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Train

Posted: Sat 12 Jan 2013 10:34
by smithkei
Does anyone know when the Tgv goes to Barcelona from London
:)

Posted: Sat 12 Jan 2013 11:08
by PatrickF
....and will it stop in Collioure? 8)

Posted: Sat 12 Jan 2013 11:43
by Santiago
Well there's this announcement

http://www.lindependant.fr/2013/01/09/p ... 716681.php

It won't stop at Collioure, it won't even go through it (that's why they built the new TGV line) but you can change trains at Perpignan.

Posted: Sat 12 Jan 2013 11:51
by PatrickF
That is great news -so pleased the link does not come through here.

Posted: Sat 12 Jan 2013 16:46
by smithkei
PatrickF wrote:That is great news -so pleased the link does not come through here.
:) I suppose you are an English,NIMBY,then.

Posted: Sun 13 Jan 2013 05:49
by PatrickF
:french: & don't live near the Gare

Posted: Mon 14 Jan 2013 10:01
by smithkei
PatrickF wrote::french: & don't live near the Gare
:wink: You don't live in Collioure then.

Posted: Mon 14 Jan 2013 11:15
by smithkei
So why are you so pleased its not coming through Collioure ?

Re: Train

Posted: Sat 19 Jan 2013 11:03
by geoff.smith
smithkei wrote:Does anyone know when the Tgv goes to Barcelona from London
:)
..........2019.the work on TGV line has not even started between perpignan and montpellier..sorry G

Posted: Sun 20 Jan 2013 12:11
by PatrickF
smithkei wrote:
PatrickF wrote::french: & don't live near the Gare
:wink: You don't live in Collioure then.
Not all year! just got good news from a friend in New Zealand, anyone here met Alain, top man.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/nation ... 6556991559

Posted: Sun 20 Jan 2013 15:47
by Debbie and Noel
Assuming that the Spanish and French TGV sets share common operating systems then a Barcelona to Paris/Lille link would be feasible without change of rolling stock. After all the TGV gets through to Perpignan even though it does the last 400 km on normal tracks.

But a direct service to London would not be possible. Only Eurostars can pass through the Chunnel. Thus a change of train is inevitable. On current prices I doubt if the train could compete with the airlines. Trains typically cost 3 or 4 times as much per seat/kilometer as modern planes.

Noel

Posted: Sun 20 Jan 2013 17:38
by HH
Noel, there are daily TGV from Bruxelles to Perpignan and Figueres via Lille.
:oops: :oops: :oops:

Posted: Mon 21 Jan 2013 08:56
by Debbie and Noel
HH wrote:Noel, there are daily TGV from Bruxelles to Perpignan and Figueres via Lille.
:oops: :oops: :oops:
True enough. But the original question was Barcelona to LONDON

Noel

Posted: Mon 21 Jan 2013 10:34
by russell
Debbie and Noel wrote:Only Eurostars can pass through the Chunnel.
Is there any technical difference between the TGV and the Eurostar or is it just the name?

Russell.

Posted: Mon 21 Jan 2013 19:38
by HH
russell wrote:
Debbie and Noel wrote:Only Eurostars can pass through the Chunnel.
Is there any technical difference between the TGV and the Eurostar or is it just the name?

Russell.
No difference Russell it is the standard European Gauge.
Noel, Eurotunnel will rent their facilities and lines to who ever wishes to rent them, at the moment only Europort ( Frieght) ,Eurotunnel Shuttle and Eurostar use the facilities but Deutsche Bahn AG, the German Railway intends to run Frankfurt to London services.

Eurotunnel currently levies Eurostar 25€ PP for a return journey.

Posted: Tue 22 Jan 2013 07:28
by Santiago
Talking about trains competing with flights, although the cost of a train ticket is often more expensive than a budget flight, one has to consider all the extras of the flight.

Getting to and from the airports or parking fees, check-in baggage, buying stuff in the airport, buying stuff on the plane, etc.

Sometimes the train is a better option, particularly when you have work to do en route or you have a fair bit to carry.

Posted: Tue 22 Jan 2013 10:09
by Debbie and Noel
Santiago wrote:Talking about trains competing with flights, although the cost of a train ticket is often more expensive than a budget flight, one has to consider all the extras of the flight.

Getting to and from the airports or parking fees, check-in baggage, buying stuff in the airport, buying stuff on the plane, etc.

Sometimes the train is a better option, particularly when you have work to do en route or you have a fair bit to carry.
I am inclined to disagree with some of your points.. If we are talking specifically about trips from the PO to the UK then much of your argument is questionable. Unless you live in Central London or near Ashford then you are faced with the expense of getting to the station to board the Eurostar. The majority of TGV/Eurostar journeys require a transfer in Paris on the Metro. So mountains of luggage are out. Unless you take a taxi. The plane journey is so quick that there is no need to buy extras en route. Apart from a bottle of water.

I bow to the superior technical knowledge of HH. I guess I was thinking of the situation before the high speed link was built and the Eurostars had to use the live rail system.

Noel

Eurostar

Posted: Tue 22 Jan 2013 15:30
by tubs
When you purchase a Eurostar ticket it entitles you to a very much reduced train ticket from some local stations to St Pancras.Not a lot of people know this and it is not widely publicised.
From our station in Oxfordshire to London St Pancras, including the tube transfer, costs £7.50 per person one way (for travel at peak and off peak times) as opposed to £20 to £25 normal single fare.
There is a special telephone number to ring to buy the local tickets. We have benefitted from this many times as we use the train to get to the PO now rather than fly.
There is a list of stations on the Eurostar website where the discount applies.

Posted: Wed 23 Jan 2013 07:14
by Santiago
I wasn't thinking specifically of the UK at large. London is a possibility but I've always gone for the plane. I was thinking more about other EU destinations.