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Paris Olympics Rail Travel Guide: Discover all the New Railway Services From Different European Cities Including Frankfurt, Milan and Madrid

Paris Olympics Rail Travel Guide: Discover all the New Railway Services From Different European Cities Including Frankfurt, Milan and Madrid

Thursday, July 11, 2024

Reading Time: 5 minutes

For the 2024 Paris Olympics, a range of enhanced and high-speed train services are set to facilitate travel from various European cities. Eurostar will offer increased services from London, Brussels, and Amsterdam to Paris, with discounted tickets available. Thalys will connect Cologne, Amsterdam, and Brussels to Paris at high speeds. France’s TGV will run frequent services from cities like Lyon, Marseille, Strasbourg, Nice, and Bordeaux to Paris. Intercités will link Clermont-Ferrand and Toulouse to the French capital. Additionally, the RENFE-SNCF Cooperation will provide high-speed trains from Barcelona, and DB SNCF in Cooperation will connect Frankfurt to Paris, ensuring efficient travel options from across Europe to the Olympic venues​. For attendees of the Paris Olympics 2024 arriving via key European airports, the journey to Paris can be managed through several high-speed rail routes. Travelers landing at London Heathrow can board the Eurostar at St Pancras International, reaching Paris in about 2 hours and 20 minutes. From Frankfurt Airport, a quick S-Bahn ride to Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof is followed by a 3 hour and 50 minute ICE train trip to Paris. Those arriving at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris have immediate access to RER B and TGV trains, with central Paris just about 35 minutes away on the RER B. Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport connects to Paris via a 3 hour and 20 minute Thalys train from Amsterdam Centraal. From Madrid Barajas, it’s a longer haul with a high-speed train from Atocha station taking around 9 to 10 hours to reach Paris. Milan’s Malpensa Airport connects to Paris Gare de Lyon via a 7-hour TGV or Thello train ride from Milano Centrale. Lastly, from Vienna International Airport, travelers typically transfer at a major hub like Munich or Zurich after boarding an ÖBB Railjet, with total travel time varying but generally around 10 to 12 hours to Paris. With a single Schengen visa, travelers can easily reach Paris via high-speed railways from other Schengen nations, streamlining the journey to the Paris Olympics 2024. This visa allows unrestricted movement across multiple European countries, enabling visitors to take advantage of the extensive network of high-speed trains like the TGV, ICE, and Thalys. These trains connect major cities such as Amsterdam, Milan, Frankfurt, and Madrid directly to Paris, facilitating a swift and efficient travel experience across European borders without the need for additional visa documentation.

Here’s a detailed list of train services to Paris for the 2024 Olympics, including the cities and countries they originate from:

  • Eurostar:
    • London, UK to Paris, France: Direct high-speed train service with enhanced frequency during the Olympics and discounted ticket options​.
    • Brussels, Belgium to Paris, France: Regular Eurostar services connect Brussels to Paris, likely with increased services during the Olympics.
    • Amsterdam, Netherlands to Paris, France: Eurostar also operates a direct route from Amsterdam to Paris which may see increased services.
  • Thalys:
    • Cologne, Germany to Paris, France: High-speed services connecting Cologne with Paris.
    • Amsterdam, Netherlands to Paris, France: Thalys provides a high-speed connection from Amsterdam to Paris, complementing Eurostar services.
    • Brussels, Belgium to Paris, France: Frequent Thalys services run between Brussels and Paris.
  • TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse):
    • Lyon, France to Paris, France: Frequent direct high-speed trains.
    • Marseille, France to Paris, France: Direct high-speed TGV services connect Marseille with Paris.
    • Strasbourg, France to Paris, France: Regular direct TGV connections.
    • Nice, France to Paris, France: TGV services connect the French Riviera to Paris.
    • Bordeaux, France to Paris, France: High-speed trains frequently travel between Bordeaux and Paris.
  • Intercités:
    • Clermont-Ferrand, France to Paris, France: Regular mainline train services connecting Clermont-Ferrand with Paris.
    • Toulouse, France to Paris, France: Mainline trains serve this route, with potential enhancements for the Olympics.
  • RENFE-SNCF Cooperation:
    • Barcelona, Spain to Paris, France: High-speed cross-border trains operated by the cooperation between Spanish and French national railways.
  • DB SNCF in Cooperation:
    • Frankfurt, Germany to Paris, France: High-speed trains operated jointly by Deutsche Bahn and SNCF, connecting Frankfurt to Paris.
  • From Vienna to Paris:
  • ÖBB Nightjet operates a night train service which is a convenient option for travelers looking to save on a night’s accommodation.
  • TGV and ICE (InterCity Express) also offer services via cities like Munich or Stuttgart, connecting to Paris.
  • From Milan to Paris:
  • TGV operates direct high-speed trains between Milan and Paris, taking about 7 hours. This route is one of the most popular for travel between Italy and France.
  • Thello trains offer another alternative with services that might include changes along the way but also provide overnight options.
  • From Madrid to Paris:
  • Renfe-SNCF Cooperation offers high-speed train services that directly connect Madrid and Paris. The journey typically lasts around 10 hours, providing a fast and efficient way to travel between the two capitals without the need for air travel.

