Question:

I’m traveling to Paris in a week and would like to know of any medieval cities within in two hours or so from paris..  Also does anyone know how much it will to travel to amsterdam and back by train(second class)…            Thanks……

Response:

 I’m traveling to Paris in a week and would like to know of any  medieval cities within in two hours or so from paris..  Also does  anyone know how much it will to travel to amsterdam and back by  train(second class)…

I’m not an expert, but I suspect that there are many mediaeval cities within a short distance of Paris — depending on what it is that you are looking for.  Chartres, for example, is about an hour from Paris on the train, and the area of the city around the famous cathedral is reasonably well preserved. As for the trip to Amsterdam, prices on the Thalys are EUR 72,20, EUR 107,00, or EUR 162,60 — depending on the type of ticket available.  The Thalys is the only practical train between Paris and Brussels.  One can change trains at Brussels and board a standard (non-Thalys) international train for the Brussels to Amsterdam part of the journey, but this is not necessarily a big savings in terms of cost.  Indeed, putting in a couple of dates for next weekend at the SNCF web site produces prices that are _more_ expensive for non-Thalys travel (Thalys at EUR 107,00; Thalys plus international train at EUR 185,60). FWIW, I agree with some others that the SNCF web site has some annoyances in terms of research, but you should be able to use it to get at least a general idea of prices:         <http://www.voyages-sncf.com/ — hate spam? <http://www.cauce.org            <http://www.byshenk.net/ive.been.spammed.html

Response:

I’m traveling to Paris in a week and would like to know of any medieval cities within in two hours or so from paris..  Also does anyone know how much it will to travel to amsterdam and back by train(second class)…            Thanks……

Gent (Belgium) is exactly 2 hours by train from Paris… definitely a medieval city centre. Bruges is 20 minutes further away, but then you’re over your 2 hour limit. A nice city to visit in France in Troyes, which is east of Paris. Erik Evrard

Response:

Hi, you can find general info about Paris and Amsterdam at my website http://www.geocities.com/absolutelyParis and http://www.geocities.com/allcityguides/AmsterdamNL plus some train links at the – railroad – section of my index — HoloGuides MasterIndex We are proud to be of service. http://www.geocities.com/HoloGuides/MasterIndex.htm – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m traveling to Paris in a week and would like to know of any medieval cities within in two hours or so from paris..  Also does anyone know how much it will to travel to amsterdam and back by train(second class)…            Thanks……

Response:

I’m traveling to Paris in a week and would like to know of any medieval cities within in two hours or so from paris..  Also does anyone know how much it will to travel to amsterdam and back by train(second class)…            Thanks……

Response:

 I’m traveling to Paris in a week and would like to know of any  medieval cities within in two hours or so from paris..  Also does  anyone know how much it will to travel to amsterdam and back by  train(second class)…

I’m not an expert, but I suspect that there are many mediaeval cities within a short distance of Paris — depending on what it is that you are looking for.  Chartres, for example, is about an hour from Paris on the train, and the area of the city around the famous cathedral is reasonably well preserved. As for the trip to Amsterdam, prices on the Thalys are EUR 72,20, EUR 107,00, or EUR 162,60 — depending on the type of ticket available.  The Thalys is the only practical train between Paris and Brussels.  One can change trains at Brussels and board a standard (non-Thalys) international train for the Brussels to Amsterdam part of the journey, but this is not necessarily a big savings in terms of cost.  Indeed, putting in a couple of dates for next weekend at the SNCF web site produces prices that are _more_ expensive for non-Thalys travel (Thalys at EUR 107,00; Thalys plus international train at EUR 185,60). FWIW, I agree with some others that the SNCF web site has some annoyances in terms of research, but you should be able to use it to get at least a general idea of prices:         <http://www.voyages-sncf.com/ — hate spam? <http://www.cauce.org            <http://www.byshenk.net/ive.been.spammed.html

Response:

I’m traveling to Paris in a week and would like to know of any medieval cities within in two hours or so from paris..  Also does anyone know how much it will to travel to amsterdam and back by train(second class)…            Thanks……

