Is 8 minutes enough time to transfer trains at Dol de Bretagne? I'm looking at train from Paris that arrives at 11:06 and transfering to a train that departs to Dinan at 11:15. Also are there any tips for quickly finding the connecting train at the platforms without going into a main area to check the big departure boards?
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
There's only two tracks. Go to the other one. Buy a cup of coffee. Drink it. Go to the bathroom. Write a letter. Call home, but make it quick, you're almost out of time.
Posted by
OP
Ft. Worth, TX, USA
45 posts
Ed, Thank you so much for your speedy reply! I was hoping it was a little tiny station!
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
You next train to Dinan is a "no book" regional. No seat reservations. Hopefully, you purchased your ticket at Dol de Bretagne or other French train station so that you don't spend your 18 minutes buying a ticket.
Posted by
OP
Ft. Worth, TX, USA
45 posts
Thanks for responses. I haven't yet purchased the Dol de Bretagne to Dinan leg of the trip. Can we purchase those at either a manned booth in a train station or a SCNF office when we're at the beginning of our trip in Paris? I feel like this is a silly question but I've learned to assume nothing!
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
Yes, you can buy your tickets at any SNCF station or SNCF boutique in France.
Posted by
OP
Ft. Worth, TX, USA
45 posts
Tim, and we can do this for travel that is not on the same day we're buying the ticket? In other words go in and buy our ticket for 5 days or so in advance? I do have all the train info printed off the website so if there's a communication problem all I have to do is point and smile. My extra caution in clarifying comes from a previous bad experience in Spain in 2007. We made a special field trip to a train station in Madrid to buy all of our point-to-point tickets for the entire trip. With the language barrier I'm not sure if we got in the wrong line or if it just wasn't allowed. We got quite a public scolding!
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
You can easily buy tickets in advance any staffed train station or kiosk if France for a run 5 days out. Just write down the day and time you want along with the departure and destination city and hand it to the agent. As for Spain, it was a bit weird in Barcelona for us as well. There were numerous windows for only the day of travel and another group of windows for future travel. I speak and understand some Spanish but they kept sending us to windows that weren't open. We finally got our future tickets. It's not like that in other EU countries. Also, English is often not even the agent's 2nd language. Writing down what you want and handing it to the agent is best. Or, you can often use an automated ticket machine if available. They will most often prompt you in English. They even do that in China as we found out.
Posted by
OP
Ft. Worth, TX, USA
45 posts
Thanks to everyone for your replies! All info appreciated and was VERY helpful!