Train from Lyon to Chamonix

Checking Deutch Bahn Navigator, the time from Lyon by TER takes about 4:40. From Paris through Annecy the time is closer to 6 to 7 hours.

Chamonix is not easy to get to or leave...compared with most towns. Those darn mountains! We used a shuttle, but some of our group was going to use this service. Oui Bus

"Chamonix is not easy to get to or leave"

But it is worth the time and trouble...

"Chamonix is not easy to get to or leave"

But it is worth the time and trouble...

ABSOLUTELY!

Bite the bullet and go with the complicated trains. But when you leave Chamonix, you can take a cheap shuttle to Geneva that saves time if that direction works for the rest of your trip.

Have you considered renting a car? It's not a bad drive and has some beautiful scenery.

The best I could find, Lyon to Chamonix, was about 4 hours by train. I opted for a rental car, about two hours of driving time, and added a stop for a look around and lunch in Annecy. As I recall, the train would have precluded visiting Annecy too, but maybe that was just the four hour route?

It's slow because they're local trains with plenty of stops and steep gradients. But you will get some very nice scenery.

I found the easiest and simplest solution was to take the train to Geneva, and then used a pre-booked shuttle to Chamonix. As I recall, the trip from Geneva is only about an hour, and the shuttle will drop you right at your hotel. There are quite a few shuttle services operating in that area, and I believe THIS is the service I used.

You could take the shuttle to Chamonix and the train when you leave (or vice versa), as there's some great scenery along the rail lines. In one part the train travels along the edge of a mountain (don't look down!).

The shuttle seems like a good idea to save some time. Thank you all who have contributed your thoughts.