Worried about a connection in Lyon

You actually have only have 13 minutes, since you must be onboard your TGV at 11:05. It is about a 200 ft walk straight ahead to the rear entrance of Part Dieu station. Download the SNCF app so you will know exactly which platform your TGV is on, and walk directly there. If you can walk with luggage 500 ft in 5 minutes, you should be OK.

If you are really nervous, you could take the 7:43 train from Annecy with a connection at Aix-les-Bains that arrives inside Part Dieu station at 9:52, giving you a comfortable hour, time for a coffee and a pastry. That ticket looks like it is 32.90 EUR.

Thank you Sam. I have no problem walking quickly with my luggage, but I never feel terribly comfortable with cutting things close. Guess this is another opportunity to stretch beyond my comfort zone :)

It occurred to me this morning that I need to confirm where the bus station in Annecy is. I purchased the ticket through SNCF so all this time have been thinking in terms of train stations, but that may not be the case.

The bus station in Annecy is an extension of the train station.

Don’t worry to much. You have a ticket, so SNCF must get you to Montpelier. If a delay makes you miss that train they’ll put you on the next one.

Just enter the station. Look at the displays. Walk to your train. Takes just a few minutes.

I strolled over to the train station in Annecy this morning and yes, the buses were easy to find, so that is all good.

I saw many people rushing through the train station in Lyon, which made me think running short on time must be a thing, but I’ll just do the best I can and remind myself that I’m in Europe so nothing can be that bad.

I remember Part Dieu well. I may have hit it at a particularly busy time of day, but there sure were a lot of people there; it was perhaps the busiest train station I've been to. My platform was changed from what was originally posted, and there was an SNCF employee positioned at the bottom of the now-wrong escalator, redirecting people. I remember that she told me to "run", which was odd, because I think it would have been impossible to run through that concourse with a wheeled suitcase. Also, I had over 10 minutes--maybe as much as 15 minutes--to get to the new platform. I knew it wouldn't be a problem at all, and it wasn't.

Just be sure you're operating with an up-to-the-minute platform assignment.

I’d probably worry, too, but in the end find that it worked out just fine. Yes, the station is crowded at all times. You just have to get up the ramp, and find your train car. If you’re really late just get in and find your car from the inside, from car to car. It’s a single-level train.
Worst case and you’ve missed the connection, go to the office, take a ticket to wait and plead your case. There are a lot of TGVs from Lyon to Montpellier all day long. Let us know about making the connection; the info could be useful to other travelers.

Well, this morning has been a mess so far. The bus was canceled, then it wasn’t, then it was, so I booked another ticket. To get me to Montpellier. Then someone from the group of people that had been waiting for the bus realized it had indeed arrived. The bus driver said he thought I’d make it since the train was also going to be delayed. Now I’m on the bus heading for Lyon and it looks like the train will be on time after all, so I may still miss it if the bus driver can’t make up the time. Meanwhile it looks like I’m not eligible for a refund on the new ticket I booked and I might still need another ticket from Lyon to Montpellier if I don’t make the train. Fingers crossed it somehow all works out.

Wow! Good luck.

Well that was quite the adventure. The bus got stuck in traffic so it was even more late. When it finally stopped, I tried to get out quickly, but nearly got knocked down the steps by some women who were apparently going to miss a much more important train than mine. I literally had to raise my voice and tell them multiple times to stop pushing me and they still kept doing it. I am still stunned thinking of it. I had no where to go since there were people in front of me. I think they would have climbed over my body if they’d been successful. The whole thing was so disconcerting.

I ended up going to the office upstairs and getting a ticket for an hour later. They were able to refund part of the ticket I purchased earlier and I’m trying to reset the day now.

Important lesson learned; just because SNCF says I can make the connection doesn’t mean I can make the connection.

I am sorry that you had people acting that way and physically pushing and shoving. Glad you will make it eventually but sorry for the stress that has been added to your day.

I hope you got to Montpellier safely and are able to enjoy the sunshine.