What train station to go to leaving from Paris to use the TGV train and will my 3 country saver pass work for this one. I know I will have to travel a "regular" train for part of the way. I have been trying to find out the info on rail europe. Many options so need advice. I am also confused on reservations for the TGV to Switzerland. I want to leave early morning but don't know how or how long it'll take to get to the station from hotel on Rue Cler & how early does the metro/bus run on Sunday? So to sum up:
1. Station to take TGV?
2. Does Saver Pass cover TGV?
3. How long & how to get to station real early morning (Sunday)
4. What trains to take from where TGV ends?
Thank you for any help. I have been researching this for days & haven't found an answer.
Posted by
OP
Minneapolis, MN, US
12 posts
Thank you for you answer. Could you please tell me how do I make a reservation & the additional supplement you mentioned since I already have a 3 country saver pass? Will it be too late to get the reservation if I wait until I get to Paris on the 9th & go to a ticket counter & get one for the 11th? Thank you for any help.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
The reasons that Rail Europe was of no help to you for timetables are (1) they only show timetables for trains for which they sell tickets and (2) they don't show timetables for routes requiring multiple connections.
In this case tgv-europe.com isn't much better because they will show you routes from Paris to Interlaken, but not beyond Interlaken.
Your best site for detailed timetables for virtually all of Europe is the German Rail site. Enter Paris as your departure point and Muerren BLM as your arrival point. Enter a departure time of 06:00. After you get summary timetables for Paris-Muerren BLM, click on the arrow to the left of the departure time(s) of your choice to see the connecting points.
You can leave Paris Est at 06:24; connect in Basel, Bern, Interlaken Ost, and Lauterbrunnen; and arrive at Muerren BLM at 12:51.
Or you can leave Paris Est at 08:24; connect in Basel, Interlaken Ost, and Lauterbrunnen; and arrive at Muerren BLM at 14:51.
Yes, you can buy your seat reservation for the Paris-Basel TGV when you get to Paris. Note, however, that SNCF (French national rail) limits the number of seats it allocates to passholders. People have reported being told that those seats were gone even though the train was not sold out and standard fare tickets were still available. If you want to play it safe, buy your reservation NOW from raileurope.com.
The Metro will start running early enough for you to take the 06:24 TGV. The first Metro line 8 train going toward Opera leaves Ecole Militaire at 05:37. Connect at Opera to a Metro line 7 train and take it to Gare de l'Est, arriving at 06:00.
Posted by
OP
Minneapolis, MN, US
12 posts
Thank you for this wonderful advise. I have been trying for hours to find the place at raileurope.com to buy just the reservation! It always gives me prices for the whole ticket. Do I have to call them? Thank you again.