Best train route from Paris to SJPP

[SusanVenner]

Does anyone know the best train route from Paris to SJPP?
And how long does it take.?

 

[mspath]

Does anyone know the best train route from Paris to SJPP?
And how long does it take.?

Take a TGV train from Paris/Gare Montparnasse to Bayonne. Change in Bayonne for local TER train. Paris to Bayonne roughly 4 hours. See more info/map in English on www.rome2rio.com

 

[Former member 99290]

Hi Susan

Was just about to write what @mspath wrote. Also, depending on your plans, I’ve travelled a few times directly from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport station to Bayonne, a few hours after arrival.

 

[SusanVenner]

Take a TGV train from Paris/Gare Montparnasse to Bayonne. Change in Bayonne for local TER train. Paris to Bayonne roughly 4 hours. See more info/map in English on www.rome2rio.com

Thanks

 

[SusanVenner]

Hi Susan

Was just about to write what @mspath wrote. Also, depending on your plans, I’ve travelled a few times directly from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport station to Bayonne, a few hours after arrival.

thanks

 

[Anhalter]

Currently there is only the timetable published for connections until ~mid March. I think I read somewhere, that the timetable for spring is going to be published 12th Jan, aka tomorrow. So best check in two days for trains if you plan on travelling somwhere between March and June (Or check for early march now, chances are high that future connections will be similar or the same)

 

[Jeff Crawley]

Take something to eat and drink on board the train from Paris. The buffet menu was . . . uninteresting.
There are numerous sandwich/salad bars on the concourse which can provide a much wider choice.

 

[Corned Beef]

And if you want to waste a few hours on the train you can follow it in real time using the SNCF geolocation page like this one now

Live train-tracking service discontinued

Our live geolocation tool is no longer available, but you can still get the passenger information you need. Find out how.

www.sncf.com

 

[Coverbid]

Does anyone know the best train route from Paris to SJPP?
And how long does it take.?

There was a bus back in 2018, for 10 euros. The bus departed from the train station. It took about an hour, it was a nice ride into SJPP. Not sure what is available these days. I liked the bus option. There were many Pilgrims on board and I felt some of the comradery being among them. It left about 8 or 9:00 in the am.

 

[naplesdon]

I think I read during the recent floods in Pays Basque that parts of the tracks along the Nive were washed out between Bayonne and SJPdP. This has happened before and SNCF always offers alternative transport on buses.

 

[Corned Beef]

Trains are running on the line (right now) to Cambo-les-Bains but there are no indication(s) of trains going further.

There is always Express Bouricott

Accueil - Express Bourricot

www.expressbourricot.com

 

[MichelleElynHogan]

One variation I have experienced was on my last trip. Montparnasse to Bayonne, then, as they were not running a train to SJPP, they filled in with a bus instead. Bayonne to SJPP was about 1 hour.

 

[Schamber]

Take a TGV train from Paris/Gare Montparnasse to Bayonne. Change in Bayonne for local TER train. Paris to Bayonne roughly 4 hours. See more info/map in English on www.rome2rio.com

This is the route I am taking end of May. I can get tickets two months prior.

 

[JabbaPapa]

Or take the Night Train from Paris to Tarbes, and get to SJPP in the morning, or even take it to Lourdes and start there.

 

[SabsP]

Can someone who recently travelled by TGV confirm that the " silence coach/ wagon " is still in fashion?
Where it is required to put your cellphone on quiet mode for example?
Such a joy in these loud times....

 

[natcire]

On April 30, 2018, the train was not running, for whatever reason, and they sent 2 buses for us. But there were like 10 who could not get on the buses so they sent 2 taxis for us. We got to SJPP before the buses. It was wonderful to hear the Basque driver provide Basque history in English as we drove along.

 

[trecile]

I signed up for alerts on RailEurope.com to be notified when tickets went on sale for the route that I wanted. I was then able to purchase the tickets at the lowest price.

 

[Sherpa47]

Does anyone know the best train route from Paris to SJPP?
And how long does it take.?

I suspect you will need to travel to Biarritz or Bayonne by inter city and then a local train from Bayonne to St. Jean. Good luck.

Does anyone know the best train route from Paris to SJPP?
And how long does it take.?

Does anyone know the best train route from Paris to SJPP?
And how long does it take.?

 

[gerardcarey]

Train bookings are usually available for purchase 3 months out, not before.
This is also when the best prices are available. (Obviously?)
I put a note in my diary to alert me when my 90 day booking limit arrives. (I've never paid more than E40 for the Paris-Bayonne section)
I love taking the 8am-ish TGV from Gare Montparnasse to Bayonne after staying at least one night in Paris after a long haul flight.
One short stop in Bordeaux.
Gets into Bayonne just before midday and in plenty of time to catch, from the same station, the valley rattler that runs up to St Jean PDP.
I've done it 3 times and this train trip from Paris is my most favouritist journey in the whole world.
So there.