Gent (Belgium) is exactly 2 hours by train from Paris… definitely a medieval city centre. Bruges is 20 minutes further away, but then you’re over your 2 hour limit. A nice city to visit in France in Troyes, which is east of Paris. Erik Evrard

Response:

Hi, you can find general info about Paris and Amsterdam at my website http://www.geocities.com/absolutelyParis and http://www.geocities.com/allcityguides/AmsterdamNL plus some train links at the – railroad – section of my index — HoloGuides MasterIndex We are proud to be of service. http://www.geocities.com/HoloGuides/MasterIndex.htm – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m traveling to Paris in a week and would like to know of any medieval cities within in two hours or so from paris..  Also does anyone know how much it will to travel to amsterdam and back by train(second class)…            Thanks……

Response:

Question:

I wil be in Brussels in September and I was wondering about the Brussels-Amsterdam train. How much faster or how many minutes do you save, taking the Thalys as opposed to the regular train? What is the difference in cost? Thalys is about 15 minutes faster. Difference in cost depends on the type of Thalys ticket you get, but can be substantial.It is NOT worth it to take the Thalys between Brussels and Amsterdam. Sjoerd

If you get a special "Mini" return ticket with Thalys (very limited number of them, so book long time in advance) is it *cheaper* to take the Thalys than the normal train: Mini ticket with Thalys: 32 euro (US$28) return. Normal ticket with normal train: 60 euro ($53) return. Weekend ticket with normal train: 36 euro ($32) return. So you save between 47 and 28 euro if you can buy a Thalys Mini ticket instead of taking the normal train.

Response:

I wil be in Brussels in September and I was wondering about the Brussels-Amsterdam train. How much faster or how many minutes do you save, taking the Thalys as opposed to the regular train? What is the difference in cost?

Thalys is about 15 minutes faster. Difference in cost depends on the type of Thalys ticket you get, but can be substantial.It is NOT worth it to take the Thalys between Brussels and Amsterdam. Sjoerd

Response:

In June we took Thalys (very nice) from Cologne to Paris one way. The (Sunday/2 class) fare was $~59.  Since we wanted a 4-hour stop in Brussels, we HAD  to purchase the trip in 2 segments, which totaled $~72.  It was worth the extra $13 to spend the time in Brussels.  So the answer is NO, you probably can’t do this with a RT ticket. I’m flying into and out of paris early this fall.  I’d like to hit Brussles for a day and Amsterdam for a day or two via train.  Can I do this with a single paris-amsterdam round tip train ticket? I’d prefer a higher speed option like the Thalys, but although it doesn’t say so on thier website, I assume you can’t stop for a day due to seat reservations.  If this is so, what options are best?

You can do it with TCV tickets, one way or return but they are not sold for Thalys from or to Paris. Regards & x-post, ULF — Ulf Kutzner     Backhaushohl 46         D-55128 Mainz

Response:

I’ve searched for an answer to this, but have come up empty… I’m flying into and out of paris early this fall.  I’d like to hit Brussles for a day and Amsterdam for a day or two via train.  Can I do this with a single paris-amsterdam round tip train ticket? I’d prefer a higher speed option like the Thalys, but although it doesn’t say so on thier website, I assume you can’t stop for a day due to seat reservations.  If this is so, what options are best?

A Thalys ticket Paris – Amsterdam won’t let you make a stopover in Brussels. But then, you don’t need Thalys for the Brussels-Amsterdam part of your Journey. Thalys on Brussels – Amsterdam is only marginally faster then the conventional train and is only really of use to people wanting a single seat trip Paris – Amsterdam at all cost… Suggestion: Book a Paris-Brussels Return on Thalys. Book a morning train on the outward journey, and an evening one on the Journey back. Additionally buy an open return Brussels – Amsterdam. This way you can spend some time in Brussels, and just jump the first train to Amsterdam (they go hourly) once you’re bored… (not that you will Krist

Response:

