Train Routing Lyon-Reims

I'm not sure what problems you're experiencing with the SNCF website, as I find it to be pretty straightforward. The train routing from Lyon to Reims is complicated, as all the routings I see require a change of train stations in Paris, from Gare de Lyon to Paris Est. And this change requires either a Metro ride, bus or taxi in Paris. It might be simpler to rent a car one-way, as it's a bit over 3 hour drive.

SNCF Connect is of course the official site of the SNCF, but Trainline is a good site too. It was after all started by a group of French programmers unhappy with how bad the SNCF site is...

Now, SBB and Trainline should show the same trains. So you should see trains you see on SBB also on Trainline, and vv. However one difference is that the SBB booking system is "timetable first", so first tries to find the shortest route, and it assumes you are Swiss, so do not care about how may changes there are. They will aso show you the trains operated by Trenitalia on that route.

Trainline however just links in to the SNCF booking system. So it is just a more userfriendly frontend. And the SNCF system will de-emphasise solutions with multiple connecitons.
One tip: If you want to avoid changing stations in Paris you will need to take a combination of "inter sector" TGVs, and will change in Marne La Vallee. The inter sector TGV services don't go to Reims, but to Champagne Ardennes. There you can take a connecting train to Reims. However that station is not that far from the city centre, and is served by the Tram, so you could take a tram or a taxi to your hotel as well.

I would book with Trainline if you have already accounts there.

I guess you mean the Best Of Eastern France Tour that starts in Reims. The Best of Europe Tour starts in Haarlem.

Thanks for the input. WengenK, I meant to specify that I was looking at an arrival at the Champagne-Ardenne station-I discovered that station when booking our flights - it is one of the "Air + train" options that would have worked great for our arrival flight from the US, but for various reasons, I was not able to book that and ended up booking for an arrival in Lyon. I did also see the Marne-le-Valee connection, which is far preferable to the convoluted connection in Paris. After seeing that first, I actually gave some thought to hopping on the train at the Lyon airport and taking it to Paris for our first 2 nights-we would still have a station transfer, but we could spend those two nights in the Marais (or Ile-Saint-Louis) and eliminate having to transfer the same day. Lyon is new territory for us, so I want to try to make this transfer work first, but if not, Paris would be a more than acceptable substitute!

Jphbucks, your car idea is intriguing-I have a great uncle (long since passed) that fought in the Battle of the Marne, so with a car, we could stop at the American monument in Belleau Wood and pay our respects, and maybe even spend a night in Chateau-Thierry (or nearby) for one night.

Sam, good catch-it was late and I forgot to proofread the post before pushing the send button!

WengenK, I took your advice and booked with a change in Marne-la-Vallée-it is a rather long layover, but that is preferable to schlepping our stuff between train stations. This train also leaves from Perrache station, which is closer to our hotel (Hotel des Celestins) than Part Dieu station. The Trainline email notification said we were now going to Disneyland, which was weird until I realized that this is the same station that services the Paris amusement park. I guess we can people watch or have a coffee while we wait for our train to Champagne-Ardenne. Maybe I will pick up a Disneyland Paris souvenir for my 5 year old grandson.