France rail system - punching a ticket question

[velkata]

Dear all,

I would like to get more informaton regarding the punching system on the France train stations.
I have two tickets from gare montparnasse to bayonne and then another ticket from bayonne to SJPdP.
Would be a problem if I punch all my tickets on the gare montparnasse or I should punch my bayonne to SJPdP ticket at the Bayonne station (again)?

Thanks and Buen Camino!
Velin

 

[mspath]

Dear all,

I would like to get more informaton regarding the punching system on the France train stations.
I have two tickets from gare montparnasse to bayonne and then another ticket from bayonne to SJPdP.
Would be a problem if I punch all my tickets on the gare montparnasse or I should punch my bayonne to SJPdP ticket at the Bayonne station (again)?

Thanks and Buen Camino!
Velin

Velin,

You can punch all your tickets at the Gare Montparnasse since your travel is continuous and you are beginning your journey at Montparnesse. Keep all your tickets with you. If for any SNCF reason you miss the the connection to SJPdP at Bayonne show your Paris ticket with your continuing ticket to the conductor so he knows why you are on a later train.

By the way if the Paris TGV is more than 30 minutes late arriving in Bayonne and you miss a connection the Station Chief should find alternate transport for you such as a taxi paid by the SNCF. This happened to me 2010. The TGV train was late arriving in Bayonne so three other pilgrims and I missed the connecting TER train to Saint Jean Pied de Port. Luckily the Station Master was able to produce and pay for a taxi which took us on our way! Thus we arrived in SJPdP before the next TER would have left Bayonne.

Bon Voyage and Buen Camino!

Margaret