I wil be in Brussels in September and I was wondering about the Brussels-Amsterdam train. How much faster or how many minutes do you save, taking the Thalys as opposed to the regular train? What is the difference in cost? Thanks in advance. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve searched for an answer to this, but have come up empty… I’m flying into and out of paris early this fall.  I’d like to hit Brussles for a day and Amsterdam for a day or two via train.  Can I do this with a single paris-amsterdam round tip train ticket? I’d prefer a higher speed option like the Thalys, but although it doesn’t say so on thier website, I assume you can’t stop for a day due to seat reservations.  If this is so, what options are best? A Thalys ticket Paris – Amsterdam won’t let you make a stopover in Brussels. But then, you don’t need Thalys for the Brussels-Amsterdam part of your Journey. Thalys on Brussels – Amsterdam is only marginally faster then the conventional train and is only really of use to people wanting a single seat trip Paris – Amsterdam at all cost… Suggestion: Book a Paris-Brussels Return on Thalys. Book a morning train on the outward journey, and an evening one on the Journey back. Additionally buy an open return Brussels – Amsterdam. This way you can spend some time in Brussels, and just jump the first train to Amsterdam (they go hourly) once you’re bored… (not that you will Krist

Response:

I’ve searched for an answer to this, but have come up empty… I’m flying into and out of paris early this fall.  I’d like to hit Brussles for a day and Amsterdam for a day or two via train.  Can I do this with a single paris-amsterdam round tip train ticket? I’d prefer a higher speed option like the Thalys, but although it doesn’t say so on thier website, I assume you can’t stop for a day due to seat reservations.  If this is so, what options are best?

You can’t stop in Brussels on a Thalys ticket Paris to Amsterdam. Anyway, you don’t need a Thalys from Brussels to Amsterdam, because the high speed tracks are not ready yet North of Brussels. The normal train is cheaper and you don’t need reservations. So you can stop in Antwerp, Rotterdam or delft on your way to Amsterdam. Sjoerd

Response:

I’ve searched for an answer to this, but have come up empty… I’m flying into and out of paris early this fall.  I’d like to hit Brussles for a day and Amsterdam for a day or two via train.  Can I do this with a single paris-amsterdam round tip train ticket? I’d prefer a higher speed option like the Thalys, but although it doesn’t say so on thier website, I assume you can’t stop for a day due to seat reservations.  If this is so, what options are best? Thanks in advance.

Response:

In June we took Thalys (very nice) from Cologne to Paris one way. The (Sunday/2 class) fare was $~59.  Since we wanted a 4-hour stop in Brussels, we HAD  to purchase the trip in 2 segments, which totaled $~72.  It was worth the extra $13 to spend the time in Brussels.  So the answer is NO, you probably can’t do this with a RT ticket.  I haven’t seen this in writing anywhere, but that’s how it worked out buying the tickets in Cologne.   You may need 3 tickets and reservations.  Early in June, on a weekend, we didn’t worry about getting seat reservations in advance.  Thalys could be much busier on a weekday–reservations might be smart then.  It looks like changes are easy and without cost–but check their website fine print.  This was my experience, but you could always call Thalys to check. If you plan to store luggage at the Brussells-Midi station it can be done, but took lots of change–the one change machine we found wasn’t working.  A real sweetheart vendor took pity on me and gave me lots of coins as change. Next time a week in Brussels! God Bless, Jerry/Milwaukee – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m flying into and out of paris early this fall.  I’d like to hit Brussles for a day and Amsterdam for a day or two via train.  Can I do this with a single paris-amsterdam round tip train ticket? I’d prefer a higher speed option like the Thalys, but although it doesn’t say so on thier website, I assume you can’t stop for a day due to seat reservations.  If this is so, what options are best?

Response:

I’ve searched for an answer to this, but have come up empty… I’m flying into and out of paris early this fall.  I’d like to hit Brussles for a day and Amsterdam for a day or two via train.  Can I do this with a single paris-amsterdam round tip train ticket? I’d prefer a higher speed option like the Thalys, but although it doesn’t say so on thier website, I assume you can’t stop for a day due to seat reservations.  If this is so, what options are best? Thanks in advance.