For those attending the Paris Olympics 2024 and arriving via key European airports, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to reach Paris via high-speed rail:

From London Heathrow Airport (LHR):

  • Step 1: Upon arrival, take the Heathrow Express or Tube (Piccadilly Line) to London Paddington or Kings Cross St Pancras stations respectively.
  • Step 2: From St Pancras International, take the Eurostar directly to Paris Gare du Nord. This high-speed train journey takes approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes.

From Frankfurt Airport (FRA):

  • Step 1: Use the S-Bahn (lines S8 or S9) to travel to Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof (main train station), which takes about 12 minutes.
  • Step 2: From Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof, high-speed ICE trains are available to Paris Est. The journey typically lasts around 3 hours and 50 minutes.

From Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), Paris:

  • Step 1: The airport directly offers access to both RER B and TGV (high-speed train) services.
  • Step 2: For immediate travel into central Paris, RER B is most direct, taking about 35 minutes to Gare du Nord.
  • Step 3: For broader travel to other parts of France or neighboring countries, the TGV services from CDG can be utilized.

From Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS):

  • Step 1: Take a direct train from Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam Centraal.
  • Step 2: From Amsterdam Centraal, board the Thalys high-speed train to Paris Nord. The journey takes around 3 hours and 20 minutes.

From Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD):

  • Step 1: Use Cercanías (commuter train) or Metro to reach Madrid Atocha Railway Station.
  • Step 2: From Atocha, you can take a direct Renfe-SNCF high-speed train to Paris Gare de Lyon, which takes around 9 to 10 hours.

From Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP):

  • Step 1: From Malpensa Airport, take the Malpensa Express train to Milano Centrale Station.
  • Step 2: From Milano Centrale, you can board the TGV or Thello high-speed train to Paris Gare de Lyon. The journey is direct and takes about 7 hours.

From Vienna International Airport (VIE):

  • Step 1: From the airport, take the CAT (City Airport Train) or S-Bahn to Wien Hauptbahnhof (Vienna Central Station).
  • Step 2: From Wien Hauptbahnhof, you can board an ÖBB Railjet or Nightjet train to a major hub such as Munich or Zurich, and from there, connect to a TGV or ICE train to Paris. Alternatively, direct Railjet services may require a transfer at Stuttgart or Frankfurt for a TGV or ICE train to Paris. The total journey time varies, typically around 10-12 hours depending on the connection and train type.

For the Paris 2024 Olympics, there are no new rail routes specifically announced from other Schengen nations directly to Paris. However, SNCF, the French national rail service, connects France to several neighboring countries with existing high-speed and regular train services. Here are the countries in Europe connected by SNCF trains to France:

  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Germany
  • Italy
  • Netherlands
  • Spain
  • Switzerland
  • UK

These connections offer routes to major French cities, including Paris, which will be pivotal during the Olympics.

Tags: barcelona, charles de gaulle airport, Eurostar, Frankfurt, Global Travel News, heathrow airport, london, madrid, milan, New Train Routes, Paris Olympics, Paris Travel news, Railway Services, Schengen visa, Tourism news, Travel News

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