 Poster: A snowHead
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I have driven the past 3 years and feel it may be time to try an alternative method of transport to get to Les Arcs next year.
Only problem is I will be travelling mid week and as far as I am aware the Snowtrain only runs weekends.
I was thinking of getting the Eurostar from Ashford to Paris then on to BSM by regular SNCF means.
Do I have to travel across Paris to make the connection or is it possible to change trains at the same station?
TIA
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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There's a daily overnight service from Paris Gare du Austerlitz to BSM. It's easy to get from Gare du Nord to Austerlitz: five stops on the Metro, or shortish taxi ride if you don't want to drag your ski luggage on the underground.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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CP, The Tarentaise overnight sleeper service runs every night from Gare d'Austerlitz. leaves about 10.20 pm and arrives in BSM about 06.30. Gare d'Austerlitz is about 20 minutes from Gare de Nord by cab and costs around 10 Euros or it did the last time I travelled. Easy to get a cab from Gare de Nord, we've eaten on the Eurostar but there are some quite good restuarants near the Gare d'Austerlitz, worth noting as there aren't any facilities on the train apart from showres and loos at the end of each carriage. Just hope you don't mind sharing, there are 4 berths in 1st class and 6 berths in 2nd class, it's worth upgrading as we've never had to share in the 1st class couchettes. You should contact RailEurope and ask them for PREM tickets, these are promotional fares that SNCF release 90 days before travel, I once got from Lyons to Lille by TGV for 19Euros , the return fare from London to BSM used to be £99.00 but it's a couple of years since I last did the journey
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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CP,
About £155.00 at today's prices as I looked into this a few weeks ago
Thats Eurostar from Ashford International to Paris and TGV to Moutier.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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I'm sure we've travelled daytime midweek from Gare d'Austerlitz to BSM - a lovely way to travel.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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A couple of things worth considering.
If you do a daytime train, you might be able to change in Lille rather than Paris. Just use the SNCF or Dbahn website to see if there are any direct trains.
We used eurostar/austerlitz last week, and if you are of a particularly fragile constitution you may find the stairs out of Austerlitz metro station into the main station a bit of a struggle. Perhaps there was a lift or escalators I didn't spot...
seat61 is the ultimate 'what are my train options to Europe' website.
d
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pendodave, When we looked last year, if you changed at Lille, you then had to change again at Lyon & Chambery. I dont remember the stairs at Austerlitz - I think we must have found an escalator.
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Great info
Thanks very much
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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CP,
You may have to get a local train from Moutier to BSM if you are travelling TGV..or the overnighter should go into BSM... last time I used one it left about 2230 from Gare du Lyon and got in about 0815. Austerlizt for TGV, GDL for overnight trains, I think.
I have found taxis the best way to get across Paris and they aren't as expensive as you would think. But Metro is about 40 mins if you know where you are going so allow for 1 hour plus if you don't
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Yes, there is one or two night trains from austerlitz every day. If you're travelling with all your ski gear, a taxi is a sensible choice to commute from Gare du Nord to Austerlitz.
Use the voyages-SNCF.com website for time tables, prices and reservations. It speaks english but make sure you use the advanced search button to see all the options : for instance, if you travel with kids, the purchase of an "Enfant Plus" card is interesting : 50 or 25% discount on the tickets for 4 persons (+ the card holder), a free seat for kids under 4, unlimited for a year. It costs 68E and you can order it online or buy it at the train station.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| David@traxvax wrote: |
| You should contact RailEurope and ask them for PREM tickets, these are promotional fares that SNCF release 90 days before travel |
I believe that should be Preums tickets. It means "firsts" tickets and comes I guess from the word premiere. It is what small children shout when they say, win a running race, in France of course.
If you succeed in ordering one of these tickets be sure to shout "PREUMS !!!" and punch your fist in the air otherwise you will suffer bad karma which will result in you missing your train or French railworkers going on strike or you breaking a leg on the platform at BsM.
Preums, deuz... etc.
They can offer very good value but normally sell out on the day or two after they are offered.
You may find that it is possible to travel from Ashford to Eurolille then on to BSM via the Belgium snow train avoiding Paris altogether. It is certainly possible to do Grenoble -> Lille -> Ashford and it is pretty quick, around 5 hours.
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