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Eurostar/Trenitalia France connection

MicroLithium

Member
Joined
30 Jul 2024
Messages
109
Location
UK
Hello, I've booked to go to Aix-en-Provence on a Sunday at the end of September. The plan is:

St Pancras 10:30 - 13:59 Gare du Nord (Eurostar)
Gare de Lyon 15:10 - 18:14 Aix TGV (Frecciarossa)

A little over an hour seemed enough to change stations in Paris, and this is an itinerary that Trainline etc will offer, although I've booked separately. I assumed that Trenitalia would be covered by the usual HOTNAT/AJC passenger rights. However it seems from Seat61 (https://www.seat61.com/european-train-travel.htm#The_Railteam_Promise) that isn't the case: "Unfortunately, the AJC also doesn't cover Trenitalia France (who run Frecciarossa trains Paris-Turin/Milan & Paris-Lyon-Marseille), as they are a separate company from their parent Trenitalia". There's one more Frecciarossa departure that day, but it's several hours later and who knows if there'd be be seats available on the day.

Have I made a mistake here and booked the itinerary too tight? If the Eurostar is on time it'll be a doddle, but I'm a bit worried that I might be left without options and cover if there are any problems
 
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rvdborgt

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24 Feb 2022
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2,527
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Leuven
Move your Eurostar seat as far to the front of the train as possible (use Manage your booking on the Eurostar website). Make sure you have an RER ticket ready before you arrive in Paris.
Paris Nord to Paris Lyon takes about 25 minutes platform to platform using the RER; probably a few minutes extra coming from London.
 

MicroLithium

Member
Joined
30 Jul 2024
Messages
109
Location
UK
Move your Eurostar seat as far to the front of the train as possible (use Manage your booking on the Eurostar website). Make sure you have an RER ticket ready before you arrive in Paris.
Paris Nord to Paris Lyon takes about 25 minutes platform to platform using the RER; probably a few minutes extra coming from London.
Thank you, yes we're in the front standard class coach and use metro tickets on our phones so should be able to make the station change reasonably efficiently. Just have to hope for no major delays or cancellations on the Eurostar I suppose
 

mad_rich

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Joined
12 Feb 2013
Messages
592
Location
Newcastle
Which fare class is your Trenitalia ticket?

Having just checked, even the cheapest seem to be exchangeable up to departure time - although you'd have to buy up to the on-the-day price. There's a later Frecciarossa at 1912.

Or you can refund for a 20% penalty and take SNCF if that looks better.

The only exception might be if it was some Promo fare.
 

MicroLithium

Member
Joined
30 Jul 2024
Messages
109
Location
UK
Which fare class is your Trenitalia ticket?

Having just checked, even the cheapest seem to be exchangeable up to departure time - although you'd have to buy up to the on-the-day price. There's a later Frecciarossa at 1912.

Or you can refund for a 20% penalty and take SNCF if that looks better.

The only exception might be if it was some Promo fare.
It's Serenita, so yes exchangeable or refundable up to the scheduled departure time. Refunding and booking onto SNCF is a good suggestion to minimise delay if there are seats available, thank you. I guess there's no right to be rerouted onto an SNCF service if Eurostar foul the connection but the ability to refund the Trenitalia service limits the financial pain
 

befated

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21 Jun 2026
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27
Location
UK
Eurostar tickets are also exchangeable for free (until 2 hours before iirc) so you could also change to an earlier Eurostar from London.
 

MicroLithium

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Joined
30 Jul 2024
Messages
109
Location
UK
Eurostar tickets are also exchangeable for free (until 2 hours before iirc) so you could also change to an earlier Eurostar from London.
Thank you, also a good idea potentially if disruption known the night before - I’ve got a bit of a journey into St Pancras so don’t necessarily want to move the start of the day too early
 

LLivery

Established Member
Joined
13 Jul 2014
Messages
1,718
Location
Southeastern land
By RER you'll be fine. If the RER is screwed, take M5 to Quai de la Rapee. Tbh, if E* is on time, you could just about walk it in that time.
 

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