Trains... trains and more trains.

[ward4e]

I guess this is the curse of a well organised transport system! Options!

Ok so I was going to wing it, arrive off the Plane all jet lagged and awesome in Charles Du Gaulle clear customs in 2 hours or so and hop on the next train south! Alas I listened to a friend who now has given me mental hang ups from her tour of hell... So my question are;

1: Will there still be seats if I just wing it? or will I be stuck in Paris for a day or so?
2: Will I be able to grab accomodation in Bayonne or catch a connecting train on to SJPdP off the last train at 12:40am!?!

mmn... anyone else arriving in Paris on April the 6th?

 

[KiwiNomad06]

Chances are on an 'ordinary' date you could 'wing it'. But with the date you are arriving on being Good Friday, you are likely to find public transport full up around that time with French people traveling somewhere on their Easter break...
Margaret

 

[Diane Creber]

After searching train schedules and trying to link up trains from Paris to Bayonne then to St Jean, it became a nightmare so I looked at air flights. Found a Ryanair flight from Paris to Biarttz for $40 (that's Canadian dollars) but what I consider really cheap. am taking that.
Diane

 

[ward4e]

YAY! train to Bayonne is booked, Insurance is booked and patches are sewn on my back packs cool.. test pack average success.. Right MONDAY! Now for the train to St Jean Pied du Port.

Ha! Hahahahahah! oh bugger, according to the planner over on TER I arrive 20mins after the last train go's to St Jean! classic! :wink:

 

[Anniesantiago]

By the way, trains in Spain run on TIME... to the minute.
I learned that lesson a couple of years ago when I caught the (wrong) train to Vigo trying to get to Reb's Peaceful Kingdom. The train I jumped on left the station and about 2 minutes behind it was MY train!

You can read about it here:
http://caminosantiago2.blogspot.com/2011/11/wrong-train-to-vigo-via-rome-or-annies.html

 

[jirit]

By the way, trains in Spain run on TIME... to the minute.
I learned that lesson a couple of years ago when I caught the (wrong) train to Vigo trying to get to Reb's Peaceful Kingdom. The train I jumped on left the station and about 2 minutes behind it was MY train!

You can read about it here:
http://caminosantiago2.blogspot.com/2011/11/wrong-train-to-vigo-via-rome-or-annies.html

Trains running on time in Spain?

Last year my overnight train from Burgos to Paris arrived 50 minutes late and then arrived in Paris 90 minutes the following morning.

 

[ward4e]

So.... yeah, checked and no matter which site I check I still miss the last train by 20mins. Wow gone is the concept that I could hop off one train and on to the next!

Now to the options, buses, share a taxi? ok time to trawl the forum.. Feel free to chime in if anyone is arriving on the same train from Paris. Its the 12:29pm from Montparnasse Station arriving in Bayonne at 6:30pm. Gare Montparnasse... or just Montparnasse? No doubt the French will correct me...

Possible meet up and taxi ride? :|

 

[amercado]

Gare Montpartnasse is more precise refering to the train station, rather than the district. Buen camino!

 

[ward4e]

Gare Montpartnasse... cool thankyou.

Anyway I would like to thank Caroline over at Express Bourricot for helping out another retard...

On a lighter note if there are any pilgrims wandering aimlessly around the station on the 7th at 6:30pm... I will see if we can hook up a ride for you! I kinda booked for one :|

 

[ward4e]

WHOA... hang on a sec...

http://telechargement.ter-sncf.com/Imag ... -67795.pdf

IS THIS RIGHT? Is there a new train at 9:09pm?

 

[ward4e]

ok... weird the main site doesn't list it. The last train listed on http://www.ter-sncf.com is 6:10pm. :?:

Is it a ghost train? appears on paper but doesn't actually run. I'm kind of used to these here in Queensland.

 

[KiwiNomad06]

Ward, on the pdf download of the train timetable, on the top of the column with a train at 9.09pm there is a heading at the top, "Ven Dim Fêtes" - which means it runs only on Fridays, Sundays and holidays. When I put a Thursday in the TER search the 9.09pm train never showed, but when I put in the date of Friday April 6th, it did show up, leaving Bayonne at 21:09 and arriving in SJPP at 22:27
Margaret

 

[ward4e]

well kiwi one good thing I guess, my stupidity and the information it produces is everyone gain I guess ?

next time i'm flying to barittz and catching the train... or bringing a group and splitting the costs.

 

[KiwiNomad06]

No stupidity on your part ward- I just happen to understand a reasonable amount of French, and have spent quite some time on French trains and hence on working out the finer points of their timetables.
All the best for your Camino!
Margaret