France has an excellent rail system. The French Railways (SNCF) run high speed trains (TGV) at speeds of up to 300 kph (186 mph). International services to the rest of Europe make Paris a popular destination by train.
Passengers arriving in Paris by train will arrive at one of six mainline terminus stations and finding the right station can be a nightmare. Here is a quick guide to the destinations served by each station.
Gare d'Austerlitz
Gare d'Austerlitz is the smallest mainline station in Paris. The major destinations served are Toulouse, Orleans and Tours, though a few services that usually run from either Gare de Lyon or Gare Montparnasse leave from Austerlitz to relieve congestion at the other stations.
Gare de l'Est
Gare de l'Est serves Eastern France, Luxembourg, Switzerland and Germany. It is also the Paris Terminus for the world famous Orient Express. Major destinations include Reims, Metz, Nancy, Strasbourg, Basle Luxembourg and Frankfurt.
Gare de Lyon
Gare de Lyon is the terminus for high speed trains to the South of France. Regular services to Marseille cover 750 km in a little over three hours. Other destinations include Lyon, Nice, Avignion, Montpelier, Grenoble and Geneva. International services to Milan and Barcelona also leave from here.
Gare Montparnasse
SNCF services from Gare Montparnasse serve Southern Brittany, The Loire Valley and The Atlantic Coast. Major Destinations include Tours, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Poitiers, Le Mans, Nantes, Quimper and Brest. There is also a regular suburban service to Versailles.
Gare du Nord
Gare du Nord is the International Terminus for both Eurostar and Thalys trains. Regular Eurostar services run through the Channel Tunnel to London St Pancras International, with some trains stopping at Ashford or Ebbsfleet. Thalys trains provide a direct link to Brussels, The Hague , Amsterdam and Cologne. Domestic destinations served by Gare du Nord include Lille, Calais and Bologne.
Passengers travelling by Eurostar are required to have a valid passport and pass through customs clearance, so please allow extra time for this.
Gare St Lazare
Gare St Lazare was the inspiration for one of Claude Monet's paintings. Today, trains to Normandy and parts of Brittany leave from here. Major destinations include Caen, Cherbourg, Deauville, Rouen and La Havre. There is also a regular suburban service to Versailles.
Changing stations
All mainline stations in Paris are served by RER , Metro and bus services. Gare du Nord, Gare d'l Est and Gare St Lazare are all within fairly easy reach of each other. Gare Montparnasse, Gare d'Austerlitz and Gare de Lyon are also within easy reach of each other - but a considerable distance from the other three. If changing trains in Paris allow at least 2 hours to cross the city and taxis are a reliable, if expensive, alternative to public transport.
It may be possible to avoid crossing Paris by changing trains at another station. For example, passengers travelling from London to the South of France can take the Eurostar to Lille and catch a direct connection from the same station.
John Oyston - I am a freelance travel writer, accountant and further education teacher. I have spent a lifetime travelling across the UK, Western Europe ...
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