Hi all,
I'm looking for advice on trains from Paris to Chamonix; how do I determine if a train is a TGV? The route we keep finding is a two stop route with stops in Bellegarde and St. Gervais les Bains. We were also thinking of going to Lyon and then getting another train to Chamonix but that might be overcomplicating things. Would appreciate any advice (we do want to get all the way from Paris to Chamonix in one day); traveling in mid June.
Thank you!
Catherine
Posted by
Cloud
379 posts
Chamonix does not have TGV service. Only part of the route does. The route options you keep finding are accurate. It will take about 6 hours to get there from Paris.
Posted by
Green Bay
22275 posts
The train tracks from St Gervais les Bains to Chamonix are narrow gauge, and there are no narrow gauge TGV's. Further, a TGV can only go as fast as the tracks allow a safe speed, There are special high-speed tracks with very wide curves and extremely precise rail installation that the allow TGVs to go up to 200 mph between Paris and Lyon. From there to Bellegarde, they are normal train tracks, so even if it says TGV on the train, its speed is the same as a normal train.
Posted by
OP
North Carolina
29 posts
Thank you, that is helpful. I knew the last two legs would not be TGV but was hoping perhaps the first one was.
Posted by
Green Bay
22275 posts
Yes, that is the TGV that goes from Paris to Geneva. It departs the high-speed tracks at Macon, and proceeds by normal tracks, stopping at Bourg en Bresse and Bellegarde, where you change to the train to St Gervais les Bains.
Posted by
USA
444 posts
We are on the train from Paris to Annecy right now. The journey is about 4 hours on SNCF. There are some stops along the way but no change needed. We are getting a car in Annecy but it may be possible to depart Annecy for a train to Chamonix. I haven’t researched that however.
Posted by
Chicago
912 posts
There are definitely trains between Annecy and Chamonix, but you run into the same
problem Sam has mentioned; any train going into Chamonix is on the narrow gauge
track and will require a connection (or two), and the last segments will not be TGV trains.
From Geneva or Annecy, it is much more efficient timewise to take a bus to Chamonix.
Often also better pricewise. May be less scenic, though.
From Paris, the fastest way to Chamonix IMO is to take the train to Geneva (3 hours),
then the bus from either airport or downtown bus station (3 or 4 blocks from Cornavin)
to Chamonix (75-90 minutes). The bus station at the airport is right outside the terminal,
so you have less of a walk, but you need to check the train and bus schedules to know
which stop in Geneva is faster overall.