Hello - I am reviewing transportation from Arles to Avignon Centre on May 6 and discovered how awful the train schedule is compared to other days. I suspect it has something to do with the run-off election day but I am not sure. As it is right now, if we don't take a 8:36am TGV we're stuck with 1+hour train/bus combos and train connections around 2 hours. I don't think the bahn.de schedules change again until June but wanted someone to check me, if possible. Am I reading this schedule correct that day? Also, where can find a good bus schedule from Arles to Avignon Centre (or does it only go to TGV?)? I'm worried I will have to buy tickets for that early TGV now and did not want to lock us into any schedule that day (we'll be traveling with our luggage for a short stay in Avignon). Thanks so much in advance for your help!
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
The timetables for 13 May are the same as for 6 May. It looks to me like there simply is less frequent service on Sundays. Ideally, at what time do you want to be in Avignon?
Posted by
OP
Newton, MA, USA
289 posts
Okay, so that day just has poor schedules. Thanks for checking! It's our last full day but spending it in Avignon and staying 1 night there. Ideally, would prefer to leave around 10am, arriving by 10:30 or even a bit later would work (just don't want to spend 2 hours getting there) and then leaving our luggage and exploring the city. Given we have to be up on Monday, May 7 to catch a 6am bus to the TGV station (to get the train to get flights out of CDG), I wanted us to be able to take our time in the morning the day prior.
Posted by
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
4088 posts
Where do you intend to stash your luggage? Avignon Centre apparently still has a left-luggage service but not Arles, if I am reading the official SNCF site correctly (in French) http://www.voyages-sncf.com/guide/voyageurs/pdf/consigne_gare.pdf
If you go to www.tgv-europe.com, picking any country except the US as your base, you will see Arles-Avignon trains at 9:58 and 11:57 am taking about 18 minutes into the old Avignon central station. These are TER regional trains rather than the roundabout TGV service which despite its name takes much longer.
Posted by
OP
Newton, MA, USA
289 posts
We will stash our luggage at the hotel where we have reservations in Avignon (a few blocks away from the Avignon Centre station) for 1 night. They will be okay with us being early (I have stayed there before as well). I checked the TGV website for May 6 and I am not seeing those trains from Arles to Avignon Centre that morning. The only short/direct train I see on that particular date is at 8:36am. There are 1 hour trains Arles to Avignon TGV but then still need to get the bus to Avignon Centre. Did you enter May 6 or a different date?
Posted by
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
4088 posts
Sorry I chose a random Sunday in April. The May schedules are inconsistent, I now see, whether for temporary measures are permanent changes. Again, sorry.
Posted by
OP
Newton, MA, USA
289 posts
No problem - thanks for checking! I did notice also May 5 Arles to Avignon schedules are kind of awful too and not very consistent.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
If you want to arrive around 10:30, you can leave Arles at 09:02, connect in Nimes, and arrive at Avignon TGV at 10:30. The standard 2nd class fare is €26.10. You can catch the bus to Avignon Centre at 10:42 and arrive at 10:53. I don't know what the bus fare is. It seems to me that you'll be better off taking the direct TGV that departs at 08:36. It's a fast ride and the standard 2nd class fare is €10.50. Leaving half an hour later gets you a much longer ride and it costs more.
Posted by
OP
Newton, MA, USA
289 posts
Thanks Tim! Yeah, it does seem the best option if the morning given the time it takes to get to Avignon on later trains is so significantly higher. I think you mis-typed on the bus given it's a longer ride than that but either way, none of the other options appear more convenient. Thanks for checking!