Regards
Gerard

 

[Rick M]

Train bookings are usually available for purchase 3 months out, not before.
This is also when the best prices are available. (Obviously?)
I put a note in my diary to alert me when my 90 day booking limit arrives. (I've never paid more than E40 for the Paris-Bayonne section)
I love taking the 8am-ish TGV from Gare Montparnasse to Bayonne after staying at least one night in Paris after a long haul flight.
One short stop in Bordeaux.
Gets into Bayonne just before midday and in plenty of time to catch, from the same station, the valley rattler that runs up to St Jean PDP.
I've done it 3 times and this train trip from Paris is my most favouritist journey in the whole world.
So there.

Regards
Gerard

Heartily agreed on all counts........except one. The 3 Month forward limit for ticket sales seems to be .......um....... aspirational on the part of SNCF. At the moment (I tried) you can't book past the second week of March. Not to worry travelers, SNCF always gets around to selling tickets on their trains at some point or other. Sometimes its less than 60 days, so keep trying.

On a personal note, I have tried but never successfully actually caught the pilgrim train to SJPP. Once I was late due to a problem with the tracks coming from Bordeaux, and missed it. Once they were on strike, and once the tracks were out going to SJPP. Not to worry, the bus leaves from the parking lot of the Bayonne station, no chance of missing it.

 

[mspath]

As Rick M notes in the above post connections can be difficult. However persevere.
October 6, 2010, the TGV was late arriving in Bayonne so three other pilgrims and I missed the connecting TER train to SJPdP. I led them all to the Station Master's office and explained.

The Station Master was able to produce and pay for a taxi which took us immediately on our way! Thus we arrived in SJPdP before the next TER would have left Bayonne. ...Never understimate a powerchat.

 

[Schamber]

Heartily agreed on all counts........except one. The 3 Month forward limit for ticket sales seems to be .......um....... aspirational on the part of SNCF. At the moment (I tried) you can't book past the second week of March. Not to worry travelers, SNCF always gets around to selling tickets on their trains at some point or other. Sometimes its less than 60 days, so keep trying.

On a personal note, I have tried but never successfully actually caught the pilgrim train to SJPP. Once I was late due to a problem with the tracks coming from Bordeaux, and missed it. Once they were on strike, and once the tracks were out going to SJPP. Not to worry, the bus leaves from the parking lot of the Bayonne station, no chance of missing it.

I heard the bus goes in a windy road fast and you can get motion sickness if you’re inclined that way. I hope the train is running when I go!

 

[DirtAmy]

Take something to eat and drink on board the train from Paris. The buffet menu was . . . uninteresting.
There are numerous sandwich/salad bars on the concourse which can provide a much wider choice.

Just to note that eating and drinking on French public transport is currently banned because it requires dropping your mask. That will change! Just check before you travel. But, if you're travelling soon, the caveats are medical need and a super quick drop of the mask for a glug or massive bite.

 

[Bradypus]

The Station Master was able to produce and pay for a taxi which took us immediately on our way! Thus we arrived in SJPdP before the next TER would have left Bayonne. ...Never understimate a powerchat.

In summer 2016 my train from Bayonne to SJPDP was so overcrowded that 15 passengers - including myself - were taken off the train and taken by taxis paid by SNCF. A luxurious start to a Camino!

 

[Rick M]

I heard the bus goes in a windy road fast and you can get motion sickness if you’re inclined that way. I hope the train is running when I go!

Windy road leading from a regional seaside town to a small village in the French Pyrannees? Impossible!

Depends when you go. The tracks were washed out a while back in a significant storm that hit the area. Right now, the pilgrim train only goes about a third of the way before they put you on a bus. I expect it may be that way for some time to come. After you have been through the area, the challenges of keeping the tracks safely open will be more obvious. It's pretty country, take a gravol and enjoy the views. Don't worry about what to do or how it will work, the railway workers herd pilgrims safely to their destination every day.

 

[Schamber]

Just to note that eating and drinking on French public transport is currently banned because it requires dropping your mask. That will change! Just check before you travel. But, if you're travelling soon, the caveats are medical need and a super quick drop of the mask for a glug or massive bite.

Oh wow! That’s a bummer. Hope it changes by end if May! I was planning on eating lunch on the way.

