Bayonne to St Jean train situation

[Jgraham]

Hello!

I am planning to walk the Camino (1st time!) starting at the end of April. I have heard that the train line from bayonne to St Jean is being updated and may possibly be out of commission. I was curious if any one knows what the situation with the train schedule is and/or if taking the bus is my only other option. Links or information on either option would be very helpful since I am trying to figure out if I can make it from Paris (where I'm flying in), to St Jean before it gets to late in the day and I have to stay in Bayonne for the night.

Any help would be much appreciated!

Joel G.

[geraldkelly]

Hi

That train service is out of action until 30 June.

I previously tried to link to the info on the TER website but nothing seems to work because of the way they've set it up. Anyway, I took a copy of the provisional timetable and put it on my website. Click here:

http://www.caminoguide.net/AF03B.pdf

It's in French (what did you expect!), but I've translated the important bits and updated my guide with it. You can download it from here, look under

Camino de Santiago Guide - Get to the Camino

Look under St Jean....

Ger

[Jgraham]

Thanks for your post, it was very helpful!

I'm guessing I can just purchase the bus ticket from the office at the train station since that where it departs?

Thanks again,

Joel G.

[geraldkelly]

Hi Joel

I would try the ticket office first, but they might just tell you to get it from the driver.

Ger

[amanda]

would you advise purchasing in advance... i notice on the sncf website (www.voyages-sncf.com) they are selling tickets, but i am assuming that is for the bus...

[amanda]

and another question... ... what's the difference between buying your ticket here www.voyages-sncf.com and here www.raileurope.ca? i have never travelled by train in Europe - are you booking on the same train, but with different companies? thx !

[geraldkelly]

Hi

I've never bought a ticket in advance for the St Jean train, it's only a local train and you can't reserve a seat so there's no real advantage. If you're coming from further afield (Paris, or wherever), then definitely I would advise booking in advance including a seat reservation. If you book in advance you can sometimes get a better price.

When booking, if you say you'll pick up the ticket in France all you have to do is present your credit card (or possibly also a code you get when you book) at the ticket desk in the railway station and they'll print your ticket.

voyage-sncf.com is the official railway website. I presume raileurope.com is a travel agent who'll sell you the same ticket for the same train and charge you a commission.

Ger

[amanda]

thanks so much.. that cleared up alot for me! voyages-sncf.com is definitely less expensive and they offer the option of purchasing straight to SJPP from Paris. from Paris to Bayonne it is via train and from Bayonne to SJPP it is 'coach' (which i assume means bus since trains aren't running when i am going in March '10). they don't however offer a 'reservation' service on the coach so i think your advice is correct it might be better to buy once in Bayonne as that would give me more flexibility! thanks again for taking the time to answer my questions!

[diaz-diaz]

Hi All,

I was recently suffering with the same dilema, am traveling from Paris to SJPdP on Monday 03/05/2010 and have been roadbloked with booking tickets from Paris direct to SJPdP via (voyages-sncf, europerail .etc).

It would either not show SJPdP or an error would pop up saying there was an issue...

I managed to find the european tgv website (tgv-europe.com) that lets you book direct from Paris to SJPdP (press 'HELP' to find the actual station post your first search) Once in Bayonne im assuming a bus takes you to your starting destination.

Heads Up! it only will show a night train leaving usually around 23:00 arriving at 07:00 necxt day with the bus to SJPdP at 09:00ish...

Its my first camino, and first time taking EU trains, and being on the other side of the world in Australia makes it a tad bit more challenging to secure any type of booking or confirmation.

Also a word of advice when booking trains, !!! make sure you book your tickets with the bank/credit card you will be taking with you, you will need it to retrieve your ticket to get on your train !!!!! if your bank/credit card does not have a smartchip (one of those gold sim card looking bits on your card "like my technical terminology") you will be required to pick up your ticket from a "botique" or service desk.

If this isnt making any sense at all feel free to send me a message...

Good luck and Buen Camino
Diaz
Sydney, Australia