I'm arriving at CDG on a Friday at 11:10 after a night flight from SFO. I booked a 4:20 train from CDG, with a 13 minute transfer at Bordeaux-St Jean, arriving in Lourdes (in Pyrenees) at 11:30 pm. Sounded like a good idea at the time... Any idea what the transfer at Bordeaux-St Jean should be like... for example, ease of finding the right platform, size of station, etc? (not sure I'll be up for sprinting up and down stairs) Anything confusing about finding/navigating the TGV station at CDG? And I don't remember any likely places for napping at CDG. Any suggestions? I'd welcome any advice. Thanks!
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
Sherry I would warn against a full nap,, it will totally set your clock off. I know its tempting, but you have to try and power through it, it will be tough though staying up till 11.30, I usually can only make 10 oclock my first night. There are quite a few restaurants etc at CDG so I would find a good one and park there, suppose one of you could nod off for 1/2 hour while other one stays awake ( watching your stuff, don't both sleep at same time) . At least you have many hours to scope out where exactly to get the train at CDG.
Sorry can't help at Bordeaux-St-Jean.
Posted by
washington
837 posts
It is unusual that the german rail site doesn't show platform arrival and departure information for this particular itinerary. It appears that the station has 14 platforms. They are all lined up with no corridors between sections of platforms. I would guess that there are no steps and that the platforms run into a platform that runs the width of the station. Go here for a map of the station. Click on the Bordeaux-St Jean station. http://www.nshispeed.nl/en/stations/station-maps-floor-plan#station_maps_france
Posted by
Portland, Maine
2916 posts
The Bordeaux station is big but not enormous. 13 minutes would be enough time if you know the track of the departing train. But on a trip the length of Paris to Bordeaux the train could lose some time and you don't have a lot of margin. Also, the train could be quite long, possibly necessitating a long walk to one of the stairways (we recently took the TGV from Bordeaux to Paris and I think the train was about 20 cars long) Since it appears that your Bordeaux-Lourdes train is the last one that night, you might want to consider staying in Bordeaux that night.
Posted by
OP
San Jose, CA
1994 posts
Thanks for all the guidance; it's really helpful! Wish I had thought about staying the night in Bordeaux when I booked the trip; a great idea and it would have been much easier. I've just made notes of some station hotels, in case I miss the connection. And it's good to know the station may not have stairs and long passageways. That makes the run easier.
Posted by
Used to be Steilacoom, now it’s Las Vegas
2297 posts
When we used the TGV last summer people were very helpful. One lady not only pointed us towards the platform, but helped us carry our luggage (and she was probably at least 15 yrs. older than me). When we got off the train, a couple of young guys helped with the luggage on the stairs as well. The luggage was just heavy enough that nobody was going to take off with it very easily, so we just relaxed and appreciated the kindness.