posted
Hello, Me and my friend would like to visit EuroDisney in France. I've been before with family on a coach but this time since my friend has never left the UK I thought it would be nice to travel by plane until someone suggested a take the TGV. It looks fantastic. I don't want to go via Euro Tunnel and would prefer to get a plane to France and then continue to journey on TGV to Paris direct the the ED Train station if it permits and if not we can get off the TGV and jump on a normal train to Paris.
Can anyone advise us on what route to take as the map on TGV.COM is rather confusing :&. The airport needs to be near a TGV station and the only one I know with a TGV station is Charles De Gaulle but that sort of defeats the object as we wouldn't be on very long.
Thank you for any replies.
MPALMER Member # 125
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Suggest you post this on the International page. Fly to southern France and take the TGV back.
SteveD Member # 43
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What is basis for avoiding the Chuunel? I've ridden through it and didn'y get a drop on me.
Geoff Mayo Member # 153
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Eurotunnel is the car and lorry shuttle between Dover and Calais, no foot passengers allowed. Eurostar is the passenger service from London Waterloo to Paris Nord, Brussels Midi, and (less frequently) Disneyland Paris, Avignon, and Bourg St. Maurice (spelling going rapidly downhill at this point).
Yes, that means you can go *direct* from London to Disneyland Paris on one train, which is so much easier than flying. Assuming you live in London, you get the train to Heathrow, hang around for ages, fly to CDG, hang around customs, get on a TGV to Disneyland, and thus spend the best part of the day doing just 300 miles.
Go by train from capital to park and it'll take about 3.5 hours including check-in time. The Disneyland station is quite literally right outside the turnstiles for the park - even closer than the parking area.
You're only in the tunnel for about 20 minutes and to be honest, you don't notice it at all.
Geoff M.
Tarq Member # 2499
posted
I wouldn't mind the EuroTunnel but theres a specific type of TGV I want to go on with seats. I don't want to be stuck in a car or bus thats just pointless. I want to sit and enjoy the ride so that means even though the ES would be cool thats not a good idea unless I got off in Calais and went the rest of the way on TGV. I also need to be able to give reasons for wanting to do this so going out of my way is out of the question too lol. I don't want people to think I'm any sadder! Any other ideas? Thanks for your previous posts!
Geoff Mayo Member # 153
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Well, Eurostar *is* a TGV technically speaking, just a little smaller in profile. Same top speed, same horrible restrooms, same snooty bar staff.
There are a couple of Eurostar trains that call at Calais-Frethun. More call at Lille, which is where you could change to a "proper" TGV - in fact there are probably more options when going to Disneyland Paris doing it that way.
Another option is to get a car ferry to Calais, drive down to Calais-Frethun or Lille, and take the train from there.
Still confused as to what the objection is of going through the Channel Tunnel.
Geoff M.
Tarq Member # 2499
posted
I have no objection to the channel Tunnel but I thought that it wasn't a passenger train. Secondly I don't have a car. So could I go by Eurostar from a London Railway station to Calais then board a TGV to paris?
Geoff Mayo Member # 153
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Eurostar is a *passenger* service from London or Ashford (Kent) to Calais, Lille, Paris, and Brussels. It also has trains to Disneyland Paris (formerly Eurodisney) and other places. The Eurostar is *based on* the TGV and runs at the same 186mph. I don't think there are any TGVs from Calais, apart from Eurostar. Change at *Lille* if you want a "proper" TGV.
Geoff M.
Tarq Member # 2499
posted
Hello, why do you keep *quoting* me like that. I'm really chuffed. I took your advise and tried to buy tickets separatly for Eurostar and TGV but if you use Eurostar service from London Waterloo to Disneyland Resort it means that you automatically go by Eurostar from London to Lille and then TGV from Lille to Paris and vice versa on return. Is Lille to Paris a high speed TGV only line? Would it be TGV Atlantique? Thanks for past replies
I got quoted 109.00 GBP which is think is cheap thats per person btw. Do you agree?
Geoff Mayo Member # 153
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For emphasis.
I think the trainsets are the TGV Réseau sets. The Atlantiques run towards the west, Le Mans, Tours etc. The line is high speed from the Channel Tunnel entrance (French side) pretty much all the way down to the south of France, including the bypass bit around Paris where the Disney stop is. http://mercurio.iet.unipi.it/tgv/tgvindex.html is a very good site all about TGVs and LGVs (in English).
Geoff M.
Tarq Member # 2499
posted
Thats good then according to this website "This generation is visually indistinguishable from the TGV Atlantique, although it does have some differences. It was designed to run on the whole TGV network, and it has an important feature, the passenger coaches are pressure sealed. This is because when trains enter tunnels at speeds over 100mph or 160km/h, large pressure changes can occur which can be painful to passengers ears. This is the first train in the world to be sealed. Called Reseau because it means network, and this is designed as a full network TGV. It was introduced in 1993. This represented the 3rd generation of TGV, the first TGVs to have a design speed of 200mph or 320km/h. This is so the speed can be slightly increased from 186mph 300km/h if desired in the future. (Note: An extra 14mph or 20km/h is really not a lot!)" Would I get off Eurostar and on TGV at same station? Do you think thats a good price? Thanks.
Tarq Member # 2499
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Does the TGV go direct to disney or would I have to get off at Paris and get a taxi/normal train?
Geoff Mayo Member # 153
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Re-read my first post. It answers all your questions.