Tight French Train Connections

Those are small stations. At the most you'll have to go down a set of stairs to walk to your next train platform and up a set of stairs to reach the platform. If you need elevators to go down and up the stairs, you will have to wait your turn. Or the next train could be on the same platform as the first. Chances are many others will be making the same train change.

I have not been to that station (Saint-Gervais-les-Bains), but I pulled it up on Google maps and Images. It looks like a very small station with just 3 tracks. I'd say, as long as everything is on time, you should be fine. I was concerned about train connections on our first Italy trip, but it was not an issue at all. Just be prepared to exit the train at your stop, check the departure sign and go, no lollygagging!!!! We will be in Chamonix in July!!!! Have fun..

Those are very easy connections.

All you want to know about your first one is on the map at https://mmt.vsct.fr/sites/default/files/stationmap/PlanGare_Saint-Gervais-les-Bains-Le-Fayet.pdf which is the official map of the station and its connections. "Cars" by the way is buses/coaches. You can see that your train will come in from one end and your connection train will go out the other end. Your train from Chamonix ends at Saint-Gervais-les-Bains-Le-Fayet (which by the way is the name of the train station, leave off the "Le-Fayet" and you are talking about a cable car station up the mountain. Your onward train ends and starts from here too. You may only have to walk down the platform, or you may have to go down the stairs, under the track, and back up the other side. 9 minutes should be plenty of time unless you have severe walking difficulties.

20 minutes at Bellegarde should even give you time to pick up a snack... The station has a similar number of tracks, just on a slight curve.

This video will give you an idea of a train station and the reader board. (Begin the video at around 3:00). The reader board will give the track number. Look at your ticket to always verify the train number, so you don’t accidentally get on the wrong train that might be using the same track number a few minutes apart. When you arrive to your next train station, you may see the train numbers posted above the track number. Or sometimes, they’re at the bottom of the stairway hall to reach the next track.

Your ticket will also show the car # and seat # (if you have a reserved seat). It’s much better to walk along the train and enter the correct car number, then find your seat number.

When I have a tight connection, I always stand up about five minutes early and have my suitcase in hand next to the door. When the train stops, I’m one of the first people off of my car. That’s especially helpful when others may have some huge suitcases that can really slow down the exit process.

And nine minutes should be fine, especially if you’re first off the previous train.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLv9Mc4o6Cg

Thank you guys so much! We are going to proceed with this itinerary. Really appreciate everyone's experiences and perspectives.

Thanks all!

Regarding what Kerouac said: the 2nd train in St Gervais would almost definitely wait for a late incoming train from Chamonix, because that's the only connection there and certainly the main purveyor of passengers.
A wait of more than a few minutes is unlikely in Bellegarde, but a 20 minute buffer is more than plenty.

Hey guys!

Thanks so much for all the advice. For anyone who finds this googling or searching the Forums later on -

The advice we got here was spot on. In the case of the first connection, it was just across the tracks. In the second case, there was a bit of a walk - less than five minutes. We also learned, to our surprise, that all three trains terminated at our destination for the particular itinerary.

Thanks everyone for the assistance.

I have this exact itinerary coming up in June and was also feeling nervous. Glad you asked, and I also appreciate all of the responses.