — my understanding (based on correspondence with Toni last summer) is that we’ll need to take a taxi from Saumur to Fontevraud L’Abbaye. The first group meeting is scheduled for 5:00 pm. At this point I’m operating on the assumption that we’ll need to travel from Saumur on our own and be at the hotel by mid-afternoon. That’s what I’m trying to plan around when deciding on train times. Glad to know we’ll be changing trains in a small station!

From your many travels in France do you prefer the upper or lower level on the train from Paris?

First class has more space (three seats across instead of four) and you can choose your seats. The lower level is easier to access if you have bulky luggage, and the upper level has better views.
By metro, take lines 7 and 6. The journey takes about 25 minutes. If you have luggage, a taxi will be easier.
Connections for Saumur are available at St Pierre des Corps or Angers. In both cases, changing trains takes only a few minutes. If a TGV is delayed, the TER regional trains sometimes wait a little longer. But in the worst-case scenario, it's possible to take the next TER (although this can sometimes mean a two-hour wait).

If you're an early riser, go for it. As the previous poster said, in first class you have the option to choose your seats. In second class, seats are assigned,

If you choose upstairs, you need to carry your luggage upstairs with you. If you are worried about theft, it's less likely upstairs.
If you are concerned about having to ride backwards, choose the face-to-face seats on the side with single seats. You will have a little table between you and your travel companion. One will be facing forward, the other backwards, and you can switch. We rarely know which way we'll be facing though we ride between home and Paris many times a year, three times just this month.

My husband and I choose first class, usually sit downstairs unless it's full but we take the train a lot so we don't spend a lot of time looking out the windows. We leave our suitcases on the racks next to the door, or the rack further back if one is provided, and just glance at them at the few stops. Bon voyage.

Can you use a bike cable to lock the suitcase aginst something?

I usually get the First Class, upper deck seats on French trains but I am traveling solo so I like to be in the single seats down one side of the car. I usually try to get the seat right across from the luggage rack or I know I will fret. I don't travel nearly as much as Elizabeth and her husband so I look out the window, hahaha!!

You might go ahead and email Mark and ask about getting from Saumur to Fontevraud. IF it's by taxi, you'll want to somehow book that ahead of time and he may have suggestions for a taxi company. There were no taxis at the station when I got t Saumur but I was just going to a local hotel for a few nights. I'd go ahead and go in the AM, then, so you can get to Fontevraud Abbey in plenty of time. It's a cute little village to walk around and the restaurant at the hotel Mark uses is quite good.

The TGV from Montparnasse to Angers in nonstop. I don't think you have to worry about someone stealing your luggage.
The IC train from Angers to Saumur is also nonstop, and the TER makes one intermediate stop.