Transport from Bayonne to St Jean

[tpmchugh]

Hi Folks, new to this forum but need some urgent help. I am planning my walk for next year but my son is way ahead of me. He is currently stuck in Toulouse due to industrial action on the trains so wont get into Bayonne til 8pm but last train leaves weekdays for St Jean at 6. Is there a bus service he could use. I have already got taxi info for him but unlikely at this time of year to find other pilgrims to share the cost. Arriving in SJ tomorrow knocks him back a day and he is trying to beat the weather forecast to turn nasty over the weekend and early part of next week so he needs to be well down the other side before the snow hits. Any help would be appreciated though I think I may be chasing a lost cause for today and he will have to stay in Bayonne tonight

 

[tpmchugh]

Doesnt matter about Bayonne to SJ now. French trains a mess. Taking him from Toulouse to Bordeaux for connection to Bayonne but train not now making it to Bordeaux for connection so he will be stuck in Bordeaux for the night. He would have been better off staying in Toulouse and starting again tomorrow. He has been on the go from 5 this morning in London and is completely exhausted. Just texted him to come home and go with me next year

 

[FatmaG]

Sorry to hear that.
I tried to find out earlier this morning - I thought it might have been possible for him to take the first train on the next morning and to start immediately his walk. As the departure was only about 8am, arrival 1.3 hour later, I didn't propose this...

Now, I found out that delays are due to announced strikes of the employees:

http://www.sncf.com/resources/fr_FR/pre ... 120228.pdf

For normal delays, your son may ask compensation, I am not sure in this case. But in his place, I would try so. See underneath the paper to fill in, to send with the ticket to Sncf. If they accept it, he should get 75% back.
Normally, he might even ask for the envelope at every train station - then, he would just need to fill out some information on the envelope (for train compensation)

http://medias.sncf.com/resources/fr_FR/ ... le_pdf.pdf

I hope he can find someone to help him with French.
It is a bit complicated just via the net.

Wish him a very buen camino, it is worth to go on!

 

[tpmchugh]

Many thanks FatmaG. He made it to Bayonne on the 9pm express from Bordeaux and found a hotel just outside the rail station. Sleeping late tomorrow and getting the noon train to SJPP and maybe walking to Valcarlos. Will pass on your information. Really glad I convinced him to take his phone with him, a problem shared is a problem halved