I'm looking at trains from Strasbourg to Tours and I noticed that I would need to change stations in Paris. We arrive at Paris Gare de l’Est and would need to get to Paris Montparnasse with 1 hour and 30 minutes to do so... So I am wondering how to get from one place to the other and is 1.5 hours enough time to do so.
Posted by
🏝️ Hobe Sound, FL⛱️
3167 posts
It’s about a 20 minute ride on Metro Line 4 from Gare de l’Est to Montparnasse- Bienvenue and a 5 minute walk to the station.
Posted by
Florida (previously California)
3709 posts
Connecting from Montparnasse-Bienvenue to Gare Montparnasse about 10 years ago, I found it to be a very long walk but I had luggage and a then 3 and 1/2-year-old who was crying and refused to walk -- #travelmemories. For years, I urged people to take a taxi between the stations because of that nightmare, but last summer, my son and I made the same transfer and with a then 12-year old (who walked on his own) and without luggage, it turned out to be not as bad as I had remembered it. There are moving walkways. It's about a 700-meter walk from the metro station to the train station. I'm still not sure that I would do it with luggage (and an angry toddler).
Posted by
Green Bay
20174 posts
It is an underground walk with a moving walkway part of the way at Montparnasse-Bienvenue. Escalator up to the train station platform.
At Gare de l'Est, there is an escalator down to the Metro station, but there are at least some stairways to deal with to get to the Metro platforms if I recall.
BTW, I see a couple of trains that are direct to St Pierre des Corps, no need to change stations in Paris. Don't know your travel date, but on May 6 there is one at 6:59 am and one at 4:31 pm. St Pierre des Corps is just outside of Tours and there are local train that connect into the city, or take a taxi.
Posted by
OP
37 posts
Great! Sounds doable! I will have luggage, but they will be backpacks and just me and my husband. I did notice that there is a another option with a 55 minute train station change. Sounds like that might be pushing it.
Posted by
Green Bay
20174 posts
See my edit.
Posted by
OP
37 posts
Sam... do you know if there are rental car agencies by St. Pierre des Corps? We are planning on renting a car and heading into Ambroise.
Posted by
Green Bay
20174 posts
Yes there are several. You might want to check their hours to make sure you don't arrive after they close for the day. Including Hertz, Enterprise, Europcar.
Posted by
OP
37 posts
Thank you! You all have been very helpful!
Posted by
Florida (previously California)
3709 posts
We rented from the Hertz there last summer. The companies are all in the group of buildings that make up the train station complex. For us, the Hertz was harder to find than the others because it is around the corner from the train station whereas the others are visible as soon as you exit the station. We rented from Sixt the other times we got a car in St Pierre des Corps. We booked through AutoEurope. If you are arriving after the rental car places close, you can still rent a car through Avis using https://en.oui.sncf/en/car/train-avis to make the reservation. Fair warning: with the Avis/SNCF program, there is a one-way rental supplement.