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Holidays in France
by Train

French rail network
Many people would prefer to travel by train but find the idea of travelling through a foreign country a little daunting. There is however no problem when travelling through France. You can pre-book tickets through Rail Europe Fares & Schedules and as you will see below the journey should prove quite straight-forward. When you check nthe schedules you will be advised if you have to change and if so where.
Firstly, if you want something totally laid-on then Click here for our Conducted Train Tour Page.

Obviously, the important thing is to decide where you want to go! Most hotels, camp sites, holiday villages etc. will provide you with their nearest rail station.

As you will see from the map on the right, there is an extensive network serving France. This map shows only the major routes so don't worry if your destination is not shown.

Eurostar leaves Saint Pancras International station, London; Ebbsfleet, Kent or Ashford, Kent. directly for: If your particular journey requires a change of trains at Lille this presents no problem. There are four platforms and indicator boards will show you which platform your train departs from.

If travelling on beyond Paris it is most likely that you will have to change to another station. Paris Gare de l'Est is a 10/15 minute walk but other stations will require transfer either by Metro or taxi.

Allow plenty of time for any transfer - at least an hour, preferably 2.

Far better to arrive a little early and stop for a coffee, than arrive late and miss the train.
Paris Metro map
Use of the Metro is not included with main-line tickets.

Metro tickets can be purchased at the ticket office or self-service machines so you will need to have Euros available or else a credit card (tickets are under 2 Euros each but self-service machines will still accept).

Metro lines are identified by a line number and direction (the last station on the line.) The table below provides directions.

Gare d'Austerlitz Follow signs M5. Direction Place d'Italie (alight Gare d'Austerlitz
Gare de BercyFollow signs RER line D. Direction Melun/Malesherbes 2 stops)
Then line M14. Direction Olympiades ( 1 stop - alight Bercy)
Alternatively alight Gare de Lyon and walk 600 metres.
Gare de LyonFollow signs RER line D. Direction Melun/Malesherbes. Alight Gare de Lyon (2 stops)
Gare MontparnasseFollow signs M4. Direction Porte d'Orléans. Alight Montparnasse Bienvenue
Gare Saint LazareFollow signs RER Line E. Direction Haussmann Saint-Lazare. Alight Saint-Lazare (1 stop)
Gare de l'EstWalk to Gare de l'Est (approx. 10 minutes). Leave station onto Boulevard de Denain. Turn left into Boulevard de Magenta. Turn left into Rue du 8 Mai 1945.
The following stations are accessible with a single change of trains:
*Angers:  *Agde:  *Agen:  *Aime la Plagne:  *Aix en Provence:  *Angoulême:  *Annecy:  *Antibes:  *Avignon:  *Belfort:  *Besançon:  *Biarritz;  *Bordeaux;  *Bourg St. Maurice: *Brest:  *Caen:  *Cannes:  *Chalon sur Saône:  *Chalons en Champagne:  *Chambéry:  *Champagne Ardenne:  *Clermont Ferrand:  *Dijon:  *Grenoble:  *La Rochelle:  *Laval:  *Le Creusot:  *Le Mans:  *Les Aubrais/Orléans:  *Libourne:  *Limoges:  *Lorient:  *Lourdes:  *Lyon:  *Marseille:  *Metz:  *Montpellier:  *Moutiers:  *Mulhouse:  *Nancy:  *Nantes:  *Nice:  *Nîmes:  *Perpignan:  *Poitiers:  *Quimper:  *Reims:  *Rennes:  *Rouen:  *St Pierre des Corps:  *St-Raphaël:  *Strasbourg:  *Toulon:  *Toulouse:  *Tours:  *Troyes:  *Valence:  *Vannes: 
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