 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi all,
I'm new to the site but wondered if anyone could shed some light? Trying to book an overnight sleeper train from Paris to Bourg St Maurice and they all seemed to have disappeared! Does anyone know if they are still running? I called Rail Europe and they said they haven't been given the new timetable yet! Does that sound right? We are traveling on 13th Jan 2012 so they should be on sale now.
Thanks
Miss daisy
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Missdaisy, There are several of us booked and travelling from Paris to BSM for the PSB on the 25th November but there isn't a return train from BSM to Paris the following week due to engineering works. There is a possibility that it may still run but nothing yet. It may be that they haven't released the new timetable until they are sure about the engineering works.
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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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Missdaisy, I've just checked and there is a scheduled train from Paris to BSM on 2nd December, so maybe it is just that the new timetable hasn't been released.
Edit: There's also one on the 9th December but not on the 16th,so I guess the timetable must change somewhere between.
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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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We are traveling on 13th Jan 2012 so they should be on sale now.
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no, I'm not a big expert on train travel but they do only release timetables very late - it's not like flights. We are waiting to book tickets for son coming up from Italy at Christmas.
If the wretched railways could only get their act together they'd be a good alternative to flying - but right now, it's a nuisance. We had the same problem last year, and couldn't confirm train times up from Genoa - milan - Geneva till fairly late on, and as we were organising some complicated logistics, meeting a host of flights as well as the train, with bad weather around, it was a pain.
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Hi Pam,
Wished I'd known that before I booked the private chalet. Didn't think the overnight train would be a problem just had to wait to book it 3 months before travel according to Rail Europe when I enquired earlier in the year. Oh well, fingers crossed the timetable goes in our favor  the kids were looking forward to an overnight adventure on the train.
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[quote="pam w"]
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no, I'm not a big expert on train travel but they do only release timetables very late - it's not like flights. We are waiting to book tickets for son coming up from Italy at Christmas.
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One problem is the current rail privatization. From jan 2012 non SNCF companies will be able to offer services in France. Principal amongst them are the Italians who will be using the same tracks as the ski trains. This is causing the RFF (French Railtrack) a major scheduling headache.
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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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Missdaisy, I've had this once in the past -- being told "they may run the train", and they did... Just one data point, but if you were planning to hold on anyway, it may be some comfort 
Also, always look at tgv-europe.com as well as rail-europe, as you sometimes get slightly different info (and often better prices).
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Missdaisy, As far as I know you can only currently book until 12th January 2012. If you sign up with Rail Europe they will let you know when the next lot of tickets become available.
If I receive an email from them with the next release date I will add it to my previous thread about the snowtrain http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=80323&highlight=
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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've tried to book trains but the problem at peak times is (i) all the seats seem to sell out within minutes of being released, and (ii) they are released so late that if you wait that long, and are unsuccessful, all the flights are full as well. I agree with pam w, if the train operators could get it together, they would be a viable alternative to flying, but it's a big "if".
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Missdaisy, Have you had a look at www.sncf.fr , tickets are available to book from Paris to Bourg going out on 13th January but only during the day, returning the following week. An overnight train is available the next day (14th) and an overnight train for the return journey is available the following Friday but not the following Saturday.
I suppose they could either be fully booked or not yet released, who knows with the rail companies.
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You know it makes sense.
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Has anyone travelled on the overnight train to BSM on the Friday before half term starts. If so how much more expensive where the tickets than duirng the day?
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Missdaisy, I am surprised you are not being driven there!
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Poster: A snowHead
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He he, will have to make do with my own little couchette if they are running the day we need it  Much comfier than sleeping in the back of a car.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Missdaisy, I love proper sleepers on trains. Why people pay "First Class" prices and have to sit up all night, beats me. A sleeper always seems like an adventure.
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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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Missdaisy, I'm in the group with geepee, who have our fingers crossed for the overnight train from Bourg-Paris that still hasn't been released in early December. I suggest that you keep an eye on the SNCF site, don't bother with Rail Europe. It sounds like they may never sell those tickets. Have a look at Rail Europe's discussion board here: http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=9546951445&topic=14486 or their FAQ on "Why am I unable to book my French Journey?" here http://www.raileurope.co.uk/Default.aspx?tabid=2291
In particular:
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| The engineering works mean, the timetable for some routes, for some parts of the day, may not be released 90 days in advance. In some exceptional cases, the confirmed timetable may not even be released until 7 days prior to departure. ... Trains affected by this rescheduling will not appear online, and will not be available to book via any Rail Europe channel. |
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