Improved train service from Paris

[JabbaPapa]

A new section of high-speed railway is being inaugurated tomorrow in western France, to Bordeaux, which will lower travel times on the day trains to the Basque Country by more than an hour. Paris to Bordeaux will be roughly 2 hours instead of the current 3. This will also lower travel times to Pau (near Oloron - Somport) and to Lourdes by the same amount. Travel time from Paris to Bayonne will be quicker by about 20%, travel time 3h54

The old night train sadly is being cancelled, and prices on the day train will go up by roughly 10% to Bayonne for example, so that it will be pricier, including no more option to sleep on the train instead of in a hotel, but the lowered travel times will make getting to SJPP or Oloron or Lourdes or wherever from Paris easier to organise as a day journey, which will likely benefit most pilgrims flying in to Paris and planning to start at SJPP.

 

[JabbaPapa]

including no more option to sleep on the train instead of in a hotel

Actually, there is still an option of a night train from Paris-Austerlitz to Toulouse, then change there for an early morning train to the Basque Country -- it's the night train all the way there that's running for the last time tonight

 

[t2andreo]

Does anyone yet know if this improved timing will also apply to the Gare Montparnasse - Bayonne, direct TGV trains? There are, at present two main routes, one is direct, Montparnasse to Bayonne. The other requires a correspondence or change at Bordeaux.

Thanks for the OP. It is very useful to know.

 

[JabbaPapa]

Does anyone yet know if this improved timing will also apply to the Gare Montparnasse - Bayonne, direct TGV trains?

Yes -- this is the very route being directly impacted by these speed improvements.

 

[Jack L]

I just booked the train from Montparnasse to Bayonne to SJPP. The TGV leaves Montparnasse at 07:52 arrives 11:47. The local train to SJPP leaves Bayonne at 12:01 arrives at 12:59.

 

[susanawee]

A new section of high-speed railway is being inaugurated tomorrow in western France, to Bordeaux, which will lower travel times on the day trains to the Basque Country by more than an hour. Paris to Bordeaux will be roughly 2 hours instead of the current 3. This will also lower travel times to Pau (near Oloron - Somport) and to Lourdes by the same amount. Travel time from Paris to Bayonne will be quicker by about 20%, travel time 3h54

The old night train sadly is being cancelled, and prices on the day train will go up by roughly 10% to Bayonne for example, so that it will be pricier, including no more option to sleep on the train instead of in a hotel, but the lowered travel times will make getting to SJPP or Oloron or Lourdes or wherever from Paris easier to organise as a day journey, which will likely benefit most pilgrims flying in to Paris and planning to start at SJPP.

Thankyou for sharing this info JabbaPapa.....I have shared it across some of the Australian Facebook goups. Camino Hugs...Susanawee