I booked a train on trainline from Marseille to Barcelona, connecting in Montpellier. In retrospect I'm wondering if I risk not making the connection? The TGV InOui train to Montpellier arrives at 13:02, and the TGV InOui train departing Montpellier to Barcelona departs at 13:17. I'm not familiar with the train station in Montpellier. Also, if I did miss the train would I be stuck there, or would they put me on the next available train?
Posted by
Chicago
7845 posts
Fifteen minutes is enough as long as the first train arrives on time.
Posted by
Sweden
6390 posts
You could have bought a direct ticket from www.renfe.com…
Also, if I did miss the train would I be stuck there, or would they
put me on the next available train?
That depends on what kind of ticket you have. If you have a true connecting ticket, you will be rebooked on the next train. But if Tranline have sold you two separate tickets, then you are on your own if you miss the connection.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23268 posts
....then you are on your own if you miss the connection. ... IF you are at fault for missing the connection. If the train line is at fault (generally because they were late) then you can get a new ticket from a ticket window.
Posted by
Augsburg, Bavaria
2333 posts
Assuming that in the initial posting "trainline" = the reseller Trainline, this is not necessarily true. It may well be that you are travelling with two different tickets (two different contracts of carriage) which Trainline only combines without the connection being protected. There are always people on this forum who claim that Trainline can sell connections that the national carriers do not sell. That's true so far. But then usually it's just a combination of two different tickets with an unprotected connection.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10194 posts
It depends. Which train station, Gare Saint Roch or Gare du Sud . There aren't any direct TGV trains from Marseille to Montpellier, just TER or Intercités. Intercités are notoriously delayed.
To change tracks, you have to go up a floor and follow instructions an escalator down. There's generally one escalator, one set of stairs, and an elevator on each platform. The platforms will be very crowded getting to the stairs or escalator.
Train doors close 2 minutes before leaving, so you have 13 minutes. I know this station well. Dicey
Can you get a refund and get a direct Renfe ticket? Renfe even stops in Montpellier on its way to Barcelona.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thanks everyone for your comments! I cancelled the tickets and got a refund, and rebooked a Renfe Ave train direct from Marseille to Barcelona, no stops. I feel much better!