London to Perpignan Train

frenchiegas · Post by **frenchiegas** » Sat 07 Jul 2012 11:07

Im looking into the possibility of travelling on the London to Perpignan train next year,via Paris.Ill be travelling with one pretty large holdall.I understand the inter terminus transfer is straightforward either by metro or taxi.
Has anyone done this trip?.Is the inter station transfer easy?Any problems with bulky luggage?
I,d appreciate any advice/tips/comments.

Owens88 · Post by **Owens88** » Sat 07 Jul 2012 11:30

I chose to change at Lille. Very simple, within the same station.

Enjoy. It is a nice trip.

John

monsans · Post by **monsans** » Sat 07 Jul 2012 13:40

I would also reecommend the changeover at Lille. Happy travelling

rogb · Post by **rogb** » Sat 07 Jul 2012 23:23

We've done the London/Perpignan train journey several times via Paris, using the metro (or more specifically RER) interchange between the Gare du Nord and Gare du Lyon. It's not difficult to find or use, but I think you can't avoid flights of stairs.

Don't queue up at the first ticket office you see at GdN for the metro/RER ticket, or the nearby ticket machines, as there often seem to be long queues for both. The further you go towards the metro/RER station, the fewer people there are using the machines (cash or card-operated).

Gare du Lyon was being refurbished last time we passed through (in the Spring) and it can take 10 minutes to find the right bit as you emerge from the metro/RER.

If you've got less than an hour to make the connection, I would definitely suggest using the metro/RER, as queueing for a taxi and then getting stuck in traffic jams could mean cutting things fine, as well as being a lot more expensive.

Sav · Post by **Sav** » Sun 08 Jul 2012 00:12

frenchiegas wrote:Im looking into the possibility of travelling on the London to Perpignan train next year,via Paris.Ill be travelling with one pretty large holdall.I understand the inter terminus transfer is straightforward either by metro or taxi.
Has anyone done this trip?.Is the inter station transfer easy?Any problems with bulky luggage?
I,d appreciate any advice/tips/comments.

We are looking into travelling this way later this Summer
St Pancras to Perpignan return was £119 each
The added bonus is no extra for baggage & it enables you to see France via a different form of travel
Paris train transfer details here
http://www.seat61.com/Paris-metro.htm#P ... re_de_Lyon...

Cheers Sav

Steve · Post by **Steve** » Sun 08 Jul 2012 09:57

We have been thinking about giving the train journey down a go for quite a while but I can never seem to get a competative price for a ticket.

Which is the best web site to check out?

Steve

Sav · Post by **Sav** » Sun 08 Jul 2012 12:24

Steve wrote:We have been thinking about giving the train journey down a go for quite a while but I can never seem to get a competative price for a ticket.
Which is the best web site to check out?

Try here Steve, just juggle your dates/times if you can

http://www.raileurope.co.uk/sncf.aspx

Cheers Sav

rogb · Post by **rogb** » Sun 08 Jul 2012 15:40

Steve, the Seat61 website has a lot of useful info on buying UK/France rail tickets.

mammadee · Post by **mammadee** » Sun 08 Jul 2012 19:30

We have now done this several times and find it so much more civilised than Ryanair!

The transit across Paris is very straightforward - 2 stops on the RER from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon. There is a bit of a walk between platforms but I manage my holdall (on wheels) without any problem.

RER train are double decked so there are a few steps on to the seating area.

I much prefer the train journey. We are travelling on 19th July so will be able to give more details after that if you need them

Steve · Post by **Steve** » Mon 09 Jul 2012 09:59

Thanks for the info.

Steve

frenchiegas · Post by **frenchiegas** » Mon 09 Jul 2012 19:53

Thanks for the info/comments.Not doing the trip until March next year so time for research.Lille looks the easier option,but more expensive.The route via Paris looks a distinct possibillity.

GreenHermit · Post by **GreenHermit** » Tue 10 Jul 2012 00:00

mammadee wrote:We have now done this several times and find it so much more civilised than Ryanair!

The transit across Paris is very straightforward - 2 stops on the RER from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon. There is a bit of a walk between platforms but I manage my holdall (on wheels) without any problem.

RER train are double decked so there are a few steps on to the seating area.

I much prefer the train journey. We are travelling on 19th July so will be able to give more details after that if you need them

You change at Lille and only change platforms, Why the complication of Paris and changing terminals!

mammadee · Post by **mammadee** » Mon 16 Jul 2012 15:47

I see a number of people suggesting travel via Lille. We have used this route but on recent occasions have found that the Eurostar arrives after the TGV has left.

I agree it is aless complicated option, but not if you have to spen 23 hours waiting at Lille station!

FORUM