Response:

In June we took Thalys (very nice) from Cologne to Paris one way. The (Sunday/2 class) fare was $~59.  Since we wanted a 4-hour stop in Brussels, we HAD  to purchase the trip in 2 segments, which totaled $~72.  It was worth the extra $13 to spend the time in Brussels.  So the answer is NO, you probably can’t do this with a RT ticket.  I haven’t seen this in writing anywhere, but that’s how it worked out buying the tickets in Cologne.   You may need 3 tickets and reservations.  Early in June, on a weekend, we didn’t worry about getting seat reservations in advance.  Thalys could be much busier on a weekday–reservations might be smart then.  It looks like changes are easy and without cost–but check their website fine print.  This was my experience, but you could always call Thalys to check. If you plan to store luggage at the Brussells-Midi station it can be done, but took lots of change–the one change machine we found wasn’t working.  A real sweetheart vendor took pity on me and gave me lots of coins as change. Next time a week in Brussels! God Bless, Jerry/Milwaukee – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m flying into and out of paris early this fall.  I’d like to hit Brussles for a day and Amsterdam for a day or two via train.  Can I do this with a single paris-amsterdam round tip train ticket? I’d prefer a higher speed option like the Thalys, but although it doesn’t say so on thier website, I assume you can’t stop for a day due to seat reservations.  If this is so, what options are best?

Response:

I’ve searched for an answer to this, but have come up empty… I’m flying into and out of paris early this fall.  I’d like to hit Brussles for a day and Amsterdam for a day or two via train.  Can I do this with a single paris-amsterdam round tip train ticket? I’d prefer a higher speed option like the Thalys, but although it doesn’t say so on thier website, I assume you can’t stop for a day due to seat reservations.  If this is so, what options are best?

You can’t stop in Brussels on a Thalys ticket Paris to Amsterdam. Anyway, you don’t need a Thalys from Brussels to Amsterdam, because the high speed tracks are not ready yet North of Brussels. The normal train is cheaper and you don’t need reservations. So you can stop in Antwerp, Rotterdam or delft on your way to Amsterdam. Sjoerd

Response:

I’ve searched for an answer to this, but have come up empty… I’m flying into and out of paris early this fall.  I’d like to hit Brussles for a day and Amsterdam for a day or two via train.  Can I do this with a single paris-amsterdam round tip train ticket? I’d prefer a higher speed option like the Thalys, but although it doesn’t say so on thier website, I assume you can’t stop for a day due to seat reservations.  If this is so, what options are best?

A Thalys ticket Paris – Amsterdam won’t let you make a stopover in Brussels. But then, you don’t need Thalys for the Brussels-Amsterdam part of your Journey. Thalys on Brussels – Amsterdam is only marginally faster then the conventional train and is only really of use to people wanting a single seat trip Paris – Amsterdam at all cost… Suggestion: Book a Paris-Brussels Return on Thalys. Book a morning train on the outward journey, and an evening one on the Journey back. Additionally buy an open return Brussels – Amsterdam. This way you can spend some time in Brussels, and just jump the first train to Amsterdam (they go hourly) once you’re bored… (not that you will Krist

Response:

I wil be in Brussels in September and I was wondering about the Brussels-Amsterdam train. How much faster or how many minutes do you save, taking the Thalys as opposed to the regular train? What is the difference in cost? Thanks in advance. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve searched for an answer to this, but have come up empty… I’m flying into and out of paris early this fall.  I’d like to hit Brussles for a day and Amsterdam for a day or two via train.  Can I do this with a single paris-amsterdam round tip train ticket? I’d prefer a higher speed option like the Thalys, but although it doesn’t say so on thier website, I assume you can’t stop for a day due to seat reservations.  If this is so, what options are best? A Thalys ticket Paris – Amsterdam won’t let you make a stopover in Brussels. But then, you don’t need Thalys for the Brussels-Amsterdam part of your Journey. Thalys on Brussels – Amsterdam is only marginally faster then the conventional train and is only really of use to people wanting a single seat trip Paris – Amsterdam at all cost… Suggestion: Book a Paris-Brussels Return on Thalys. Book a morning train on the outward journey, and an evening one on the Journey back. Additionally buy an open return Brussels – Amsterdam. This way you can spend some time in Brussels, and just jump the first train to Amsterdam (they go hourly) once you’re bored… (not that you will Krist

