handicap help @ train station for departure?

Hi Harold, I'm never late for anyting I have some sort of personal control over. I'm a planner. My concern is that I've heard they announce the platform and give you 20 minutes tops to get there before the train leaves. Thats after we negotiate the subway from out hotel to the sation in pontentially the morning Paris rush hour. I am consdering grabbing a later train to avoid rush hour. If it was just me, no problem whatsover but, my wife is significantly slowed by the onset of MS.

Here is a good description with photos of Gare de Lyon from ParisbyTrain.
http://parisbytrain.com/gare-de-lyon-photos/

I'm not aware of what help is available in that station. But the best tips in your situation are to look at the station maps in advance as suggested above, so you can have some idea of where you need to go, and to allow plenty of extra time, so you're not rushing in the first place.

I didn't mean to imply that you would not try to be early (sorry if that's how the message came across). In your situation, I'd take a taxi to the station, even though this will be more expensive and may take more time. That way, your wife will not have had to get tired with stairs, getting through Metro stations, etc. You'll be driven right to the station door, and can get right to the boarding area, where you can watch the monitor. Once your track is posted, you can go right to it.

Thanks guys, very helpful.

I just re-read your question. You will make the train if you are in the area of the tracks when the track number is posted. If time runs short, you can enter any car and walk to your car while the train is moving. Edit: I just read on the SNCF site in French that wheelchairs are available in all the stations. IMHO, I'd hire a porter upon arrival, who will get te chair (if your wife wants one), and will then accompany you with your bags to your train car.

Niegel, sorry I'm not sure I'm following what you're asking? Can you restate for me please. By the way, I've decided to look at booking a train leaving later in the morning to avoid the main early morning rush hour.

Bets makes a good point, as always. Basically what happens is you will all be there, looking up at the boards, waiting for the track number/letter to be displayed. Here's the thing: when the track number shows up, don't let yourself get too worried by the mass of people who will go tearing down the platform like a banshee is after them. You will make it. Yes, those people will get there before you, and therefore have more ease of getting settled than you and your wife will, but your seats are reserved, and you will have the time you need to make it to your coach. I forget if someone has recommended you check out the Parisbytrain website. Hopefully they have information on porters/chairs. If not, I can stop by Gare de Lyon on the way to or from work this week (it's on my route) and scope out the scene for you. I can imagine that these logistics are a bit daunting to consider, so anything we can do to ease those concerns is great! I admire you and your wife for tackling this trip head on and going to see what you want to see.

If you hold first class reservations, always a good idea on a trip that long, those carriages will be the longest trek from the waiting area since they are usually the cars at the head of the train. If you are traveling in 2nd class seats, you might be able to choose your seats from a diagram of the train carriages and choose seats at the rear of the train closest to the departure area. Either way, a wheel chair seems like a splendid idea, as is taking a later train.

Thanks Kim and all. It's really impressive how much people are willing help! She's still walking but at much slower pace than most of us and her maximum distance is around a mile in single stretch of walking so I want to conserve her energy and make this as smooth as possible for her. Stress is not good for her either. One good thing, is we are light packers. We've been to Europe before and use the small Rick Steve type wheeling packs. This time is different because my wife's energy is much less then it was in our last 08 trip. She was slowing then and we didn't know what the problem was but she still was able to walk much further and faster then.

The biggest difficulty at Gare de Lyon for people in your situation is that there is not only one main track area, there are two. One area is designated by track letters and the other is designated by track numbers. I've made that journey to Nice a few times and, certainly for the first train of the day which is the only one we use, there doesn't seem to be a consistent departure track. So it is waiting around in the vicinity of the Train Bleu restaurant under the palm trees waiting for it to come up and hoiking over to the other side of the station when the wrong news comes up (more often than not). It will be really good to have somebody on the ground this week scoping this out for you.... Can I suggest that getting in with the ladies in the information point and arranging a wheel chair if your wife wouldn't mind? Often the train staff will know where a train will come in long before it is advertised on the screens - and they will be keen to help in special circumstances. I know that we on the British railways are like that and I know that my French colleagues are the same.

While waiting for Nigel, I'll try to clarify as best I can (having only arrived in Gare de Lyon, but never departed from there). Most train stations have one set of tracks, so, no matter how many tracks there are, you go to that area to board. But, per the Paris By Train page linked above (it's also detailed in Rick's books), Gare de Lyon has two sets of tracks in two separate areas. So, in a situation like yours where you can't run from one area to the other, you could have trouble. What Nigel is suggesting is that, while the tracks are posted only a certain amount of time before departure, the station staff know the tracks long before they are posted (I know this from Penn Station in New York City, which uses a similar system). So, if you get a wheelchair in the station, the staff will take you to the correct track ahead of time. That's what happens in New York when you get a "redcap" to take your bags; even if the track is not yet posted, they will take you to the train and seat you on it, which is a great help for anyone with any mobility impairment. In New York a tip is expected for this (and worth every penny, particularly on a crowded train); I have no idea about Paris. Do I have it right, Nigel?

Yes, you tip them in Paris too because they are independently employed and rely on tips just like porters and curbside check in people in the US. Very much worth it.

Harold has read my mind correctly....

"Harold has read my mind correctly...." Thanks for the confirmation!

Once again, many thanks Nigel, Harold, Elle and Bets! I'll definitely see about getting some porter assistance and a chair if required.

Hi Craig I finally made it to the Gare to ask some questions. There is a specific information and "handicapped travelers" (as the notice outside reads) office in the corner of the station on the street level. I took a photo of its placement, so PM me and I will send it to your private email. The lady there said that you and your wife should present yourselves at this office 40 minutes before the train's departure. They will provide a wheelchair and a porter to take you and your belongings to the train. The service is free for French residents, but costs €5 for visitors. The nice thing about it is that she said that they also call ahead for you to your arrival town (Nice in your case) and that they will have the porter etc to collect you on your arrival there. As far as I understood, you pay the 5€ only on departure, but I suppose it's possible that you pay another 5€ on arrival. If you arrive at Gare de Lyon by cab and they drop you right in front, you enter the station and the Information/Help office is on your right, in the corner (next to it is a Relay press shop, but there are several of those in the station all over). If you are standing just inside the entrance to the station, facing into the station, with the grand staircase going up to Le Train Bleu off your left shoulder, the office is on your right. There seemed to be plenty of English-speaking staff there, I don't think you'll have any problem.