 

[CWBuff]

So..it may pay to just take a train to Bayonne and then do Express Bouricott?

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Slightly "off track", but I took a taxi from Pamplona to SJPdP and a tiny car with a young male driver picked my family up at the train station. He drove so fast and crazy on the winding road through the mountains I nearly feared for my life. I couldn't wait for it to end. Give me a bus, train, or a large van any day!

 

[Kathor1]

Trains are running on the line (right now) to Cambo-les-Bains but there are no indication(s) of trains going further.

SNCF have now fixed the bug in their interactive timetable, and information for the line Bayonne to SJPP is available for the coming three months. It's a TER train until Cambo-les-Bain and then a change to a waiting TER bus until SJPP. It's been like this for quite a while.

http://www.sncf.com or https://m.ter.sncf.com/nouvelle-aquitaine

 

[SeñorJacques]

SNCF have now fixed the bug in their interactive timetable, and information for the line Bayonne to SJPP is available for the coming three months. It's a TER train until Cambo-les-Bain and then a change to a waiting TER bus until SJPP. It's been like this for quite a while.

I just received an email alert from Rail Europe informing me that booking is now open for my train ticket from Paris to SJPP on Friday, May 6 (thanks to @trecile for the Rail Europe alert tip!) The itinerary on both RailEurope and the SNCF sites does indeed show a bus connection at Cambo-les-Bains:



Does this mean the train from Bayonne to SJPP has been permanently replaced by a bus for part of its route? Or will booking the Bayonne-SJPP train perhaps become available closer to my travel date? And if the train-bus option is the only one available, is ten minutes enough for the transfer from the train?

 

[Kathor1]

Does this mean the train from Bayonne to SJPP has been permanently replaced by a bus for part of its route?

No. It means that, for technical reasons (for example engineering works, building works, damage to the tracks that needs repair) trains cannot run on a route or part of a route. The trains are replaced by buses operated by the railway company that operates the trains until the works are finished. It is standard procedure.

Ten minutes is the time they've calculated for passengers to get themselves from the train on to the bus. The bus is waiting near the station.

 

[SeñorJacques]

No. It means that, for technical reasons (for example engineering works, building works, damage to the tracks that needs repair) trains cannot run on a route or part of a route. The trains are replaced by buses operated by the railway company that operates the trains until the works are finished. It is standard procedure.

Yes, I get that. I suppose I was wondering whether this was a permanent change moving forward, or whether it’s just a temporary one for the weeks or months that the conditions you describe (repair work, etc.) are in effect and the route will return to an all-train one once said repairs etc. are completed. (It seems from your answer that it may be the latter.) Either way, as long as I get to SJPP I’ll be happy.

 

[Kathor1]

I was wondering whether this was a permanent change moving forward, or whether it’s just a temporary one for the weeks or months

The current information on the website of SNCF says that it is temporary until 27 February 2022 because of damage caused by adverse weather (I think inundation and storm in December or earlier) and that there will be already programmed work from 28 February until 11 March 2022.

 

[LesR]

Take a TGV train from Paris/Gare Montparnasse to Bayonne. Change in Bayonne for local TER train. Paris to Bayonne roughly 4 hours. See more info/map in English on www.rome2rio.com

and you can book and print your tickets online before you leave home....

 

[JabbaPapa]

Yes, I get that. I suppose I was wondering whether this was a permanent change moving forward, or whether it’s just a temporary one for the weeks or months that the conditions you describe (repair work, etc.) are in effect and the route will return to an all-train one once said repairs etc. are completed. (It seems from your answer that it may be the latter.) Either way, as long as I get to SJPP I’ll be happy.

It's as kathar1na says, though that particular train line does seem to have such incidents with greater frequency than other lines.

BTW the Bayonne-SJPP timetable can be downloaded here : https://www.ter.sncf.com/medias/PDF/nouvelle_aquitaine/Affiche 54 Bayonne St Jean Pied de Port_MAJ_30_11_tcm78-217224_tcm78-233205.pdf

And the temporary one while the incident lasts, here : https://www.ter.sncf.com/medias/PDF...27 février 2022_tcm78-303560_tcm78-303559.pdf

 

[Former member 64845]

Thank you all for information.

 

[SeñorJacques]

and you can book and print your tickets online before you leave home....

You can also book and keep your tickets on the SNCF Connect app, available for both iPhone and Android. (I'm using the iPhone version and it's excellent.)

