Hello,
I am developing an itinerary for my wife and myself for April/May 2020 for a week in both Italy and France with a two day connecting train journey through Switzerland via the Bernina Express from Tirano to Chur and the next day train Chur to Paris.
I find that from the Swiss border to Paris, TGV is the train that pops up on the websites. But TGV is not listed as a train company covered by the Eurail Global Pass. I believe we need to connect to SNCF to be covered by the Global Pass.
Can anyone enlighten me on how to get from Chur to Paris (any station) in 8 hours or less on legs 100% included in the Global Pass.
We intend to purchase 2 seven days travel in one month senior passes for Italy, Switzerland, France for our travel needs while in Europe.
Thank you much.
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
4858 posts
TGV is a TYPE of train, (high speed), not a company name. SNCF is the national train line in France. Look up itineraries on the Deutche Bahn website. Make your train seat reservations (required for TGVs, and an extra fee on top of your rail pass) in advance, since reservations for rail passes are limited. I'm seeing trains taking anywhere from 51/2 -7 hours depending on departure time and number of required train changes. If you're unfamiliar with European train travel, I recommend looking at the man in seat 61 website.
Have you already priced out any potential savings with a eurail pass (including extra fees for seat reservations) over buying individual tickets for each leg? Or just getting a Swiss pass for that part of the trip?
Posted by
Green Bay
20089 posts
TGV, is a French acronym for "high speed train". With a Eurail pass, you will have to purchase a seat reservation. Same with the Bernina Express, although this is more for special services like panorama cars, and head sets with descriptions of the sights out the windows.
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
TGV = Train à Grande Vitesse = High Speed train, it is a brand (trademark) used by SNCF.
It is easy to get from Chur to Paris by train, you will get a Swiss intercity to Zürich, then a TGV from Zürich to Paris Gare de Lyon. The TGV's on this route run ever 2 hours. Trip takes 5½ hours
For example, leaving Chur at 08:09:
First train, IC3
Chur dep 08:09
Landquart dep 08:19
Sargans dep 08:28
Zürich HB arr 09:23Second train, TGV 9210
Zürich HB dep 09:34
Basel SBB dep 10:34
Mulhouse Ville dep 10:56
Dijon Ville dep 12:01
Paris-Gare de Lyon arr 13:41
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thank all of you again. I think I got it now.
The cost for the individual train segments or individual country passes for our itinerary vs. global eurail is about a 200 dollar savings.
Posted by
Green Bay
20089 posts
Ah, but how did you arrive at that savings figure? I hope you did not use the Rick Steves cost estimate map. That is based on the "walk-up" price. Since rail tickets are sold like airline tickets these days, you can get a big discount for buying nonrefundable tickets well in advance as opposed to "flexible" prices. I assume you will not be going to the airport and walking up to the desk and saying "put me on the next flight to X, here is my credit card". Swiss train prices are pretty consistent as being one price all the the time, but the rest of Europe gives discounts for advance tickets.
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
Looking at a random date in June 2019 I see a TGV Lyria train from Chur to Paris with 1 change for $79
Eurail passes are RARELY beneficial and usually end making you pay extra out of pocket expenses for your train Trips for things that are already included when you buy tix directly from the national rail company’s own website.