Response:

I wil be in Brussels in September and I was wondering about the Brussels-Amsterdam train. How much faster or how many minutes do you save, taking the Thalys as opposed to the regular train? What is the difference in cost?

Thalys is about 15 minutes faster. Difference in cost depends on the type of Thalys ticket you get, but can be substantial.It is NOT worth it to take the Thalys between Brussels and Amsterdam. Sjoerd

Response:

In June we took Thalys (very nice) from Cologne to Paris one way. The (Sunday/2 class) fare was $~59.  Since we wanted a 4-hour stop in Brussels, we HAD  to purchase the trip in 2 segments, which totaled $~72.  It was worth the extra $13 to spend the time in Brussels.  So the answer is NO, you probably can’t do this with a RT ticket. I’m flying into and out of paris early this fall.  I’d like to hit Brussles for a day and Amsterdam for a day or two via train.  Can I do this with a single paris-amsterdam round tip train ticket? I’d prefer a higher speed option like the Thalys, but although it doesn’t say so on thier website, I assume you can’t stop for a day due to seat reservations.  If this is so, what options are best?

You can do it with TCV tickets, one way or return but they are not sold for Thalys from or to Paris. Regards & x-post, ULF — Ulf Kutzner     Backhaushohl 46         D-55128 Mainz

Response:

I wil be in Brussels in September and I was wondering about the Brussels-Amsterdam train. How much faster or how many minutes do you save, taking the Thalys as opposed to the regular train? What is the difference in cost? Thalys is about 15 minutes faster. Difference in cost depends on the type of Thalys ticket you get, but can be substantial.It is NOT worth it to take the Thalys between Brussels and Amsterdam. Sjoerd

If you get a special "Mini" return ticket with Thalys (very limited number of them, so book long time in advance) is it *cheaper* to take the Thalys than the normal train: Mini ticket with Thalys: 32 euro (US$28) return. Normal ticket with normal train: 60 euro ($53) return. Weekend ticket with normal train: 36 euro ($32) return. So you save between 47 and 28 euro if you can buy a Thalys Mini ticket instead of taking the normal train.

Response:

Question:

If you buy a return (round-trip) ticket from Berlin to Amsterdam on http://bahn.hafas.de (they send also to USA) can you buy the cheap "Sparpreis Niederlande" (translated "Saver-price Holland") ticket. It costs 117 US$ return/round trip.

[Night train] The single ticket including couchette should be about 209 DEM. For return trips, it might be interesting to buy a Sparpreis. Regards, ULF — Ulf Kutzner     Backhaushohl 46         D-55128 Mainz

Response:

I took the train from DueselDorf (spelling?), Germany to Venlo Neitherlands in May of 1998. I than took a train up to Amsterdam or is it down, can’t remember.  It was a great experience, very nice people. I had a ball just looking out the window, beautiful wheather. Don’t remember how much I paid but it wasn’t much. I didn’t know a bit of german or dutch and people saw this and volunteered to help without me even asking; You pass through alot of stations and I had to switch trains a few times. Got on a couple going the wrong way a few times. I learned to count to 10 and some vowls in Dutch/German this way. All and all it was a very pleasant experience and I got where I was going. I had to much baggage with me, however. Good Luck Cary

Response:

I will be in Amsterdam in December and I

Question:

–Well BA have broken the AF Monopoly by buying into Air Liberte and TAT and merging the two. The new Air Liberte may not have such an extensive domestic network as AF yet but it is a start.

