London to Nice by Eurostar?

[MotCO]

I am planning a trip to Nice around next August Bank Holiday, and would like to travel by train. My initial thought is to go by Eurostar, but does it go all the way to Nice? Does it run every day? Does it stop at Ebbsfleet? Or would I need to change at Marseille?

The Eurostar timetables only seem to go up to next March.

Any help and advice is welcomed.

 

[AlexNL]

During the summer of 2018, the Eurostar trains ran according to this timetable:



As you can see, the trains do not call at Ebbsfleet, nor at Nice.

Eurostar haven't published their 2019 summer timetable yet, but it's likely that the 2019 service will be very similar to the times above. Eurostar are probably still working out the final timetable based on forecasted demand, the amount of direct trains to the south of France seems to vary over the years.

 

[Gerald Fiennes]

But the times won't vary much from last year. It's easy to get to Nice from Marseilles, best to go on the TGV as the local trains are pretty bashed up (even though they are less than 10 years old), although they are cheap. You can get a through fare from the ES or ouigo.fr (formerly SNCF) websites.

 

[TRAX]

But the times won't vary much from last year. It's easy to get to Nice from Marseilles, best to go on the TGV as the local trains are pretty bashed up (even though they are less than 10 years old), although they are cheap. You can get a through fare from the ES or ouigo.fr (formerly SNCF) websites.

The site you want to mention is oui.sncf, not Ouigo (which is the low-cost TGV).

 

[Gerald Fiennes]

Whoops, I stand corrected!

 

[Ken H]

We did that. Took an early eurostar to Lille then got a quick bite, then the through Lille-Nice TGV. Went on to Palermo via Florence and Naples(For Pompeii)

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

We did that. Took an early eurostar to Lille then got a quick bite, then the through Lille-Nice TGV. Went on to Palermo via Florence and Naples(For Pompeii)

The through Lille-Nice TGVs don't seem to be operating next year.
They don't show up on bahn.de anyway.
I generally wait till the winter European Rail Timetable is published next month for a full picture.

 

[Alfonso]

There's also the daytime thello train from Marseille to Nice if you don't fancy a tgv or local train

 

[duesselmartin]

There's also the daytime thello train from Marseille to Nice if you don't fancy a tgv or local train

Old fashioned loco hauled inter city stock. I can recommend it.

 

[k-c-p]

Starting December 2018 SNCF will run Ouigo to Nice. As I result it may scale back "regular" TGVs to Nice (SNCF wants to shift quite an mount of service to Ouigo to reduce costs).

When you opt to go to Marseille by EST I would recommend to buy a TGV/Ouigo ticket for the leg to Nice. It does not give much of an advantage in terms of time, but you will get a reserved seat
it will be less crowded and lot more comfortable than (pretty run down) the TER.

Bon Voyage
Charly

 

[MotCO]

Many thanks for all your help and comments.

Do you know when the Eurostar summer timetable will be published and when tickets for August will be on sale?

 

[AlexNL]

From the Eurostar website:

How far in advance can I book Eurostar tickets?
Eurostar tickets to Paris, Lille, Brussels and Amsterdam can usually be booked up to 180 days before your return travel date, however this can vary – for instance if there's engineering work on one of the lines – and there are a few exceptions.

Lyon, Avignon and Marseille
Tickets on the direct* Eurostar train go on sale between 150 and 280 days in advance, depending on when you book.

* On the way to the UK, you’ll need to arrive at Lyon Part-Dieu, Marseille Saint-Charles or Avignon TGV 20 minutes before departure. There are no ticket gates, security or passport control, as these will take place in Lille. Just hop on board and we’ll check your ticket en route. When you arrive in Lille, our onboard and station teams will guide you every step of the way.

We're already past the 280 days mark. I've asked Eurostar on Twitter if they have any information, and will reply here when I get a response.


Edit: Eurostar have responded:

tickets go on sale 180 days before any date of travel. I would advise keeping an eye on our website around this time for further information regarding times. Hope this helps.

August 1st - 180 days = February 2nd.

 

[MotCO]

From the Eurostar website:

Edit: Eurostar have responded:

August 1st - 180 days = February 2nd.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Welby]

Tickets for the direct service from London to Marseille for August have been on sale for a few months already.

 

[MotCO]

Tickets for the direct service from London to Marseille for August have been on sale for a few months already.

