Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Gare d'Austerlitz
Thissmallstationprovidesnon-TGVservicetotheLoireValley,southwesternFrance,and
Spain. All tracks are at street level. The information booth is opposite track 17, and all
ticket sales are in the hall opposite track 10. Baggage check, WCs (with €6 showers that
include towel, soap, and the works), and car rental are along the side of the station, oppos-
ite track 21. To get to the Métro and RER, you must walk outside and along either side of
the station.
Key Destinations Served by Gare d'Austerlitz: Versailles
(via RER-C, 4/hour, 35
minutes),
Amboise
(6/day direct in 2 hours, 5/day with transfer in Blois or Les Aubrais-
Orléans; faster TGV connection from Gare Montparnasse),
Sarlat
(1/day, 6.25 hours, re-
quires change to bus in Souillac, 3 more/day via Gare Montparnasse),
Carcassonne
(1
direct night train, 7.5 hours, plus a decent night train via Toulouse, better day trains from
Gare de Lyon),
Cahors
(5/day, 5 hours, at least 1 direct night train; slower trains from
Gare Montparnasse),
Barcelona
(1/night, 12.5 hours, make mandatory reservation at least
2 weeks ahead; day trains from Gare de Lyon), and
Madrid
(1 direct night train, 13-14
hours, make mandatory reservation at least 2 weeks ahead, 16 hours via Irun; day trains
from Gare Montparnasse).
Gare de Bercy
This smaller station mostly handles southbound non-TGV trains, but some TGV trains do
stop here in peak season (Mo: Bercy, one stop east of Gare de Lyon on line 14, exit the
Bercy Métro station and it's across the street). Facilities are limited—just a WC and a
sandwich-fare take-out café.
ThepriceyThalystrainhasthemonopolyontherailroutebetweenParisandBrussels(for
a cheaper option, try the Eurolines bus, tel. 08 36 69 52 52,
www.eurolines.com
)
. Without
a railpass you'll pay about €160-210 first class, €65-120 second class for the Paris-Am-
sterdam train (compared to €38-50 by bus), or about €40-70 second class for the Paris-
Brussels train (compared to €30 by bus). Even with a railpass, you need to pay for train
reservations(secondclass-€27-39;firstclass-€42-62,includesameal).Bookearlyforbest
rates (seats are limited in various discount categories,
www.thalys.com
)
. Or hop on the
bus, Gus.
A new TGV train called OUIGO (pronounced “we go”) offers a direct connection from
Disneyland Paris to southern France. These trains leave from the Marne-la-Vallée TGV