But there is little chance that BA or AF will work with United.  Allegis is long dead. -Erik P.S. I am sure that the PR flack meant for UA passengers to arrive at CDG-1, go through customs (*and collect their bags*), take a shuttle bus to CDG-2 (East) and board a TGV there. No checked baggage. UA mileage given as a carrot, much like those scary van services to the ski resorts out of DEN. (Try them in a snow storm some day!)

Response:

And yes, the 15 minute bus ride is very realistic as it is a simple loop around the terminals which include the RER station (which I assume is used for the TGV service, right ?)

   There are now two RER stations at CDG.  The original one is half way between terminal 1 and 2.  The new one is shared with the TGV and is on the east side of terminal 2.  

   I "flew" from Lyon to Rome a couple of years ago with the first leg being the TGV to CDG.  Doing so gave me a much greater choice of flights to Rome and a better fare.

Response:

Eric, Thanks for the posting, but do you, too, get the impression that the person who wrote this release has never been to CDG or Paris? There is no way one can get from CDG to Paris in 10 or 15 minutes, so the TGV departure must be directly from the rail station at CDG. Since there is at least hourly TGV service from Paris, Gare de Lyon, to Lyon, not the 3 or 4 mentioned here, this has to be departures directly from CDG. Who in Europe has ever called the TGV the "bullet train"? It’s a nice idea, however.         Bob C. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – United Airlines to Offer Bullet Train Rail Link To Lyon, France CHICAGO, July 16 /PRNewswire/ — United Airlines and SNCF-French Rail are teaming up to offer combination airline/bullet train service between the United States and Lyon, France. United’s non-stop flights from Chicago, San Francisco and Washington Dulles to Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport will be timed to connect to SNCF’s bullet train service to Lyon.  SNCF will provide four daily southbound departures to Lyon and three daily northbound departures back to Paris. Travelers will be able to purchase the combination airline and rail tickets from United Airlines (UAL) worldwide or from local travel agents. The air/rail combination tickets will open for sale on July 18 for travel beginning that same day.  United customers traveling on the Paris-Lyon rail also will earn 500 Mileage Plus frequent flier miles for each round-trip ticket purchased, and 250 miles for a one-way trip.

   *** the rest of the UA puff boilerplate snipped ****

Response:

Or in UA’s case was it the Air France Monopoly that could not be broken into? -Erik

–Well BA have broken the AF Monopoly by buying into Air Liberte and TAT and merging the two. The new Air Liberte may not have such an extensive domestic network as AF yet but it is a start. –==++AJC++==–

Response:

* United’s non-stop flights from Chicago, San Francisco and Washington Dulles to * Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport will be timed to connect to SNCF’s bullet * train service to Lyon.  SNCF will provide four daily southbound departures to * Lyon and three daily northbound departures back to Paris. * *1- Those who wrote this news release should learn about geography a bit. *Bullet Trains are in Japan, TGV in France. Perhaps the word "high speed train" *would have been more appropriate. * *Bullet Train vs TGV is like Airbus 340 vs Boeing 747. They are competitors. I think "bullet train" has taken on a generic type of meaning, much like "kleenex" or "xerox machine." When I was travelling last month, the guy at the Amsterdam train station ticket desk told me that the Thalys was "our bullet train to France," and in Barcelona I was told that the 10 am train to Madrid was a "bullet train" and in Sweden, at Stockholm’s Central Station, the ticket agent represented the X2000 to me as a "bullet train" as well. FYI. h.  –              "uber vaccae in quattuor partes divisum est."                  upenn school of vet med class of 2000

Response:

United’s non-stop flights from Chicago, San Francisco and Washington Dulles to Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport will be timed to connect to SNCF’s bullet train service to Lyon.  SNCF will provide four daily southbound departures to Lyon and three daily northbound departures back to Paris.

1- Those who wrote this news release should learn about geography a bit. Bullet Trains are in Japan, TGV in France. Perhaps the word "high speed train" would have been more appropriate. Bullet Train vs TGV is like Airbus 340 vs Boeing 747. They are competitors. 2- Why limit the choice of TGVs between Paris and Lyons to 4-3 ? Why not allow the use of any of the frequent frequent trains between the two cities ? "This air/rail combination is another creative way that United is expanding its route network around the world,"

OR: It was the only way to provide services outside of Paris as Star has no partners in France. United passengers arriving at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris first will need to clear customs, then take a 10-15 minute bus ride to the Paris railroad station.

