Bayonne/St. Jean travel question

StFina · Jun 14, 2022

I booked my train ticket from Paris to Bayonne for August of 2022 with no problem. However, the segment from Bayonne to St. Jean isn't open. Is there an alternate way to get to St. Jean, or will this train route open within 30 days of departure?

Also, I can't book my train from Pamplona to Sarria on Renfe. Does that also open only 30 days prior to departure? Much thanx - Steve

mspath · Jun 14, 2022

StFina,
There is no reserved seating on the TER local train from Bayonne to Saint Jean Pied de Port. Therefore you can buy that ticket in Bayonne.
Furthermore during the summer work is being done on the TER line and your train may be replaced by a bus. If so the bus ticket will be available at the train station.

Bon voyage and Buen camino!

CWBuff · Jun 14, 2022

You might even be as lucky as I was where a bus was already waiting outside train station in Bayonne so all of us pre-Pilgrims if you will were directed towards it and driven straight to SJPDP
I already had a complete Paris SJPDP Ticket so I am not sure what the folks in situation similar to your had to do
Good luck and Buen Camino

domigee · Jun 14, 2022

StFina said:
I booked my train ticket from Paris to Bayonne for August of 2022 with no problem. However, the segment from Bayonne to St. Jean isn't open. Is there an alternate way to get to St. Jean, or will this train route open within 30 days of departure?

Also, I can't book my train from Pamplona to Sarria on Renfe. Does that also open only 30 days prior to departure? Much thanx - Steve

When you arrive in Bayonne, buy your ticket to St Jean from the station. There is a manned ticket office and also ticket machines. No problems
As @mspath mentioned, it may be a bus instead of the train if they are still doing works on the line (there have been a few landslides). The bus leaves just outside the station and it is the same ticket.

Pamplona to Sarria, I don’t know but the tourist office in Pamplona will advise you

Tincatinker · Jun 14, 2022

Pamplona to Sarria by train? Simples! Train to Madrid, train to Ourense, train to Sarria. Other routes are available but will require research and luck.
Do not try to plan this journey in advance or prebook tickets. That way lieth madness. Merely cast yourself on the mercies of RENFE and the kindness of your gods. All will be well

HarleyQ · Jun 15, 2022

StFina said:
I booked my train ticket from Paris to Bayonne for August of 2022 with no problem. However, the segment from Bayonne to St. Jean isn't open. Is there an alternate way to get to St. Jean, or will this train route open within 30 days of departure?

Also, I can't book my train from Pamplona to Sarria on Renfe. Does that also open only 30 days prior to departure? Much thanx - Steve

I was able to book tickets from Bayonne to St Jean using Trainline last month. You can’t reserve which seat you want. It saves you a spot on the train. All ticket info is available on their app. We show this at train station with ID or are able to print ticket at station.

Bradypus · Jun 15, 2022

HarleyQ said:
It saves you a spot on the train

Not exactly. Since there are no seat reservations it does not guarantee you a seat. On my last journey to SJPDP the train was so overcrowded that 15 people including myself were taken off the train by station staff before departure and we were taken to SJPDP by taxi at SNCF's expense.

domigee · Jun 15, 2022

HarleyQ said:
It saves you a spot on the train.

No it doesn’t, there may not be even any train But they will you get you there, somehow

Scott Sweeney · Jun 15, 2022

StFina said:
I booked my train ticket from Paris to Bayonne for August of 2022 with no problem. However, the segment from Bayonne to St. Jean isn't open. Is there an alternate way to get to St. Jean, or will this train route open within 30 days of departure?

Also, I can't book my train from Pamplona to Sarria on Renfe. Does that also open only 30 days prior to departure? Much thanx - Steve

Don't forget to pick up some of Bayonnes famous chocolate to snack on.

Linda V · Jun 15, 2022

Tincatinker said:
Pamplona to Sarria by train? Simples! Train to Madrid, train to Ourense, train to Sarria. Other routes are available but will require research and luck.
Do not try to plan this journey in advance or prebook tickets. That way lieth madness. Merely cast yourself on the mercies of RENFE and the kindness of your gods. All will be well

Or have a look at the Rome2Rio app

kristainkeri · Jun 15, 2022

I managed to buy tickets from Paris to Bayonne & from Bayonne to SJPP but there is only 15mins
time to change the train, so I wonder if it is easy to find the right train or find out if I should jump into a bus instead?

mspath · Jun 15, 2022

kristainkeri said:
I managed to buy tickets from Paris to Bayonne & from Bayonne to SJPP but there is only 15mins
time to change the train, so I wonder if it is easy to find the right train or find out if I should jump into a bus instead?

kristainkeri,
If there is a train take it. The station is small with many lit screens showing the track for trains. Usually the TER waits for the passengers from the TGV train from Paris to board before leaving.

Ask any employee for help by showing your ticket. There will not be a bus if the train is running.

Good luck and Bon voyage!

kristainkeri · Jun 15, 2022

mspath said:
kristainkeri,
If there is a train take it. The station is small with many lit screens showing the track for trains. Ask any employee for help by showing your ticket. There will not be a bus if the train is running.

Good luck and Bon voyage!

Thank you!

