Instead of taking the Elipsos train from Madrid to Paris (which is extremely pricey even with our rail passes), we would like to take the Lunea overnight train to Paris instead of taking the Elipsos. Is this possible? Out of what towns do the Lunea trains depart? We don't mind making a short trip to make the connection to the Lunea because we have the Eurail Pass and it could save us us a large amount of money. If this is possible, where can I go to get timetables/reservations?
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London, United Kingdom
4684 posts
Lunea is the brand name for overnight trains purely within France (note that they only have couchette and not full sleeping compartment accomodation - smaller, harder beds, minimal bedclothes so you're meant not to undress, and more people in the compartment). The last I read there is a Lunea train from Irun or Hendaye to Paris but as I understand it the SNCF and RENFE deliberately timed things a couple of years ago so that it wasn't convenient to connect from Madrid there, to force people to use the Elipsos. I think you would probably end up leaving Madrid early in the morning and spending all day in Irun/Hendaye, which I don't gather is a brilliant tourist destination.