10-15 minutes from CDG to the Gare de Lyons ? Aren’t we a wee bit optimistic here ? Also, there is no mention of the TGV’s lack of checked luggage facilities. I’d hate to see tired PAX board the bus and put their luggage in the cargo hold of the bus, and then get to Gare de Lyons and try to check their luggage only to find out that they’ll get their luggage 2 days later in Lyons because the TGV doesn’t have checked luggage. Unless, of course, UA and SNCF have agreed to allow UA pax to put luggage in the small compartment between the engines and the first first class carriage on those 4 designated trains.

Response:

2- Why limit the choice of TGVs between Paris and Lyons to 4-3 ? Why not allow the use of any of the frequent frequent trains between the two cities ?

Because they are using the TGVs from Lille that stop at the station at CDG on their way to LYON and then on to Avignon and Montpellier. United passengers arriving at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris first will need to clear customs, then take a 10-15 minute bus ride to the Paris railroad station. 10-15 minutes from CDG to the Gare de Lyons ? Aren’t we a wee bit optimistic here ?

There is a TGV station at CDG. The 10-15 minutes is a reasonable figure. There is no need to go into Paris. The TGVs that stop at CDG do not go through Paris, they go around the east side.         Bob Carpenter

Response:

Thanks for the posting, but do you, too, get the impression that the person who wrote this release has never been to CDG or Paris?

I do smell a PR flack! There is no way one can get from CDG to Paris in 10 or 15 minutes, so the TGV departure must be directly from the rail station at CDG.

I think this is correct.  Doesn’t UA serve terminal one at CDG? Since there is at least hourly TGV service from Paris, Gare de Lyon, to Lyon, not the 3 or 4 mentioned here, this has to be departures directly from CDG. Who in Europe has ever called the TGV the "bullet train"?

Only UA PR flacks who sit in the Chicago suburbs, but this *is* a good term to get across what the TGV is to the folks in Peoria. It’s a nice idea, however.

Indeed, I would hope that one day we might have such service in North America. Lufthansa announced such an agreement with German Rail two days ago.  Perhaps airlines are wising up to the need to free up slots for more profitable long-distance flights?  Especially if they will have to pay their commuter pilots top dollar to operate the mini-jets? Or in UA’s case was it the Air France Monopoly that could not be broken into? -Erik

Response:

OK, if there is TGV service from CDG, then it is a good deal to get to Lyons. And yes, the 15 minute bus ride is very realistic as it is a simple loop around the terminals which include the RER station (which I assume is used for the TGV service, right ?) However, this leaves the issue of checked luggage. Have they added checked luggage service on those trains ? ? ? ? ? ?

Response:

1- Those who wrote this news release should learn about geography a bit. Bullet Trains are in Japan, TGV in France. Perhaps the word "high speed train" would have been more appropriate.

Just to be absolutely precise – or anal – there is no such Japanese designation as Bullet Train. It’s called Shinkansen over there… Bullet Train seems to be an American linguistic invention to avoid prononcing this Japanese word, and that’s why the term is more ofte associated with the Japanese high speed train. Bullet Train vs TGV is like Airbus 340 vs Boeing 747. They are competitors.

And the comparison should be the other way round; the Shinkansen was introduced in the early 60ies, whereas the TGV was first presented in the 80ies, so it should be Boeing 737 vs Airbus A320… [snip] It was the only way to provide services outside of Paris as Star has no partners in France.

Yes but even if they had, it would still make sense as the TGV would bring you to the center of Lyon faster than a plane could. [snip] Also, there is no mention of the TGV’s lack of checked luggage facilities. I’d hate to see tired PAX board the bus and put their luggage in the cargo hold of the bus, and then get to Gare de Lyons and try to check their luggage only to find out that they’ll get their luggage 2 days later in Lyons because the TGV doesn’t have checked luggage.

