anonymous
Traveller
2469 comments
Posted 11 years ago
Hi!
I'm hoping to travel from Frankfurt to Paris on the 30th April.
I just went to the station to try and make the reservation, but the guy spent ages scrolling down his computer screen looking lost. He told me that the only available reservation left was at 16:57, getting into Paris at about 20:30 (which doesn't work for me because I'm travelling on from Paris, and the last train that I can catch leaves at around 7pm).
I wondered if I'd reserved it too late and that really was the only one left, but now I notice that the one he mentioned also happens to be the only TGV on the list, the others all being ICE. Could it be that the ICE trains didn't show up on his system, or have I really left it to late and will have to find another way to Paris/pay for a ticket? It'll be the school holidays in France so I suppose it could be busy...
Thanks for your help!
Anna
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Hi Anna,
where did you try to get that reservation? What is your overall planned route on that day? Are you travelling with InterRail?
I used this connection in the opposite direction three years ago and got a reservation in Paris on the day of departure without problem. However, the IR quota for the ICE/TGV Alleo services (France - Germany high speed trains) had not been introduced. It could be that all seats allocated to IR pass holders are sold already as well as the guy at the counter wasn't able to help...I dont know.
Flo 8)
anonymous
Traveller
2469 comments
Hi Flo, thanks for the reply :)
I tried to get the reservation at Saint Brieuc (Bretagne). That's where I'll be travelling back to on the 30th, too (so the whole trip is Frankfurt - Saint Brieuc).
Aha, I didn't know there was now a quote on the ICE trains too, I suppose that could be it!
I think I'll go back and ask them to double check; if not I'll find some way to get back... :P
Thanks again,
Anna
EDIT: I'm travelling with Interrail, yes.
Oh, and also, I was curious because I remembered he told me some trains on the 1st of May were still available (no good for me, sadly). Sure enough, searching on the DB shows that the times he listed to me were the TGV trains and not the ICE ones. It could be a coincidence, I suppose - maybe all the ICE are full and the TGV aren't, but it's a bit strange!
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
So you are travelling with InterRail?
What about using a domestic TGV train from Strasbourg (going there via Mannheim - Karlsruhe - Kehl) or from Metz, using regular trains via Saarbrücken?
anonymous
Traveller
2469 comments
Sorry, forgot the question about Interrail!
Just edited my post above to say yes, I'm travelling with Interrail.
I've looked into local trains but can't find a route that'll get me into Paris before 7. I'll keep looking though!
This is what you get for being disorganised...
Thanks,
Anna
EDIT:
Oops, sorry, misread your reply.
Haven't looked at that particular route, thanks for the tip :)
Anna
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Well, have you got the TGV reservation for Paris - St Brieuc yet (I assume you want to take the 1908 departure)? Without that I wouldn't start looking for alternative routes to Paris. ;)
Frankfurt/Main Hbf 1250 - 1427 Offenburg
Offenburg 1434 - 1504 Strasbourg or
Offenburg 1504 - 1535 Strasbourg
Strasbourg 1546 - 1805 Paris Est change to Montparnasse with Metro 4
Paris Montparnasse 1908 - 2222 St Brieux
This connection takes just a few minutes longer but you would even save some money as the domestic TGV Strasbourg - Paris is just 6€ (given that you get this regular priced reservation and not the expensive one for 18€) whereas the direct ICE/TGV Alleo services are 13€.