PARIS-LOURDES
We are a group of 5 arriving in Paris this Friday morning, October 12th, at 9:25 from Munich. What is the best train to take to Lourdes to take advantage of our Eurailpass? We can depart at any time after our arrival, until the evening. Thanks! Chris
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
Are you taking the CNL night train that arrives at Gare de l'Est at 09:24? Trains from Paris to Lourdes depart from Gare Montparnasse. If your train arrives on time, you might be able to catch the 10:25 TGV to Dax and connect there to a regional train which arrives in Lourdes at 16:36; but don't count on it. While it's only a 15-minute ride on Metro line 4 from Gare de l'Est to Montparnasse-Bienvenue, you will have to walk from the Metro station to Gare Montparnasse and you will have to stand in line to buy seat reservations. If the lines are long, you will miss the 10:25 train. There is a direct TGV that leaves Gare Montparnasse at 11:26 and arrives in Lourdes at 17:15. Your next option is a direct TGV that departs at 14:26 and arrives at 20:24. The last direct TGV departs at 17:25 and arrives at 23:23.
Posted by
OP
Clifton, VA, USA
21 posts
Right, taking CNL night train that arrives at Gare de l'Est at 09:24. Thanks for the tip on transiting to the other terminal. Looked up the trains, and there are 2 directs and 3 with connections, though you are right, we won't make the first one, so the direct at TGV Atlantic 8539
Depart 11:26AM Paris Arrive Montparnasse 5:15PM in Lourdes seems good. However, on the reservation site it says the following, so we are wondering if the Eurailpass doesn't work on this line? "This train requires the pass holder to purchase a seat reservation; however the reservations are unavailable or sold out at this time, or your rail pass is not valid for the reservations on this route. You can still travel on this train with a regular ticket. To book a regular ticket now, please click here."
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
A railpass definitely is valid on this route. It sounds like you are quoting from the Rail Europe site. Here is one of the nasty things about railpasses. SNCF (French National Rail) limits the number of seats it allocates to passholders. Therefore it is entirely possible, especially with a group of five, that those seats are gone for all of the TGVs from which you could choose and you will be forced to buy full fare tickets. However, just because Rail Europe can't sell you seat reservations at this late date doesn't necessarily mean none are available. RE may simply have run out of their allotment. Buying them in Paris still might work. Or you could try buying them in Munich.