Travel by Train to France

[Deleted User]

We are lucky enough to leave 10 mins from Ebbsfleet International. We don't drive.

I am investigating how awkward it would be to travel from Ebbsfleet to Les Pierres Couch!es ST BREVIN LES PINS, a campsite, near to Nantes in Brittany by train. I am having problems finding out how to plan the train journey (the website only deals with ferry and car travel).

I've not done this before so would appreciate any advice you can give.

I have two children.., one 20, one 10, the older one has ASD (as does the younger one) and has a UK rail disability pass.

We could fly to Nantes in 1hr20 mins but younger son is terrified of flying. Maybe I could work on that.

I don't know if any savings can be made. The holiday is certainly a lot cheaper than its equivalent in England (and the last holiday in the UK was not good). However, I should imagine travel costs will make up the difference lol. But that's ok.

eDicky

deannatrois wrote: »

I am having problems finding out how to plan the train journey (the website only deals with ferry and car travel).

So for a train journey which website are you looking at? There's SNCF, Eurostar, Seat61, Trainline...?

agrinnall

Live, not leave - if you're going to lecture people on their English in every post you make you should ensure your own is correct.

As eDicky says there are plenty of train websites that will allow you to determine the information you are looking for. I would suspect that the default route will send you via Paris and that you would need to change stations in Paris, if you think that might cause you additional and excessive stress then it's probably worth trying to find a route that allows a change elsewhere.

richardw

A connection maybe possible at Disneyland Paris, but there may not be that many trains going west, so a bit risky if you get delayed.

hollydays

Nantes is in the loire-atlantique department , if that helps.


Paris to st nazaire two hours 40 tgv
Then bus
See
http://saint-brevin.fr/tourisme-uk/how-to-come-to-st-brevin.html

Looks like the st brevin les pins tourist office e closes November to April but there will be others open during that time like pambeouf.

French tourist offices are a great source of local
Information, though not always for information outside of their area .
They also are more than happy to talk to you in English.


Also this link, and an app .
Not used it , and as it's an agent(?) it may or may not cost more
https://www.trainline.eu

martindow

Here's a link to seat61 mentioned by eDicky which gives lots of good advice on how and where to book.

http://www.seat61.com/France-trains.htm#.V-JjgK21dZg

If you just want train times I use the German rail site which is excellent for all of Europe (including the UK). Here's the version in English

https://www.bahn.de/p_en/view/index.shtml

Voyager2002

If you take the Eurostar to France you will arrive at either Paris or Lille.

Paris is the hub of the French railway system , but you would probably need to change stations there, and you may or may not feel comfortable about doing this with all your luggage by Metro (stairs!) or taxi (expensive).

The alternative is to get off the Eurostar at Lille and take another train from the station there. The site kindly given by Martindow above shows that there are some direct trains between Lille and Nantes, so that is likely to be the simplest journey.

Booking is likely to be easiest through an agent (you have to book: reservation on the train to Nantes is compulsory) but the agent fee is likely to be small in comparison with the cost of a taxi between the station in Nantes and the campsite. Just as well the holiday itself is cheap!

The_Groat_Counter

Unofficial but very useful rail maps of France.

knightstyle

Get Eurostar to Lille. have a look at SNCF site, you can go direct from Lille to Nantes for about £26 each way. Then local bus to campsite or phone the campsite, they may pick up for a small fee.