Thanks. I've had a look on the Eurostar website, and the only trains appear to be on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. In 2018, they also ran on Thursdays (the day I'm hoping to travel ). I'm assuming that they have dropped Thursdays, or will there be a timetable update?

 

[AlexNL]

In 2018, they also ran on Thursdays (the day I'm hoping to travel ). I'm assuming that they have dropped Thursdays, or will there be a timetable update?

The 2018 timetable (of which I embedded a screenshot in post #2) has a footnote for the Thursday service: "runs on 21 June 2018 only". So same service pattern as last year then.

 

[MotCO]

We did that. Took an early eurostar to Lille then got a quick bite, then the through Lille-Nice TGV. Went on to Palermo via Florence and Naples(For Pompeii)

I've been looking at this as an option, but am struggling to find a timetable for it for 2019. However, I have found this on the RailEurope site (although could only get a price in $s!).

Does anyone know if this train will run in 2019?

Thanks.

 

[404250]

Tgv and other French rail can't be booked too far in advance. Not sure, but might be only available till mid June at the moment.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

The SNCF web sites say summer bookings (from July 6 to December 14) will be available on March 26.
The only Lille-Nice direct service I can see on journey planners is at 0729 on Saturdays.

 

[cambsy]

I have done London to Nice by Eurostar and TGV, I went via Paris, using metro from Gare Du Nord to Gare De Lyon, Which done in about 25 mins, and the journey time from Paris-Nice is about 5hr 45 mins, with a decent choice of trains, there is also a great station buffet/restaurant at Gare De Lyon, called the Train Bleu which is an amazing place, stunning artwork on ceiling and great food, and if you can stomach crossing Paris I would recommend going this way.

 

[30907]

The problem is that Lille-Marseille has now become a major Ouigo route, as k-c-p said earlier (operating out of Lille Flandres not Europe) and the convenient lunchtime through service to Nice is one of the casualties.

 

[johnnychips]

^ if you are tempted to make a connection from Lille Europe to Lille Flanders, it is a 500m walk.

 

[MarcVD]

^ if you are tempted to make a connection from Lille Europe to Lille Flanders, it is a 500m walk.

And if those 500m afraid you (luggage, etc) then tram and métro provide the connection.

 

[Alfonso]

^ if you are tempted to make a connection from Lille Europe to Lille Flanders, it is a 500m walk.

Much of the 500m walk can be taken through a shopping centre, which means it's rarely too hot/cold/wet/windy

 

[Alfonso]

French summer train tickets now on sale apparently

 

[newmilton]

French summer train tickets now on sale apparently

I booked Lyon to Lille in August this morning, so yes, they are (sometimes the Lille and other regional services aren't released until after the Paris-centred ones). My outbound journey is on the direct E* from Ashford, but it doesn't run on a Thursday when I come back, so I have a separate ticket back from Lille to Ashford, booked in February.

(The direct south of France E* went on sale well before the usual six month horizon - not sure why, but I got a good fare!)

 

[Groningen]

That Eurostar 9084 from London to Marseille runs this year from May 3rd to September 16th 2019 on Monday, Friday and Saturday without change. Times away and return remain the same. Return has a 75 minutes stop in Lille for you know what!

 

[30907]

That Eurostar 9084 from London to Marseille runs this year from May 3rd to September 16th 2019 on Monday, Friday and Saturday without change. Times away and return remain the same. Return has a 75 minutes stop in Lille for you know what!

Plus Sundays 26 May and from 30 June to 1 Sept, so just as last year.

 

[Groningen]

Yes i saw that but did not want to bother you with that. It seems there is a Amsterdam - Marseille train this year also.

 

[MotCO]

Thank you for all your comments. I have decided to go London - Paris Gare du Nord, taxi across Paris and then Gare de Lyon to Nice. I'm not the quickest walker, so am allowing 1.5 hours to get off the Eurostar, grab a taxi, and board the TGV. Is this sufficient time? Are there any hints for minimising any delays? E.g., is it best to get seats at the front of the Eurostar so that I can get out of Gare du Nord quickly? Are there any passport checks leaving Gare du Nord, notwithstanding any changes which may occur due to Brexit.

I am aware that over here, if there are any delays on your journey such that you miss your connection, you can catch the next available serrvice. Does such an arrangement exist in France if I am delayed on the Eurostar? Does it matter if I break the train journey by taking a taxi?