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London to Bordeaux avoiding Paris entirely

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peteb

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Some friends are planning to travel to Bordeaux on Friday 30/08/2024. Unfortunately this is during the Paralympics. They want to avoid changing at Paris completely but have no issues changing trains in eg: Lille (Europe to Flanders) or any other TGV stopping points. I'm struggling to find an "avoid" feature on the usual rail planners. Can anyone make a suggestion or point me to an app with "avoid" capability? Thanks.
 
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peteb

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There is a direct service from Lille to Bordeaux so this could be an option.
Ah yes thanks, though the early morning one entails an overnight in Lille and the late afternoon one would entail an overnight in Bordeaux. They need to travel onwards by hire car. I'll refer them to these.
 

nwales58

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Mention to them both southbound through TGVs are currently from Lille Flandres, short level walk from Lille Europe and might influence choice of hotel if catching the early one. Lille is a pleasant place for a night stop, walk into the old centre and beyond to see the Vauban citadelle ramparts if time. 130x from London gives 1h50 between arriving at Lille Europe and the departure from Lille Flandes which is quite a bit of time to kill with luggage.

If returning, the early one is Bordeaux-Lille Flandres, the afternoon one goes to Lille Europe with a comfortable 90' connection into Eurostar to London.

The reason these don't always show up in planners is that even from Lille it's always a little faster to change in Paris. Try add via CDG (Aeroport Paris Charles de Gaulle).
 
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dutchflyer

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Note that as august is still the traditional FR holiday month-hence todays planned ´grand départ´ struck by the arson attack with fires along the TGV-lines, 30/8 will be the equiv for going back-mostly to Paris, but also any other main city. I do not think those para-lympics will add much traffic on trains. If at all possible, try to change that date!
IF times for direct Lil-Bdx TGV do not suit, try with a change in f.e. Lyon with 2 such links-but I highly doubt this will offer much real altern.
What the FR still call the ´classic´ lines would be via LIlle-Amiens-Rouen-le Mans or around-Nantes, then in 5 hrs to Bordeaux-all on local/regional TER trains and cannot be done in 1 day. Most sectors have the usual quite sparse service on offer and very bad connections between them.
 

riceuten

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Ah yes thanks, though the early morning one entails an overnight in Lille and the late afternoon one would entail an overnight in Bordeaux. They need to travel onwards by hire car. I'll refer them to these.
It's a 5 hour journey by direct train, so the chances of getting anything that leaves early enough to get to Bordeaux before the car hire office shuts, but late enough to allow for a arrival from London are slim. On the 30th there uis a journey changing at Lille (staying in Europe Station), Marne-Le-Valle, and Massy. Not idea, but does get to Bordeaux at a reasonable hour

Journey on Fr. 30.08.2024
• from London St. Pancras International, departure at 07:04 with EST 9110
• to Bordeaux-St-Jean, arrival at 16:14 with TGV 8547
View journey: https://int.bahn.de/en/buchung/start?vbid=33aafcee-a403-4599-abbb-e709c36c4e53
 

30907

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It's a 5 hour journey by direct train, so the chances of getting anything that leaves early enough to get to Bordeaux before the car hire office shuts, but late enough to allow for a arrival from London are slim. On the 30th there uis a journey changing at Lille (staying in Europe Station), Marne-Le-Valle, and Massy. Not idea, but does get to Bordeaux at a reasonable hour

Journey on Fr. 30.08.2024
• from London St. Pancras International, departure at 07:04 with EST 9110
• to Bordeaux-St-Jean, arrival at 16:14 with TGV 8547
View journey: https://int.bahn.de/en/buchung/start?vbid=33aafcee-a403-4599-abbb-e709c36c4e53
Good spot, but those connections round Paris look risky to me.

I think I would overnight in Lille, with an evening train from STP. I don't like arriving too late at destination with a hire car!
 

peteb

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It's a 5 hour journey by direct train, so the chances of getting anything that leaves early enough to get to Bordeaux before the car hire office shuts, but late enough to allow for a arrival from London are slim. On the 30th there uis a journey changing at Lille (staying in Europe Station), Marne-Le-Valle, and Massy. Not idea, but does get to Bordeaux at a reasonable hour

Journey on Fr. 30.08.2024
• from London St. Pancras International, departure at 07:04 with EST 9110
• to Bordeaux-St-Jean, arrival at 16:14 with TGV 8547
View journey: https://int.bahn.de/en/buchung/start?vbid=33aafcee-a403-4599-abbb-e709c36c4e53
Useful thanks

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

Take the tram to the airport and rent a car from there, they’ll be open later
Good point, will advise

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

Note that as august is still the traditional FR holiday month-hence todays planned ´grand départ´ struck by the arson attack with fires along the TGV-lines, 30/8 will be the equiv for going back-mostly to Paris, but also any other main city. I do not think those para-lympics will add much traffic on trains. If at all possible, try to change that date!
IF times for direct Lil-Bdx TGV do not suit, try with a change in f.e. Lyon with 2 such links-but I highly doubt this will offer much real altern.
What the FR still call the ´classic´ lines would be via LIlle-Amiens-Rouen-le Mans or around-Nantes, then in 5 hrs to Bordeaux-all on local/regional TER trains and cannot be done in 1 day. Most sectors have the usual quite sparse service on offer and very bad connections between them.
That's the journey I'd choose! However my friends just want speed/comfort and if possible avoid Paris!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

Thanks for suggestions folks, I've passed advice on. We'll have to see which route they choose and I'll report back if any interesting issues in France on 30/8 though today's events might mean even tighter security etc
 
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