Changing trains at Redon station, Brittany

[Drsatan]

Good evening all,

Next month, I will be travelling from Rennes to Bordeaux. One suggested itinerary is travelling from Rennes to Nantes, and then from Nantes to Bordeaux.

However, this involves a five-minute connection at Redon station. Does anyone with more experience of train travel in France know if this will be possible? If the train from Rennes to Redon is late, will the connecting train for Nantes be held?

Alternatively, there is a train an hour earlier which is direct from Rennes to Nantes. I'm minded to take that instead if the connection at Redon is risky, although it will involve a two-hour wait in Nantes. I'd be grateful to know if there's a left luggage facility at Nantes station.

Thank you in advance

 

[DeverseSam]

There’s no left luggage facility at the station but there are nearby hotels that do it.

I am surprised sncf is not routeing you through Paris, as Rennes Paris can be as little as 1h30

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Dec 2023 ==

Some of the trains Redon Nantes start at Redon and in my opinion are likely to be held. Others are coming from Brest and are more express ie less likely to be held

 

[Drsatan]

Thanks for your response. Me and my friend are travelling with Interrail passes so want to avoid reservation supplements.

 

[dutchflyer]

My own exp-with pass or without, in FR on SNCF is that timekeeping is quite good-except when they decide to strike again and that in the highly unlikely event of late running such connections will be held. TGVś even often arr a few mins early after long rides. Redon is a minor stop/station with short distance.
Nantes has a very fine tramway system (my own main interest), one of the very first new ones to open in FR last century. make a ride in it if you opt for the 2 hrs! Double check if the Nts-Bdx train is now not RES-compulsory!

 

[rvdborgt]

Double check if the Nts-Bdx train is now not RES-compulsory!

It is not.

 

[riceuten]

The one thing I can guarantee you about SNCF is that they are in no way, shape or form predictable. If you have a tight connection, it's worth making yourself known to the conductor, if there's one aboard. The SNCF connect app is also good for tracking the respective trains

 

[Redonian]

As my user name says I know Redon Station well although I no longer live in France.
I have experienced connections not being held there even when it was the last TER train of the day causing some pretty angry passengers.
It is likely that it will not be a cross platform change either so down into the subway.
There is a regular Rennes - Nantes train which runs non stop. It certainly used to bypass Redon on the east curve so presumably still does. I think it would be wise to take that than risking a faff at Redon.