Girona to Perpignan (potential delay due to a fire)

[stuartmoss]

Hi all, I’m due on the 17:16 tomorrow from Girona to Perpignan, but have had six emails this evening warning me that my train might either be late or cancelled…. At this point it hasn’t been cancelled and I’m still planning on going for it…but if anyone is in the know or has any great advice, it would be much appreciated. I have no accommodation tomorrow in Girona and have a non refundable room in Perpignan, so I’d really like to get there if I can. All advice appreciated, thank you.

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

You have the fall back option of the old line.

Girona 1907, Portbou 1959 / 2005 , Perpignan 2107. No reservations required.

There is a TGV at 1707 but I'm guessing that is fully booked.

 

[stuartmoss]

Thanks for this helpful info.

Would I need to buy tickets for each leg or a through ticket to Perpignan from Girona?

 

[rvdborgt]

Maybe that's related to the fires in the Marseille region. TGVs to Marseille stopped some time today. SNCF expect to be able to run tomorrow.

You have the fall back option of the old line.

Girona 1907, Portbou 1959 / 2005 , Perpignan 2107. No reservations required.

I'd then rather take the preceding 18:48 to Portbou.

There is a TGV at 1707 but I'm guessing that is fully booked.

SNCF still offer tickets.

Would I need to buy tickets for each leg or a through ticket to Perpignan from Girona?

Through tickets are not available. Renfe and SNCF don't sell tickets for each other's trains.

 

[Segedunum]

Thanks for this helpful info.

Would I need to buy tickets for each leg or a through ticket to Perpignan from Girona?

When I've done this route before (Jan 2025) it involved a visit to the travel centre at an SNCF station (apparently some TVMs sell it) for a ticket to Portbou then the ticket office or TVM from Portbou onwards.

With a six minute connection I appreciate that's probably pushing it! As @rvdborgt says it's worth leaving slightly earlier.

 

[signed]

Thanks for this helpful info.

Would I need to buy tickets for each leg or a through ticket to Perpignan from Girona?

Two tickets

Depending on wether French TERs go to Portbou or not, you would get a Girona-Portbou/Cerbère at the ticket machine and then Portbou/Cerbère to Perpignan online or at the ticket machines.

SNCF Connect does sell from Portbou online

 

[rvdborgt]

The high speed line to Marseille is open again, according to SNCF, so if that was the problem, it can run again.
It's currently not open to book, however, on the Renfe website, but maybe they only change that during office hours...

 

[stuartmoss]

Thanks everyone for your helpful advice. I’m going to go for my original booking but arrive early so I can plan to go the Portbou way should it be necessary.

 

[TimDon]

Hi all, I’m due on the 17:16 tomorrow from Girona to Perpignan, but have had six emails this evening warning me that my train might either be late or cancelled…. At this point it hasn’t been cancelled and I’m still planning on going for it…but if anyone is in the know or has any great advice, it would be much appreciated. I have no accommodation tomorrow in Girona and have a non refundable room in Perpignan, so I’d really like to get there if I can. All advice appreciated, thank you.

The high speed line to Marseille is open again, according to SNCF, so if that was the problem, it can run again.
It's currently not open to book, however, on the Renfe website, but maybe they only change that during office hours...

The morning TGVs between Marseilles and Madrid were cancelled yesterday without any information for passengers

 

[stuartmoss]

The Renfe staff at Girona were not very well informed. I got better info from this forum and @Peterthegreat via WhatsApp than I did from Renfe.

My train ran, arriving 20 mins late in Girona and arriving only a few minutes late in Perpignan. The guy working in the information office for Renfe had been mis advising passengers that the train would stop at Figueres and return to Madrid. He had been sending them the long and slow way, or telling them to travel the day after. Then I showed him the messages, causing him to ring control and check!

He also told us and about 6 more who did get the train from Girona the wrong carriage layout, so a sprint down the platform with 20kg of luggage was had. Anyway at least we got here.

Also the train was half-empty, when we did get on it, unlike the SNCF Paris train, which was packed.