Or to Latour by night train...
The night train doesnt seem to run every night ATM....AVEs aren’t authorised everywhere in France.
Thanks for that! I was just looking at the "oui.sncf" site and was wondering why all the London-Barcelona trains in November were showing as "Not Bookable"... would it hurt them to put a little explanation on there, do you think..?Latest update from SNCF to be found here (in French only).
Diesels would be little use when the line has been washed away. However, I am amazed that SNCF only offer bookings for Paris to (eg) Narbonne via Toulouse and TER/IC if you specify that route - seriously customer unfriendly.Whilst the member of my family who wanted to travel through this area has by economy chosen Flixbus in both directions, the attitude of oui.sncf in either providing info or substitute road services is pathetic. In addition, whilst it is true that the damage was significant, no effort has been made to draft in diesel locos or stock whist they rebuild the catenary.
Perpignan-Lyon via Paris would take 9 hours, so not competitive. Perpignan-Paris would be viable, though.Really cannot understand how SNCF could get away with simply cancelling Toulous-Lyon and Marseille TGV & Intercities with no buses provided, considering the gap between Béziers and Montpellier takes only an hour to drive on the motorway. I thought they might have run TGV via Paris suburbs from Perpignan/Toulouse to Lyon, but nothing. I guess like me most folks hired cars to complete their trips along the South Coast.
Thanks. I presume there is an engineering possession for the work, and SNCF's diesel fleet is IIRC pretty antique.As I understand, the washouts are now repaired but the OHLE masts (and bases) need realigning which I am guessing means a complete rebuild, hence my suggestion of diesels. Toulouse has also been badly hit by the cancellation of the through Bordeaux-Marseille IC service and the Toulouse-Lyon TGVs.
I can't stress enough how important it is to take food and drink with you if you choose this route: it's a beautiful journey but the lack of a buffet or even a trolley (or even self-service vending machines) is something that caught me out on the Sleeper, and Latour is almost a ghost village in low season. Add to that a lack of trolley going down the Spanish side (on it's own that's understandable, as it's just an extended commuter service), and it's almost as if the Bear Grylls meme was inspired by this journey!Or to Latour by night train...
Though for both of those it's far simpler, if less fun, to wait for the RENFE train.To add: the connections off the night train to Perpignan on the little yellow train from Latour don't seem to work too well nowadays, it seems to be run mainly as a day trip up into the mountains. Plus there's only buses not TER currently to take you on to Perpignan. Having said that once at Perpignan it's fairly easy to go to Port Bou and connect there for Girona and Barcelona.
Can you book a train on the site that says the route is open? Go by oui.sncf.So has this reopened now?
Looking at different sites it's really confusing as to when its due to reopen. Some say it opened on the 4th, others say not until the 25th.
I need to travel from Barcelona to Marseille on the 22nd and I need to know if I'm going to be able to get a train or if I'm gonna have to get a Flixbus (which takes all day!)
Thanks!
Can you book a train on the site that says the route is open? Go by oui.sncf.
Original report said "would" reopen 4th. Clearly hasn'tno because it was just news sites. On booking sites you can’t even book as far as Perpignan or Girona
Post #10 above says 4/12 not 4/11 for full service. 25/11 for partial.Original report said "would" reopen 4th. Clearly hasn't