Very good point. The SNCF does not handle checked baggage very quickly, and the TGV is not designed to accomodate large carry-on luggages… Likely to be a mess!

Response:

United Airlines to Offer Bullet Train Rail Link To Lyon, France CHICAGO, July 16 /PRNewswire/ — United Airlines and SNCF-French Rail are teaming up to offer combination airline/bullet train service between the United States and Lyon, France. United’s non-stop flights from Chicago, San Francisco and Washington Dulles to Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport will be timed to connect to SNCF’s bullet train service to Lyon.  SNCF will provide four daily southbound departures to Lyon and three daily northbound departures back to Paris. Travelers will be able to purchase the combination airline and rail tickets from United Airlines (UAL) worldwide or from local travel agents. The air/rail combination tickets will open for sale on July 18 for travel beginning that same day.  United customers traveling on the Paris-Lyon rail also will earn 500 Mileage Plus frequent flier miles for each round-trip ticket purchased, and 250 miles for a one-way trip. "This air/rail combination is another creative way that United is expanding its route network around the world," says United Airlines Director of Interline Programs Tom Hanley.  "We feel this program will be very successful because no other U.S. carrier offers this type of efficient service between the U.S. and Lyon.  We also expect this service will be popular with frequent fliers because Lyon is the second-largest business market in France." United passengers arriving at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris first will need to clear customs, then take a 10-15 minute bus ride to the Paris railroad station.  The French Rail TGV bullet train departs Paris for a two- hour ride to the city center of Lyon. As the largest air carrier in the world and the largest majority employee- owned company,  United Airlines offers more than 2,300 flights a day to 136 destinations in 29 countries and one U.S. territory.  United also is an industry innovator with breakthroughs such as United Connection travel software, Airport Gate Readers, Shuttle by United, and the introduction of the technologically advanced Boeing 777.  United Airlines’ Internet address is http://www.ual.com.

Response:

Question:

I wanna get cheap air tickets within Europe, i.e., from Dusserdolf to Vienna, from Vienna to Milan, from Milan to Dusserdolf. Any information is appreciated. — Hiro Tanaka

Response:

What you should do is purchase those flights in conjunction with your international ticket on a discover Europe pass.  If interested, e-mail me. -Andy (The Nomad Travel Bazaar)

: I wanna get cheap air tickets within Europe, : i.e., from Dusserdolf to Vienna, : from Vienna to Milan, : from Milan to Dusserdolf. : Any information is appreciated. : — : Hiro Tanaka

Response:

I wanna get cheap air tickets within Europe, i.e., from Dusserdolf to Vienna, from Vienna to Milan, from Milan to Dusserdolf. Any information is appreciated. — Hiro Tanaka

Check out all the smaller budget companies like – Virgin Express from Brussels to Vienna, to Milan, to Madrid, to Barcelona, to Rome, to Copenhagen. – Debon Air from Munich, London, Barcelona, Rome, Madrid, Copenhagen, Dusseldorf. Both have flights at around 125 DM o/w, and often lower. None of these fly on exactly the routes you mentioned, but maybe the Austrian Lauda Air on http://www.laudaair.com/e/twol.htm can help you with more. But you’ll find going shorter distances in Europe is often way cheaper with the train. If travelling a lot in Germany, consider getting the BahnCard, which for around 200 DM (110 DM for students) will give you 50% discount on all trains in Germany for a year. They also sell cards for 3, 5 or 10 days unlimited travel. Even Deutsche BA or Lufthansa may have special offers on some of these, if you buy many tickets at once. Check out http://www.princeton.EDU/Main/air800.html for 800 numbers, web-sites etc. of all airlines. Lars, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Response:

I wanna get cheap air tickets within Europe, i.e., from Dusserdolf to Vienna, from Vienna to Milan, from Milan to Dusserdolf. Any information is appreciated. — Hiro Tanaka

Maybe you should go by train because the distance between Vienna and D