We are getting the Eurostar into Paris and have booked the overnight train down to Cannes but only have 35 minutes to make the connection. Is this do-able? If we turn up early to check in at St Pancreas is there a chance they might put us on an earlier train or could I pay to change if there are spare seats? We are using a global pass but there are no seats on trains any earlier (Monday 4th August, 17:30 from London) . Looking at Google is says it is 14 minutes on the underground (Line 5) but I am not sure which way to go, get tickets etc just wondered if anyone had any advice
Answer
Getting across Paris from Gare du Nord to Austerlitz
Best answer by thibcabe
It is risky. Doable if Eurostar is on time and you know your way around but personally I'd want a bigger margin before a once a day night train. It is not an official connection (minimum across Paris is 45 min afaik?) so if you miss the night train you're out of luck and will have to cover hotel costs.
Métro tickets should be available on your phone, though I don't remember the specifics.
I see 2 alternatives right now:
- check Eurostar Snap every now and then, they might release tickets for 4th August morning: https://snap.eurostar.com/rw-en
- book the early morning Eurostar to Lille-Europe (07:04 - 09:26, passholder reservations remaining) and a Lille-Europe/Lille-Flandres - Paris TGV reservation (10€). Then spend the day in Paris, visit a museum, etc.
If you're near St. Pancras, feel free to try their ticket desk. I wouldn't go during the day when they are overwhelmed with passengers but rather at 7-8pm. They are generally helpful but I wouldn't get my hopes up during peak season.
It is risky. Doable if Eurostar is on time and you know your way around but personally I'd want a bigger margin before a once a day night train. It is not an official connection (minimum across Paris is 45 min afaik?) so if you miss the night train you're out of luck and will have to cover hotel costs.
Métro tickets should be available on your phone, though I don't remember the specifics.
I see 2 alternatives right now:
- check Eurostar Snap every now and then, they might release tickets for 4th August morning: https://snap.eurostar.com/rw-en
- book the early morning Eurostar to Lille-Europe (07:04 - 09:26, passholder reservations remaining) and a Lille-Europe/Lille-Flandres - Paris TGV reservation (10€). Then spend the day in Paris, visit a museum, etc.
If you're near St. Pancras, feel free to try their ticket desk. I wouldn't go during the day when they are overwhelmed with passengers but rather at 7-8pm. They are generally helpful but I wouldn't get my hopes up during peak season.
+8It's 15 minutes of actual travel on the Metro, not including shuffling off the Eurostar, descending into the Metro station, and back up at the other end etc.
There's a chance you'll make it, but not a good enough chance - especially given the cost and inconvenience of missing your sleeper train.
I agree with
-
Eurostar might let you move to an earlier train on the day, but they tend to only do that when it suits them. And if they say no, you have no options left beyond hoping for no delays.
We live in Preston so are getting a train down at 12 which gets into Euston at 14:15, there isn’t a train to get us in to get the earlier options. I was going to go to the Eurostar terminal to see if we can get on an earlier train then. Might look to see if they have webchat to ask the question earlier but suspect I know the answer. We have done Eurostar twice and did get offered to get on earlier train before but it might just have been a quiet day.
I have booked a morning train the day after for £29 for the 3 of us so will just have to get a hotel if we miss it.
Alright. I'd still keep checking the passholder availability and/or Snap. Eurostar might add some. With your pass you can take any train between Preston and London (so a 10-11am departure is realistic).
French night train reservations are 100% refundable up to 30 min after departure so do that if you were to miss the train.
Yes the Snap t looks useful but is currently showing a huge window of 13:00 to 20:01 but it’s a really useful site - thanks very much for the link, and all the advice.
Will keep checking the Rail Europe planner every day, and looking at the Lille trains as well.
Enter your E-mail address. We'll send you an e-mail with instructions to reset your password.