Lourdes Travel Forum

Hi,

Does anyone know of a night train from Lourdes to Paris? Since the train journey is about 7 hours, I was wondering if I could do the journey at night and spend more of the day at the sanctuary.

The voyages-sncf website is in French and I don't quite understand it fully. The night train that it reports is to "Paris Austerlitz" on the "Lunea". The price is 74 euros. It also says "Loisir Spécial Web". Does that mean this is a web special deal?

For these trains or the TGV, is it better to book them on the internet or buy them at the station? Are there ticket machines at the stations where you can buy with a card, or does it involve waiting in long lines?

Thanks in advance.

"Loisir Special Web" translates to "Web Leisure Special whatever that means. In any event, yes the train does go from Lourdes at 22.20hrs which would mean that you could at least see most of the Candlelight Procession before you go for the train although the train station is a good walk from the Sanctuary and taxis might be difficult to find amongst the crowds at the Procession. You would need to book your train seat when you arrive in Lourdes. It's a very small station and the lines aren't too long at the booking office.
I don't know what your plans are exactly but I would give some thought to staying overnight in Lourdes and going to Paris the following morning. Hotel rates in Lourdes are really extremely reasonable, you can get a very comfortable single for between 35 and 50 Euros. If this idea appeals to you have a look at the hotels on www.venere.com or wwww.bookings.com. The highlight of all my trips to Lourdes is always the CandleLight Procession. Everyone enjoys it as it is an amazing spectacle (see my Lourdes page.) It would be a shame to be under pressure to make it to the station in time for the train and not to enjoy this wonderful ceremony.

Thanks for your reply. Yes, I do plan on seeing the procession. I will be arriving on a Thursday afternoon and was planning to spend that night in Lourdes. My thought was to spend the whole of Friday also in Lourdes and leave for Paris on the night train. However, I'd want it to be non-stop -- don't want to be changing trains in the middle of the night. Do you think that is reasonable?

Thanks again.

Without knowing the exact travel date, it is difficult to confirm what is available but in general:

1. The 22h20 departure makes no stops until arriving at Gare Austerlitz in Paris at 7h10.

2. First class accommodations are in compartments of 4 beds each.

3. Second class accommodations are in compartments of 6 beds each.

4. "Loisir Spécial Web" are seats sold at a special discount through the internet and only for the trains indicated. If you exchange your ticket for that of a difference train (possible before the departure date) you will be responsible for the difference in ticket price.

5. There is special pricing available for first class, reclining seats costing less than first class berth accommodations.

6. It is always better to book as far in advance as possible (up to 90 days prior to departure). Look for PREM fares which, though they are sold with certain conditions, are the cheapest fares. I have seen PREM fares for several dates costing near 40€.

7. You may purchase your tickets on line and either print them out at home or pick them up at any SNCF ticket window at any time before departure. To pickup tickets you will need both your confirmation number as well as the credit card used to make the original purchase.

8. Reservations are mandatory for this night train. If you try to book and pay for travel with a credit card at one of the station kiosks, only credit cards with microchips and pins are accepted (not magnet strip credit cards as issued in the US).

9. Keep in mind the inherent security dangers of traveling at night on trains. Guard your valuables while sleeping.

Your step-by-step guidelines were great. I was planning to take the night train frm Lourdes on the 17th of October and reaching Paris on the 19th. So I take it that you recommend reserving the berth online and then collecting it just before departure. That makes sense.

One concern is the credit card. Won't the cards issued in the US work? I was planning to do a lot of traveling by train, and when I went to Italy two years ago, I bought all my tickets with the card. Is it different in France? Will I need to carry cash with me then?

Thanks a lot.

<<<I bought all my tickets with the card. Is it different in France?>>>

You may successfully use your US credit card to purchase tickets from an agent at one of the ticket windows but not from a kiosk or ticket machine. Nor may you use to rent Velib bicycles in Paris, purchase gas at an automated gas pump, nor are they accepted at many autoroute toll booths.

Additionally I should like to stress an important point I mentioned above: reserve as soon as possible (up to 90 days before travel) but to pickup your tickets at an SNCF service window, you MUST have in your possession the credit card used to purchase the tickets on line as well as the reservation confirmation number.

Thanks. I've bought the ticket at the PREM fare - 40 euros each for me and my wife.

Thanks a tonne for all the replies.

Hi,
I'm heading to Lourdes from Paris and back in Jan 09. Was wondering how your lourdes train ride to paris was and which train ticket booking website you used?