 Poster: A snowHead
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hi all,
I'm thinking of going by train to Geneva, mid December, coming back 1st week in January. But, I've been looking on the Eurostar website for a couple of weeks now, and it seems there are no trains going to Geneva.
Is this right? I would have thought it would be easy to get to Geneva (I'm not constrained by weekend dates, so I've been looking on Fridays and Mondays too).
Can anyone tell me where else I could look to see if getting the train is worth it? I'll check the French train timetables now too, actually,
many thanks
SQ
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Raileurope.co.uk.
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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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snowqueen11, it's a bit of a pain in the neck, but you can do it so long as you don't mind a trip across paris, Paris Gare du Lyon to Geneva takes about 3.5 hours on a TGV but the timetables change arround Dec 12th so I can't give you exact times, this may be why it's not on the Eurostar site as well
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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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yup, thanks, I just saw the rail europe link. I need to check back again on 14th October, apparently.
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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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Trouble with Rail Europe is their online booking system: it's quite awkward booking and coordinating the two legs of the journey from London if you don't want to go via Paris. I've just this evening been looking at that, in order to book a trip to Avignon via Lille (it's more expensive, but you only have to cross platforms to pick up the TGV in Lille, as opposed to change stations as you do in Paris.) For that journey, same problem with the Eurostar website, it only wants to route you through Paris. In the end, I phoned Rail Europe, and got some timings and costings from them, so that I could then book more easily online - you have to book two separate return journeys - and save the telephone booking fee. The Rail Europe person was very helpful on the phone.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I use Rail-Canterbury to do this and I find the booking fee well worth it.
I pick up the train from Ashford, Eur0star to Paris, cab across the G de Lyon and down to Geneva...it couldn't be much easier.
It is probably harder to get from there to the Tarentraise than the journet from the UK.. If you arrive on a sat, then I'd go to GVA and try and blag a lift with a TO coach, but if not on a weekend, I'd consider gtting off at Bellegarde and continuing on local train to Annecy/Cluses and beyond.
If you are heading on from Geneva to Switzerland, the journey is a doddle
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You can be in Geneva for about 2pm if you get the early train out of St. Pancras. If you live close enough to Ashford or St Pancras it is not much slower than flying.
Unlike JT I have had experiences with the taxi drivers at Gare du Nord refusing to take skis and hence tend to get the metro. Basically head downstars to the RER, take the blue line (ligne B direction Saint Remy) to Chatelet les Halles, walk across the platform at Chatelet and get on the red line (ligne A direction Marne la Vallee/Bossy Saint Legere) down to Gare de Lyon. This should take about 20 mins.
Full map here http://www.ratp.info/orienter/f_plan_ang.php?loc=reseaux&nompdf=metro&fm=gif .
I have had mixed experiences with Eurostar/Rail Europe. At points I have found it cheaper to book the Eurostar leg with Eurostar and at others have found it cheaper to do the whole thing with Rail Europe.
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gorilla, I should say most of this was done without skis... so if they now have issues, then I wouldn't waste time queuing for a cab and then not get on the first one.
The taxi queue at G Du Nord is normally 30 or so strong but they get through a line like this in about 15mis..so 10 in the cab and you have got plenty of time.
I usually want 1hr between the two stations, and as long as you don't go wrong, then 30 mins is a good crossing time which ever way you want to do it.
My skis normally go in any cab with the seats down, but they want to have to take the fare... can't say, I've had a problem and the last time I did this was last Jan, IIRC
Finding the taxi rank at G du Lyon isn't that easy though... or rather it is just downstairs and sign-posted, but it isn't that well laid-out..but you do notice cabs queuing up in a line and then you accept that this is just the only pick-up point they could let them have...
Not the most ideal, but ok..
If I do this this year, I will still be thinking cabs, but then I can quickly find my way across Paris by train if plan A doesn't pan out
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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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In January I had no problem taking skis across Paris by cab each way. A party of us got 4 in the cab with skis, again, both ways across Paris for the EOSB.
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snowqueen11, For all things rail try the Man in Seat 61, great site www.seat61.com
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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hey, thanks all, this is great 
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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I have used Festtravel to book tickets for Eurostar and TGV in the past. They were very good, at giving advice as well as organising the tickets, but it was some years ago, so I don't know if they are still as good. They do like trains.
Link here: http://www.festtravel.co.uk/traintickets.htm
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fly.. you will be in geneva before 10 am
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You know it makes sense.
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