Europe by train which station would you get off the train to switch to the next train?

[lightbulb27]

Traveling Europe and learning the ropes... which station do you get off to switch trains... or none? This is like "monopoly"... get it right and you keep moving, get it wrong.."pay $400, do not pass go". you mis your next train, get caught up in a complex train system and lost for hours... maybe days :) I can see how people end up in the lost and found in Europe.

We survived this leg of the trip with the help of outgoing helpful Americans whom saw us in distress and intervened to direct us, and as well some French angels that saw us in line, pulled us out, and got us on a train to our destination. There's good people in the world... counting good fortunes...

I will give correct answer in a short while...

Get off train in Evreux!

Get off the train at Mantes-la-Jolie

Get off Evreux and Mantes-la-Jolie

Only get off train in Avignon

Other

Updates

1 y

I got off train in Everuex and there was no transfer train. We were stuck, took taxi, missed the next train, spent all day going in circles. trains south were fully booked, took a miracle to get us to destination.

The correct answer is "other", per the technical support. You must check with the train line (SNCF) prior to departure to validate where the train is going and stopping, due to changes. Tansfer means transfer unless it means stay on the trian.

If I'm still a stupid American...

Updates

1 y

Then I don't know what I don't know...

[Lliam]

I have no idea. I always rented a car and the airport when I arrived and told them I would be returning it at a different location.

Speaking of helpful people, though. I found most people to be super friendly and eager to help, even if they spoke little or no English.

[lightbulb27]

very true, impressed with French people!

[Lliam]

French and German people were great when we were there. Although we were mostly in small towns and countryside.

I have an amazing story from France. We were driving from (I think it was) Reims toward Calais. We were on a highway and came upon a giant, crowded roundabout. We couldn't tell which exit was to Calais, and if we took the wrong one, we would miss our connection. There was a traffic cop directing the heavy traffic. When we were approaching where he was standing, he put up his hand to halt traffic for a moment, motioned us forward, asked where we were going, and pointed to the correct exit. It took two seconds. Bam!
How did he know we needed help? It was freaking amazing. THAT was some public service!

[lightbulb27]

That aligns with my experience... I think they recognize tourists in distress. I've done same for those in the USA lost. It is good hospitality practice.
Switzerland... here we come...

[Jamie05rhs]

@Lliam What a great cop!

[Anonymous]

I hate trains, they are so stressful.

It is never obvious, at least to me which platform you have to goto, everyone just follows the crowd which probably works 99% of the time but I dont care to follow the crowd as I know how stupid people are.

I always ask.

The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

[EllaNella]

i'm so sorry but it's very funny to see americans (i assume) struggle with public transport

[ChrisMaster69]

@EllaNella yeah it’s really noticeable at times, it’s not even a language thing either.

[lightbulb27]

we must not be only ones, so many confused by train system. I can drive car no problems... but train... not yet.

[lightbulb27]

and you just made the same assumption we did... you are now "lost in France":) oopsy...

[EllaNella]

in that case your chart is faulty

[Astarlessnightsky]

You have to take 3 trains, and get off 3 times,
2 times to change trains and one last time when you arrived at your destination.

[lightbulb27]

that makes perfect sense, but was not correct in this case.

[DryGermanGuy]

You switch trains every time where there is a „transfer“ symbol.

[lightbulb27]

thats what I thought. their tech support says it means you may transer or stay on the trian, you gotta ask the conductor... and check with the trainline due to changes.

[DryGermanGuy]

This can only be a special situation - train personnel missing due to Covid19.
According to this site https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TER_Normandie the Lisieux line is not connected to Mantes-La-Jolie, but the Evreux line is. So your original itinerary was correct.
My assumption: The train in Evreux was cancelled on short notice and SNCF could not manage to come up with an emergency connections plan. Keep your chin up!

[lightbulb27]

a good lesson!

[Jamie05rhs]

No offense, bro, but you're supposed to print out maps before you go on your vacation. (And study the maps, and the timetables. And make plans.)

[midnightmoon05]

Things are a little diff here/nowadays. Many are done electronically.
Some trains make last minute changes/cancellations.
I find that part of the trip a fun experience for the kids. So they can do the same when they come of age and travel on their own.
They were really good for running around with us in circles from 7am till 4pm… we didn’t want to give up finding a solution in the heat :)
The result was rewarding! We met amazing people/friends for life!

[Jamie05rhs]

@midnightmoon05 Alright! :)

[midnightmoon05]

Oh… even the people working in the train station gave us wrong info.!! Sent us to a diff. station… and we knew it didn’t make sense.

[Jamie05rhs]

Oh, wow! That's crazy.