Exploring France by Train: A Canadian Couple's Perspective

 

Lynne and Paul exploring France by train © Lynne McDonald

Travelling around France: Why Choose the Train?

You had visited France before. Why did you choose to travel by train this time?

We have been to France several times over the years. One time we travelled by car, and another time we took a train from Paris to Nice and then on to Italy.

This time, because we were going to bigger cities - Beaune, Lyon, Avignon, Aix-en-Provence, Marseille and Toulouse - we did not want to drive on major highways or in the cities, or worry about parking. The train was more convenient.

Do you often travel by train in Canada?

Not really. We live in Ontario, Canada, and we travel mainly by car. Over the years, I travelled by train when I was a student and did not have a car.

France has a dense, fast and heavily electrified high-speed rail network, while Canada focuses on vast, long-distance intercity and remote routes that are mostly diesel-powered and share tracks with freight trains.

 

The Differences Between French and Canadian Trains

The departure platform is often announced shortly before the train leaves © Lynne McDonald

 

What surprised you most about French railway stations?

One big difference is the boarding process!

In Canada, we know the track ahead of time and wait until the train is called for boarding. No rushing to the gate.

In France, in big cities, everyone watches the departure board for the track number, which, from our experience, is posted about 15 to 20 minutes before the train leaves.

It can be a bit overwhelming to hurry to the platform with all the other passengers and then find your car, which can be quite a distance down the platform, given the amount of time allotted.

French railway stations are also bigger, with more tracks and longer trains than in Canada.

And once on board, what did you think of French trains?

Your trains are very comfortable!

They also accommodate cyclists travelling from station to station with their bikes. That is not common in Canada, where bikes would be put with extra luggage, not necessarily with you.

For this particular trip, the train gave us the freedom to relax in a comfortable setting, watch the scenery between cities and arrive in the city centre, close to our hotels.

Seeing bicycles on board was something Lynne noticed about French trains © Lynne McDonald

 

Six French Cities: Highlights and a Few Challenges

Of the six cities you visited, which was your favourite?

We enjoyed all the cities, and each had its own places of interest and uniqueness.

Avignon was our favourite, especially the city itself and the surrounding countryside, with Nîmes, Pont du Gard and Uzès, for example.

Aix-en-Provence was our least favourite.

Avignon was Lynne and Paul's favourite stop © Lynne McDonald

Did all your train journeys go as planned?

Travelling was fine overall, but we did have a few challenges.

We did not realize we had to go to Lyon and then take another train to Beaune. Unfortunately, the first train was delayed and we missed the second connection.

I emailed Romane at Discovery Trains because we were not sure if our tickets were still valid after missing the connecting train. She assured us it was still okay to use our tickets.

We searched for a train employee, and he helped us find the next train and which platform it was leaving from.

We got into Beaune late in the afternoon, and we had only planned one night. We really did not have much time to enjoy the town.

In hindsight, I would have considered doing a day trip from Lyon or staying a second night.

We might also have chosen to make a stop between Marseille and Toulouse, as it was our longest train ride.

Beaune: a lovely town, but not quite enough time to enjoy it © Lynne McDonald

Did travelling without a car ever feel limiting?

Not for this particular trip.

The train gave us the freedom to relax in a comfortable setting, watch the scenery between cities and arrive in the city centre close to our hotels.

It was very convenient and allowed us to walk around at our leisure and see most of the places of interest in the cities.

If we wanted to tour around the area, there were plenty of guided tour options.

Marseille and its harbour © Lynne McDonald

Lynne's Advice for Canadian Travellers

What practical advice would you give Canadians planning to explore France by train?

I would let travellers who are not used to the European train system know to arrive early at railway stations, to get the lay of the land.

Once the platform is announced, there is not a lot of time given to board.

If a Canadian friend was hesitant about exploring France by train, what would you tell them?

It would depend on the type of trip they were considering.

For touring the big cities, it was stress-free regarding highways, parking, etc., and most of the train stations are located in the city centres.

If we wanted to tour around the area, there were plenty of guided tour options.

The Pont du Gard, one of the highlights of the area around Avignon © Lynne McDonald

Planning a Train Trip to France from Canada

Why did you decide to have Discovery Trains organize your trip?

On this trip, I did not have the time or energy to work out the train schedules, hotels, etc.

I liked that I gave you an itinerary and then you provided me with an outline of the trip — trains and hotels — to review before committing.

There are so many scams and websites that are not legitimate, so it was reassuring to have the video chat, especially as I had not heard of your company before.

You were very patient, answering all our questions. You provided exceptional customer service.

The step-by-step journey PDF file was an excellent guide, with extra details for sightseeing and restaurant suggestions.

Vouchers could be printed or downloaded digitally.

I also appreciated being able to pay by Canadian e-transfer, which made payment easy, with no extra costs to send the money.

Enjoying the views over Lyon © Lynne McDonald

A big thank you to Lynne and Paul for generously sharing their experiences, advice and personal photographs. And congratulations once again on your 50th wedding anniversary!