Kobe · Jun 15, 2022

mspath said:
kristainkeri,
If there is a train take it. The station is small with many lit screens showing the track for trains. Usually the TER waits for the passengers from the TGV train from Paris to board before leaving.

Ask any employee for help by showing your ticket. There will not be a bus if the train is running.

Good luck and Bon voyage!

I am wondering how often the train/bus to STJPP is offered every day? I will be arriving Bayonne via TGV at 11:03 am and would like to continue on to STJPP to commence the grand adventure and arrive in Orisson that evening. Thanks!

kristainkeri · Jun 15, 2022

Kobe said:
I am wondering how often the train/bus to STJPP is offered every day? I will be arriving Bayonne via TGV at 11:03 am and would like to continue on to STJPP to commence the grand adventure and arrive in Orisson that evening. Thanks!

Bayonne to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port - 3 travel options by train, taxi, car

SNCF operates train 5 times a day from Bayonne to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. Other travel options are taxi or car. Search Rome2rio to see all schedules.

www.rome2rio.com

I found this timetable and booked my ticket from it too

mspath · Jun 15, 2022

Kobe,
You can find French train times at SNCF.com
At the moment there are 5 TER trains to Saint Jean Pied de Port each day and the journey takes 1 hour 5 minutes.

Please do remember that there are no reserved seats on the TER.

Good luck and Bon voyage!

Ianinam · Jun 15, 2022

As @mspath already mentioned: Bayonne is a very small trainstation.
From Bayonne the train goes to Cambo les Bains, an even smaller trainstation.
The train cannot continue from there, all the passengers have to get out there and take the bus that is waiting there for the train-passengers. The traintracks between Cambo les Bains and Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port were destroyed last winter due to falling rocks.

kristainkeri · Jun 15, 2022

Ianinam said:
As @mspath already mentioned: Bayonne is a very small trainstation.
From Bayonne the train goes to Cambo les Bains, an even smaller trainstation.
The train cannot continue from there, all the passengers have to get out there and take the bus that is waiting there for the train-passengers. The traintracks between Cambo les Bains and Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port were destroyed last winter due to falling rocks.

How good to know! Thank you!

Ronald Boivin · Jun 16, 2022

StFina said:
I booked my train ticket from Paris to Bayonne for August of 2022 with no problem. However, the segment from Bayonne to St. Jean isn't open. Is there an alternate way to get to St. Jean, or will this train route open within 30 days of departure?

Also, I can't book my train from Pamplona to Sarria on Renfe. Does that also open only 30 days prior to departure? Much thanx - Steve

We had booked a private taxi/van/car from Bayone for about 35$ CDN per person. Google it.

Linda V · Jun 16, 2022

kristainkeri said:
I managed to buy tickets from Paris to Bayonne & from Bayonne to SJPP but there is only 15mins
time to change the train, so I wonder if it is easy to find the right train or find out if I should jump into a bus instead?

15 minutes is sufficient time. It is a very small trainstation and there are people from the station to show you the way. Don’t worry! Buen Camino!

Ianinam · Jun 16, 2022

Ronald Boivin said:
We had booked a private taxi/van/car from Bayone for about 35$ CDN per person. Google it.

35 CDN equals € 26,00. This is the price for a shared taxi with at least three other passengers, so it isn't a private taxi.
The trainticket is € 10,50.

Kobe · Jun 16, 2022

Ianinam said:
As @mspath already mentioned: Bayonne is a very small trainstation.
From Bayonne the train goes to Cambo les Bains, an even smaller trainstation.
The train cannot continue from there, all the passengers have to get out there and take the bus that is waiting there for the train-passengers. The traintracks between Cambo les Bains and Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port were destroyed last winter due to falling rocks.

Thanks. That explains many of the facts that did not seem to line up!

Kobe · Jun 16, 2022

mspath said:
Kobe,
You can find French train times at SNCF.com
At the moment there are 5 TER trains to Saint Jean Pied de Port each day and the journey takes 1 hour 5 minutes.

Please do remember that there are no reserved seats on the TER.

Good luck and Bon voyage!

Thanks. I was looking for an option that provided transport to STJPP once the Paris TGV arrived at Bayonne at 11:03 am but departed prior to the train scheduled for later in the afternoon. It sounds like the good folks at the Bayonne station will be able to provide a solution!

mspath · Jun 17, 2022

Kobe said:
Thanks. I was looking for an option that provided transport to STJPP once the Paris TGV arrived at Bayonne at 11:03 am but departed prior to the train scheduled for later in the afternoon. It sounds like the good folks at the Bayonne station will be able to provide a solution!

Kobe,
There are usually a taxi or two outside the station in Bayonne to speed you on your way.

Kobe · Jun 17, 2022

mspath said:
Kobe,
There are usually a taxi or two outside the station in Bayonne to speed you on your way.

Good to know that there is always Plan B!

BartM · Jun 18, 2022

I was on the train on Friday, from Bidarray to Bayonne, so it is currently running.

Ianinam said:
As @mspath already mentioned: Bayonne is a very small trainstation.
From Bayonne the train goes to Cambo les Bains, an even smaller trainstation.
The train cannot continue from there, all the passengers have to get out there and take the bus that is waiting there for the train-passengers. The traintracks between Cambo les Bains and Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port were destroyed last winter due to falling rocks.

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