Nantes Travel Forum

I live in Bournemouth and am looking to travel to Nantes in June, and would like to take the ferry from Poole. On the day I wish to travel there is one ferry to St Malo, which arrives at 19:30. I have enquired about trains to Nantes and it seems the last one goes at 19:50, which is probably cutting it a bit too fine. I have tried to find out about bus/coach services but have had no luck so far.

Can anyone point me in the direction of information on bus routes between St Malo and Nantes, presumably via/changing at Rennes?

Or can anyone reassure me that 20 minutes will be enough time to change from ferry to train at St Malo?

It's frustrating that it just seems assumed that anyone travelling to St Malo will just want to stop there. I'm sure it's very pretty and everything, but still...

I know bus 10 takes to Rennes from Nantes passing by Derval .at Rennes you can connect to St Malo but never done it.

you can take the TER regional train from nantes to Saint malo in about 2H42 leaving at 19H03, this is the site in french
http://www.tan.fr/
you can play with the modes and time.
hope it helps. I do it by car ::)

Thank you.
Is that website for all types of transport? I think (although I'm not sure as my French is very poor) that it basically says I can't get from St Malo to Nantes via public transport if I want to leave later than 19:50. Getting back to St Malo from Nantes should be much easier because the ferry leaves St Malo at 20:10 so I can travel during the day.

I worked on the port in St. Malo for 28 years and can tell you there is no way you'll get off the ship, through customs, get a taxi and be at the train in 20 mins. Especially now that they have moved the station back another 600 metres. I presume you're looking at Condor Ferries timetable. Is it not possible to get the ship the night before from Portsmouth by Brittany Ferries ? Just a suggestion.

as per the site i posted, nothing after 19H30 you need to book it from 6H05 next day.st malo to nantes by train TER
there is no bus connection st malo to nantes direct at those times.

other options to try, contact the local bus transport service ,sometimes they can provide transportation on demand after hours,to discuss with them here is the email
cbasle@keolis.com
its in english, and they have online forms
http://www.keolis-emeraude.com/en/contacts/contact-keolis-emeraude.html

otherwise rent a car ...Good luck!

Sorry to say Pedro, but unless you book beforehand there is no-one at the terminal at 19h30 in the evening. The ferry terminal in St. Malo is still living in the dark ages. Not even an ATM there although Brittany Ferries do provide some changing, but not always.

dont be sorry find new things, that why i gave the email and contact, they do have pre arranged advance booking, all over France. In Nantes is more sophisticated they have a line especially for that, but the bus company Keolis does the run in Saint Malo too, so maybe its a possibility, just possibility to try ok.
and when all else fails then there is always the good ol'car ::)

Hmmm... thanks to you both for your help, but what you're saying seems to confirm my fears about St Malo - they don't want you to leave! Especially not after dark.
Fortunately I have a friend who might want to come with me. He has a car but no driving licence - I have a driving licence, but no car. Hopefully that'll work out. Thanks again.