Le mans by train?

[jbcalvin]

OK, before anyone starts spouting off about driving, I am not allowed to take my company car out of the UK and it's my only form of transport.....

Plus I am travelling from Glasgow with my daughter as this is a graduation present from finishing school this year so she can't help with the driving....

So, unless anyone has 2 spare seats in a car, and yes we would split all the costs involved if you do, any suggestions as to the best way to do Le Mans by train? Can you still book a campsite without a car? I have been previously in 2004, but i was a guest of Audi that year so it was all planned and pre-booked for me...

Cheers

Calvin

[MaestroDave]

Eurostar to Paris, Paris to Le Mans direct (and by TGV I think), then Tram to the track. Never done it myself but I can't see it would be that difficult.

Can't see why you'd need a car to buy a camping ticket either - but recommend you stay up near Tetre Rouge (near the tram stop.)

Might work out cheaper (and much easier) to just hire a cheap car though!

Dave

Edited by MaestroDave on Sunday 10th January 16:45

[ellroy]

You could try Motor Racing International, used them for tickets for Le Mans and Italian GP, they do a package from the UK by train including two nights in Paris at £400 a head

[williamp]

as someone else has said, it would be eary- TGV to Le mans. There is a tram stop outside the station. Not sure about the camping pass though- ask the aco

Oh, and book the tgv in advance. They can get very busy, and its all-seater with no standing.

[mrsxllifts]

You can easily get a camping pass without a car, just so long as you can show it when they walk round and check, it doesn't matter.

As said before Eurostar to Paris, quick change on the Paris underground, then train to Le Mans and hop on the tram. There systems are much cleaner and efficient than ours but do get busy so best to book.

It is worth adding it all up though as it may be cheaper to hire a car even if its from the South of England or France and then you have the flexibility to travel and aren't lugging your kit accross the stations.

[jbcalvin]

Thanks for all the help so far guys.....

Have so far worked out £128 return Eurostar to Paris, not sure how much the TGV to Le Mans is yet, plus cost of campsite pass...

I would imagine this would work out cheaper than hiring a car, plus it's only 1 rucksack and a tent really so not too much to lug around....

Interested in the Motor Racing International package though so cheers for that, any idea if the PH site is gonna be near Tetre Rouge? Would prefer to be with a bunch of fellow members if possible!

Calvin

[mrsxllifts]

If you go to the eurostar site you can get a ticket that does the whole trip except the tram. It was about £250 each return a few years back but not sure how accurate that is now.

PH site was in Bleu Nord last year but this year is anyones guess, we are mushrooms with regards to this....

The cost of your basic camp site pass will be on the ACO site, but it will depends if you want to go with a 'specialist' site or not, or how picky you are of whats left and what you can get hold of.

Edited by mrsxllifts on Sunday 10th January 21:12

[jbcalvin]

Cheers again mrsxllifts, Eurostar site will only let me book up to May at the moment, so will need to check next month if they will do the direct fare, which would make life easier...

Checked the Motor Racing International service, great idea but I am due back to work in Glasgow on the Tuesday morning and don't fancy driving from London to Glasgow at 5pm Monday when their train gets in! think I will just book it myself and arrange a reasonable campsite, don't fancy slumming it too much at my age!

Think I will hold off booking campsite until PH sort theirs out...

[DJFish]

My wife came down on the train a few years back, she took the Eurostar to Paris, got the train South, cab to the circuit.
Very easy, comfortable, reliable and straightforward.

One option for you would be to travel light, get an Easyjet flight to Paris CDG, jump on the train and get a camping package with someone like Speedchills, you'll want some creature comforts if it turns out to be super hot or if it rains (it'll do one or the other) and you'll be restricted if you're carrying all your gear.

Flying would save you a lot of time.....

Edited by DJFish on Monday 11th January 01:30

[Stirlings]

Fly to paris and then catch the train to le mans
that way your back in glasgow for tuesday

[jbcalvin]

Cheers guys, hadn't thought about flying! Won't be from Glasgow though, reason I was looking at train is that I will be in the south of england the week before as I doing the Blenheim tri-athlon, so easy to just go from London and have a day or two in Paris to recover..

Will check sleazyjet prices to fly to CDG and compare with Eurostar..

[leyorkie]

Stansted to Tours is the nearest airport but.... Ryanair. I use them about once a month and not expensive (of course).
TGV from Paris, was the last time I looked, about £60 return off peak which makes a big differance but you can't book more than 3 months ahead which could be why Eurostar can't quote you, it is a nice journey 118 miles in 57 mins!

[jbcalvin]

OK, just booked my tickets and also a spot at the PH campsite through 1st Tickets! :-D

Apparently they are just waiting on getting a hold of Garlick before putting anything on the PH site, same set up as last year, sharing with Aston Martin again..

Just need to organise how to get there, cheers for everyone's help on this, hopefully see a few of you in June!

Calvin

[williamp]

jbcalvin said:

OK, just booked my tickets and also a spot at the PH campsite through 1st Tickets! :-D

Apparently they are just waiting on getting a hold of Garlick before putting anything on the PH site, same set up as last year, sharing with Aston Martin again..

Just need to organise how to get there, cheers for everyone's help on this, hopefully see a few of you in June!

Calvin

have a look at www.raileurope.com

No connection with them, etc etc

[jbcalvin]

OK,

Will definately be travelling by train, checked flights and times just don't work out for getting back to London and then back to Glasgow by car, plus the train is cheaper! £128 return for 2 people booked 3 months in advance...

Plus I also get to spend a couple days sightseeing in Paris, so will look forward to seeing as many of you as possible when I get to the campsite, I'll be easily recognisable as the only person without a car on my pitch!

And as my daughter stated last night, only 150 days to go!

Once again cheers for everyone's assistance and idea's on this one...

Calvin

[lowdrag]

DON'T go via Paris since you have to change from the Gare du Nord to Montparnasse. Take the easy Eurostar route which is London-Lille and all you have to do is change platforms for the direct Le Mans TGV. By far easier and less hassle.

[wackojacko]

I went from Paddington last year Euro star and change over to the TGV. It was "ok" but driving out is so much more fun, It adds to the whole experience but from Glasgow I would say Train is probably best.

[jbcalvin]

Thanks lowdrag, but I do intend on having a couple of days holiday in Paris on the way out....

And as much as I would love to enjoy the drive wackojacko, which I did in 2004 with 3 mates sharing, I cannot take my car into Europe, plus my daughter has only just passed her test and can't get insured on it, hence train...

See you all in June..

Calvin

Edited by jbcalvin on Thursday 14th January 14:28

[turbo-ww]

wackojacko said:

I went from Paddington last year Euro star and change over to the TGV. It was "ok" but driving out is so much more fun, It adds to the whole experience but from Glasgow I would say Train is probably best.

Paddington?????

[wackojacko]

turbo-ww said:

wackojacko said:

I went from Paddington last year Euro star and change over to the TGV. It was "ok" but driving out is so much more fun, It adds to the whole experience but from Glasgow I would say Train is probably best.

Paddington?????

Sorry I meant st Pancres / Kingscross in london.