Booking TGV question

[island]

I should like to book a return trip between CDG Airport and Marne la Vallée Chessy out on 29-NOV-15 and back on 02-DMR-15. Voyages-SNCF steadfastly refuses to sell me tickets or even show train times. I can price it up on B-Europe but it requires me to collect the tickets in person from a Belgian or Dutch station, which I am not in a position to do. Does anyone know of any other sites or methods to get these tickets?

 

[Bletchleyite]

www.loco2.com?

Seems to happily show me fares for those dates.

 

[NicholasNCE]

Indeed, neither Voyages-SNCF.com nor CaptainTrain return any results between CDG and Marne-la-Vallée, this is because both stations are within the Île-de-France region where all transport issues including pricing are regulated by the STIF, so traditionally no tickets have been available to purchase on TGVs between such station as otherwise the "carte Navigo" (local Oyster card equivalent) would have to be accepted on-board...
The only exception is between CDG or MLV and Massy, so the trick in your case could be to book a return between CDG and Massy and alight at MLV having checked the train serves both stations.

I am surprised that Loco2 can sell the ticket, please do advise if you actually manage to purchase it.

 

[CC 72100]

www.loco2.com?

Seems to happily show me fares for those dates.

Can even get it to show me a price of £22 for the 9 minute journey from CDG to MLV-Chessy.

However, as NicholasNCE says, I'd be intrigued how (and if) this pans out in reality.

 

[island]

I have purchased tickets in the past from Raileurope and at the station. So I don't think it's got to do with STIF. It could be that the SNCF doesn't want passengers taking up seats for a segment of the journey that blocks their use for through passengers but has bodged the implementation.

During this time my intended fellow passengers have decided they should prefer a minicab. If I convince them to change back I shall report on whether the booking goes through.

 

[NicholasNCE]

That explains it then as Loco2 is connected to the RailEurope booking system whilst voyages-sncf and CaptainTrain are connected to the domestic SNCF system. So these tickets are not meant to be sold within France, only to international customers.
I suppose this is as you say to avoid such bookings clogging up these long distance trains, a 2004 dated article corroborates this hypothesis: http://www.leparisien.fr/seine-et-m...n-train-de-banlieue-02-12-2004-2005503131.php

 

[Bletchleyite]

I have purchased tickets in the past from Raileurope and at the station. So I don't think it's got to do with STIF. It could be that the SNCF doesn't want passengers taking up seats for a segment of the journey that blocks their use for through passengers but has bodged the implementation.

Do SNCF not use the "u" and "s" system on their timetables, preferring instead to muck about with quotas?

 

[30907]

Do SNCF not use the "u" and "s" system on their timetables, preferring instead to muck about with quotas?

But it is only this specific combination that is barred (or partly barred, if the previous post is correct), for obvious reasons SNCF don't want a general ban on boarding/alighting at either station. All TGVs are compulsory reservation so not providing a fare is a simple solution.

 

[Gordon]

But it is only this specific combination that is barred (or partly barred, if the previous post is correct), for obvious reasons SNCF don't want a general ban on boarding/alighting at either station. .

The Swiss find it easy enough to put the 'set down' 'pick up' only symbols on individual trains on their 'paper' (and PDF versions of same) timetables



.

 

[30907]

The Swiss find it easy enough to put the 'set down' 'pick up' only symbols on individual trains on their 'paper' (and PDF versions of same) timetable.

Indeed. But the symbol in this case would be "does not pick up passengers for MLV/CDG" respectively. And how many of us use the .PDF or paper timetable for TGV Interconnexions - it does exist, I know.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Is that not the same as putting an "u" on MLV etc?

 

[NicholasNCE]

No because you want to be able to sell tickets such as Brussels > MLV, Lille > MLV, etc...
Only the short distance flows are restricted.

EDIT: The UK equivalent would be VTEC banning travel between EDB and HYM for example.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Ah I see, I thought they started at Paris.

 

[island]

This never went anywhere in the end, ended up on the RER which was free for some event of some sort.