‎SNCF Connect: Trains & routes

‎SNCF CONNECT, THE ALL-IN-ONE APPLICATION FOR ALL YOUR JOURNEYS Set off with SNCF Connect, the benchmark application for trains and sustainable mobility, which accompanies over 15 million users on their journeys throughout France and Europe. Traveling with you from A to Z SNCF Connect is your…

apps.apple.com

SNCF Connect: Trains & routes - Apps on Google Play

SNCF Connect, the travel companion for train, metro, RER, bus, carpooling

play.google.com

 

[DirtAmy]

Oh wow! That’s a bummer. Hope it changes by end if May! I was planning on eating lunch on the way.

Looks like the eating and drinking restriction on French public transport will lift on the 16th February (Wednesday). I believe masks are still required if not eating/drinking but they can now be removed while in your seat enjoying your baguette, stinky French cheese and half bottle of wine.

 

[Nick Barlow]

I've booked my train to SJPP on April 5th and it has train from Bayonne to Cambo-les-Bains, then bus to SJPP. However, as it's a rail replacement bus (I'm British, we're used to them!) then don't worry too much about the transfer as usually the bus(es) are waiting for trains to come in. It's a special bus service to replace the train rather than having to catch a regular bus.

Looking at the SNCF site, this seems to be the timetable on the line from the end of February up to 13th March, and this from the 14th March until further notice. There might be a bus replacement for the whole route up to the middle of March, then bus between CLB and SJPP after that.

 

[Schamber]

I've booked my train to SJPP on April 5th and it has train from Bayonne to Cambo-les-Bains, then bus to SJPP. However, as it's a rail replacement bus (I'm British, we're used to them!) then don't worry too much about the transfer as usually the bus(es) are waiting for trains to come in. It's a special bus service to replace the train rather than having to catch a regular bus.

Looking at the SNCF site, this seems to be the timetable on the line from the end of February up to 13th March, and this from the 14th March until further notice. There might be a bus replacement for the whole route up to the middle of March, then bus between CLB and SJPP after that.

Thanks! I did notice the added bus to my route. Waiting for end of month to book for end of May.

 

[CWBuff]

OK so thus it is safe to presume that "Autocar" is "the bus"
not to worry about 10 mins "short interchange" since the bus will wait for the train to arrive anyways
Am i getting it all correct?
(BTW - also got my email alert from Rail Europe for May 20 and it looks exactly like @SeñorJacques so I guess thats what it is at least for now)

 

[mspath]

OK so thus it is safe to presume that "Autocar" is "the bus"
not to worry about 10 mins "short interchange" since the bus will wait for the train to arrive anyways
Am i getting it all correct?
(BTW - also got my email alert from Rail Europe for May 20 and it looks exactly like @SeñorJacques so I guess thats what it is at least for now)

CWBuff,
You are indeed "getting it all correct". Autocar is the bus and the bus waits for the train to arrive.
Whenever/however you do go
Buen camino.

 

[CWBuff]

Thank you @mspath .... ticking off various items pertaining to the trip truly on a daily basis (got my Paris 1-night hostel yesterday)... so this puts my mind at ease as well (and as some folks have said - perhaps by the endo of May the situation changes and we'll have the Bayonne --> SJPdP train fully operational )

And absolutely the same to you -

Whenever/however you do go
Buen camino.

 

[Kathor1]

not to worry about 10 mins "short interchange" since the bus will wait for the train to arrive anyways

Correct. The train and bus combo is operated by/on behalf the French Railways. As @Nick Barlow says: It's a rail replacement bus (I'm British, we're used to them!) then don't worry too much about the transfer as usually the bus(es) are waiting for trains to come in. It's a special bus service to replace the train rather than having to catch a regular bus.

 

[CWBuff]

OK so looking at the above - seats 73, 74 & 111 are facing backwards and the rest - forward, qui?

 

[JabbaPapa]

View attachment 119608

OK so looking at the above - seats 73, 74 & 111 are facing backwards and the rest - forward, qui?

71, 73, and 74. 111 looks like a misprint.

 

[DoughnutANZ]

71?

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

111 looks like a misprint

It's not.

 

[Kathor1]

You need to look at the layout of the seats in the carriage. @JabbaPapa doesn't mean that the number 111 is a misprint. Rather that the orientation of the seat is a misprint. I don't know whether that is the case but I tend to agree. Odd.

 

[CWBuff]

well...maybe 111 is a misprint and maybe its not.
as long as we "are indeed moving to the right" (if you will) i know which seats to chose and which not (I don't do well traveling backwards)
looks like the prices went up again and i still have not gotten my tix.....

 

[DirtAmy]

@CWBuff That looks like a double decker TGV (first class) and we can assume you're doing Paris to Bayonne so The Man in Seat 61 tells us it's the Oceane interior which means the seats always face forwards (except table / ends).

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