TGV full on 12 Sep 2023

[Kitsambler]

My usual routine is to fly into Paris, take the train(s) to SJPP, stay overnight enroute if necessary, overnight in SJPP, then start walking. That's the way I set up the lodging reservations.
And I never, in the many years of walking (starting 2010 for heaven's sake) reserved a train ticket. Always there were plenty of seats.
However, when I went to check the plane arrival schedule vs train departure on 12 Sep, to my immense dismay (dare I say Panic?) the reports from all sites were "afternoon train is fully booked".
So I cancelled the hotel in Bayonne, booked in at a CDG hotel instead, and will take the morning train on 13 Sep. It will just be a much later arrival into SJPP.

You might check your own travel arrangements ...

 

[Former member 104756]

There are Rugby World Cup matches in Bordeaux on the 16th and 17th September. That would be adding to the numbers travelling from Paris to Bordeaux on the 12th and the days before and after. There are many more people travelling to certain towns in France as a result of the World Cup. For example, I read this morning there are 15,000 more Australians in France at present than is usual at this time of year.

Pilgrims wanting to travel to Le Puy en Velay by train could also be affected by matches in Lyon and Saint Étienne.

 

[Hans-Georg Goebel]

My usual routine is to fly into Paris, take the train(s) to SJPP, stay overnight enroute if necessary, overnight in SJPP, then start walking. That's the way I set up the lodging reservations.
And I never, in the many years of walking (starting 2010 for heaven's sake) reserved a train ticket. Always there were plenty of seats.
However, when I went to check the plane arrival schedule vs train departure on 12 Sep, to my immense dismay (dare I say Panic?) the reports from all sites were "afternoon train is fully booked".
So I cancelled the hotel in Bayonne, booked in at a CDG hotel instead, and will take the morning train on 13 Sep. It will just be a much later arrival into SJPP.

You might check your own travel arrangements ...

I am surpriced. Going to www.thetrainline.com I find seats for two trains on Sept 12th afternoon

 

[Former member 104756]

In that case, I suspect @Kitsambler was looking to take the train directly from Paris CDG - which would likely be even busier than departures from Montparnasse in the current RWC conditions. I've just taken a quick look at Trainline for Paris CDG to Bayonne on 12 September, and indeed the afternoon trains are showing as 'complet'.

 

[TravellingMan22]

There are Rugby World Cup matches in Bordeaux on the 16th and 17th September. That would be adding to the numbers travelling from Paris to Bordeaux on the 12th and the days before and after. There are many more people travelling to certain towns in France as a result of the World Cup. For example, I read this morning there are 15,000 more Australians in France at present than is usual at this time of year.

Pilgrims wanting to travel to Le Puy en Velay by train could also be affected by matches in Lyon and Saint Étienne.

View attachment 156047View attachment 156047

100% right. I don’t follow Rugby Union but the Rugny Union World Cup is probably the third biggest sports event on in the world behind the Football World Cup and the Olympics and attracts hundreds of thousands of international fans . Each of the competing teams from the British Isles will probably have 30-50k at each game. As well as travel into and out of cities where games are being played, folks willl base themselves all over France so sorts of routes will experimce very high demand.

 

[Former member 104756]

I don’t follow Rugby Union

Me neither, nor my husband. Given that I'm Australian and he's French, people are often surprised at our lack of interest in Rugby, other than how it might affect our travel plans. That said, it's been great fun to watch the enthusiasm of the local people in the small town in SW France where we are currently living.

With apologies for the digression, over the past few months our town has installed tributes to various teams in the gardens and public spaces around the town. It's charming. Here are the French team, the All Blacks, The Wallabies (Australia) and Japan.

 

[TravellingMan22]

A

Me neither, nor my husband. Given that I'm Australian and he's French, people are often surprised at our lack of interest in Rugby, other than how it might affect our travel plans. That said, it's been great fun to watch the enthusiasm of the local people in the small town in SW France where we are currently living.

With apologies for the digression, over the past few months our town has installed tributes to various teams in the gardens and public spaces around the town. It's charming. Here are the French team, the All Blacks, The Wallabies (Australia) and Japan.

Ah nice photos…yes France is hugely into Rugby Union as is UK but being the host nation of a glibal event of this magnitude is always a special event. Towns often ‘adopt’ teams that stay in their villages, or follow a country that they never would consider. Not much interest in Spain, but just passed a bar with a few folks watching Fiji v Spain, most likely UK or maybe French tourists!

 

[Drumbo_hiker]

A

Ah nice photos…yes France is hugely into Rugby Union as is UK but being the host nation of a glibal event of this magnitude is always a special event. Towns often ‘adopt’ teams that stay in their villages, or follow a country that they never would consider. Not much interest in Spain, but just passed a bar with a few folks watching Fiji v Spain, most likely UK or maybe French tourists!

Ah, that will be Fiji v Wales, the last match of this weekend.

 

[TravellingMan22]

Ah, that will be Fiji v Wales, the last match of this weekend.

Ah yes… sorry my mistake!! Wales were losing when I first walked past, now they are winning!