Post by auntieannie on Oct 1, 2022 12:38:24 GMT 2
So, I'll try and describe my train journey to you:
For the first leg of the journey, a cousin of mine was travelling in the same train. So I took the regional train to the station my cousin was getting on at, found her on the platform, and we waited for our train to come. it was the commuters train and it was on time. but rather full.
Thankfully, I knew someone and she made space for us.
The first leg, on a Swiss double decker train that are at platform height (same with regional train) was what I'm used to. easy to get on and off.
Arrived in Lausanne, the TGV should have been on the opposite track to the same platform. Unexpectedly, it was on another platform. I left my cousin to her occupations (she was taking another train with a friend of hers to another place) and hurried to the correct platform. seeing where my carriage was, I could have used the ramps, but was a bit stressed and since I saw steps, I took them. I would have taken an earlier train to avoid having only 6 minutes to change over. However, in Switzerland, when they inform that the train has a "correspondance", it means the next train waits for the train you're on should you be late.
I had only been on the old TGV carriages a long time ago, and now they have double decker trains, so from the platform, there's an edge that is slightly higher than the platform, then there are a myriad of steps, either up or down. not much flat space in the "lobby". toilets seem to be upstairs. My seat was upstairs, I was not asked about any preference, even though I had to purchase my ticket from the station counter as it was not available for purchase online.
The TGV doesn't go at full speed for most of the journey. These days, it goes on the Swiss railway network to Geneva, then continues on, but there are many areas where it runs at normal speed. they sell Metro tickets at the bar and I took advantage. We arrived at Paris Gare de Lyon 10 minutes later than planned.
It was good I bought the metro ticket on the train as even though the RER journey from Gare de Lyon to Gare du Nord lasts only 7 minutes without change, it takes about the same time to get to the RER platform. the platforms signage is a bit confusing. tracks 1 and 3 are southbound and 2 and 4 are northbound from Gare de Lyon.. as long as I'm not mistaken.
Then, once at Gare du Nord, follow "Grandes lignes" (Main lines - spelled mainlines on the signage, which made me giggle) and then Eurostar. you are asked to go to level one, then back down. The queues are long. my Eurostar train was leaving at 15h15 or something like that and when I got to the back of the security/customs queue, the attendant was holding a board stating it was the queue for the train one hour later, bit of a heart flutter before he showed me the way to the queue for the earlier train and all was well, by the time I had gone through security, then french customs, then UK customs, we were almost 30 minutes away from departure (changed from boarding) time. So just stressful, but working well.
as per the TGV, the steps onto the Eurostar, at least in standard class, are a bit hazardous. hazardous enough they do make announcements about it before you leave the train. the gap is rather horrendous and the steps are narrow. I think it is a bit better in first class.
I had been reasonably warm on the Swiss trains, a bit too warm on the TGV, reasonably warm on the Eurostar at first, but then the temperature dropped rather quickly. I was glad I had enough layers to keep warm.
A lot of the Eurostar journey is spent between Paris and the coast. you know when you get near Calais as the nasty looking barbedwire fences appear all over the place. then the tunnel portion is short, then you are in the UK and very quickly arrive at London St Pancras.
I was glad I took food for the whole journey. It is clear that the guidelines those who sold the tickets to me follow date from before Brexit reality. I'm a bit worried for my return journey. I have plenty of time to go through customs in London, thankfully, hoping it'll be fine in Paris, definitely purchasing a metro ticket on the Eurostar.
For the first leg of the journey, a cousin of mine was travelling in the same train. So I took the regional train to the station my cousin was getting on at, found her on the platform, and we waited for our train to come. it was the commuters train and it was on time. but rather full.
Thankfully, I knew someone and she made space for us.
The first leg, on a Swiss double decker train that are at platform height (same with regional train) was what I'm used to. easy to get on and off.
Arrived in Lausanne, the TGV should have been on the opposite track to the same platform. Unexpectedly, it was on another platform. I left my cousin to her occupations (she was taking another train with a friend of hers to another place) and hurried to the correct platform. seeing where my carriage was, I could have used the ramps, but was a bit stressed and since I saw steps, I took them. I would have taken an earlier train to avoid having only 6 minutes to change over. However, in Switzerland, when they inform that the train has a "correspondance", it means the next train waits for the train you're on should you be late.
I had only been on the old TGV carriages a long time ago, and now they have double decker trains, so from the platform, there's an edge that is slightly higher than the platform, then there are a myriad of steps, either up or down. not much flat space in the "lobby". toilets seem to be upstairs. My seat was upstairs, I was not asked about any preference, even though I had to purchase my ticket from the station counter as it was not available for purchase online.
The TGV doesn't go at full speed for most of the journey. These days, it goes on the Swiss railway network to Geneva, then continues on, but there are many areas where it runs at normal speed. they sell Metro tickets at the bar and I took advantage. We arrived at Paris Gare de Lyon 10 minutes later than planned.
It was good I bought the metro ticket on the train as even though the RER journey from Gare de Lyon to Gare du Nord lasts only 7 minutes without change, it takes about the same time to get to the RER platform. the platforms signage is a bit confusing. tracks 1 and 3 are southbound and 2 and 4 are northbound from Gare de Lyon.. as long as I'm not mistaken.
Then, once at Gare du Nord, follow "Grandes lignes" (Main lines - spelled mainlines on the signage, which made me giggle) and then Eurostar. you are asked to go to level one, then back down. The queues are long. my Eurostar train was leaving at 15h15 or something like that and when I got to the back of the security/customs queue, the attendant was holding a board stating it was the queue for the train one hour later, bit of a heart flutter before he showed me the way to the queue for the earlier train and all was well, by the time I had gone through security, then french customs, then UK customs, we were almost 30 minutes away from departure (changed from boarding) time. So just stressful, but working well.
as per the TGV, the steps onto the Eurostar, at least in standard class, are a bit hazardous. hazardous enough they do make announcements about it before you leave the train. the gap is rather horrendous and the steps are narrow. I think it is a bit better in first class.
I had been reasonably warm on the Swiss trains, a bit too warm on the TGV, reasonably warm on the Eurostar at first, but then the temperature dropped rather quickly. I was glad I had enough layers to keep warm.
A lot of the Eurostar journey is spent between Paris and the coast. you know when you get near Calais as the nasty looking barbedwire fences appear all over the place. then the tunnel portion is short, then you are in the UK and very quickly arrive at London St Pancras.
I was glad I took food for the whole journey. It is clear that the guidelines those who sold the tickets to me follow date from before Brexit reality. I'm a bit worried for my return journey. I have plenty of time to go through customs in London, thankfully, hoping it'll be fine in Paris, definitely purchasing a metro ticket on the Eurostar.
