Hello
In October, my wife and I will finish a river cruise in Lyon. We plan to take the TGV on our own to Paris. We will have full size luggage. I have a couple of detail questions.
We can book the departure from either Lyon Perrache or Lyon Part Dieu. Would there be more time to board at Perrache since it is the beginning of the route?
Is it easier to manage our luggage if we book on the lower level? I'm thinking of the stairs.
Thank you in advance
George
must trains have luggage storage at the ends of cars so being on the lower level makes it easier to keep an eye on your stuff at stops. Full size luggage goes in those racks and they fill up fast so getting on at the origin is a good idea.
George,
I’ve not taken this TGV from Lyon but have taken other TGVs to Paris and would definitely book for the lower level.
Another option would be to leave your luggage in the lower level before going up to the second level, but I’d rather keep on eye on my luggage.
Enjoy your cruise & trip!
There seems to be a prevailing opinion that you need to watch your luggage when in the bins near the entrances. We don't think it is a big deal. Nobody wants random bags of clothing. Backpacks or day bags with personal items should be kept with you or on the over rack. But the general carry on bag is fine in the bins or least it has been for us for nearly 50 years.
The TGV stops long enough for people to board. (In fact, the stops are actually to long usually, leading to some of the time gains of the high speed trains being lost again...). Just pay attention to the displays that show where your car will be so you can position yourself correctly.
You want to get on at the initial location of the train itinerary, if possible. You want to ride up top for the view, and it's normally less crowded. Don't worry about your luggage, it's going to be okay. On the high speed routes there aren't a lot of stops, and if you're nervous you can always go survey your bags then. If you do go with the lower level get as close to the middle of the car as possible, because everyone getting off at the stops will overflow into the area around the doors.
Just one little problem: neither SNCF nor downstairs passengers want people dropping their luggage downstairs then sitting upstairs. The downstairs has much less luggage space than upstairs, about half and sometimes less than half. It won’t be the end of the world if you leave it downstairs and scoot upstairs, but in that case do get on at the first station with few people so nobody tells you to move it. LOL
Lots of people have medium and large bags upstairs; nowadays I usually have someone carry mine up.
Thank you everyone. My concern about luggage is not a fear of theft. I am wondering it it is easier to manage getting it on and off the train by sitting in the lower level.
George
If you can book in either Perrache or Part Dieu then it probably originates in Perrache and booking there will give you a jump on all the people who will pile on in Part Dieu. Double check the times but Perrache will probably be 8 minutes or so earlier. PD is a very busy and small (for all the traffic) station with virtually no seating so while Perrache is generally a little run down and unloved in spots I would definitely book there.
The rue Victor Hugo is a pedestrian shopping street and a wide easy place to roll bags down to the station. Watch for the traffic on cross streets. There a couple of decent bar/restaurants just across from the park as you approach Perrache so kill some time there if you have to before rolling to the station.
Follow the colored tracks on the sidewalk for the SNCF trains - kind of a blue/green - to that train tracks. Perrache is currently (always?) under construction so follow the signs and expect diversions. I would allow a solid 10 minutes from the station to the tracks because it can be a ways.
Enjoy Lyon - if not the train stations,
=Tod
Yes, it is easier on the lower level.
Most TGV do not stop between Part Dieu and Paris so that makes it harder for anyone to steal or bother your luggage. I would recommend Perrache also, to get on first before the larger number of people boarding at Part Dieu.
