Is there parking on the tram line ?

[Bobo W]

We'll be staying off site this year so looking at options for how to get to the circuit on race day and avoid being stuck in traffic jams.

Traffic is normally choc a block in and around the circuit so wondering whether there was parking at one of the tram line stations and then we could take the tram into the circuit for the start.

[Printertosh]

Park and Ride at the University. The opposite end of main tramline to circuit.

Also at Espal-Arche De La Nature which is the end of tramline 2 but you'd need to change at St Martin to the main tramline 1 to get to circuit.

Edited by Printertosh on Sunday 2nd April 22:36

[Bobo W]

Excellent, thanks

Follow up question then. Has anyone done this before on race day? I'm trying to get a feel for how full the car parks get and thus what time we'd need to arrive to ensure a space.

[lowdrag]

What's wrong with Carrefour car park? A couple of stops from the Antares terminus.

[Bobo W]

We'll be coming from North of Le Mans and then skirting round the East of the city to come in from that side which is why Espal-Arche De La Nature appeals. I had discounted Carrefour on the assumption we would get caught up in all the event traffic just getting there. If this is not the case how would you suggest we get there avoiding the worst of the traffic and is there a limit on time you can park at Carrefour?

[cja]

You don't say where you are travelling from (north of Le Mans) so would a local train into Le Mans station, followed by the tram to the circuit help with the parking bit?

[Bobo W]

We'll be travelling to the circuit on the Saturday with a view to kipping in the car over night - to that end we've got circuit parking - now we could spend a few hours crawling along with all the event traffic or enjoy a spot of lunch in Le Mans and then make our way on a leisurely basis to the circuit for the start. By having the car relatively close we can pick it up and drive back into the circuit when the rush has died down.

[lowdrag]

As said above, it depends on which route you are taking but the full route for the tram is here:-

https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ligne_T1_du_tramway_...

Now you'll see that from L'Arche de la Nature you have to change trams to get to the circuit.

47 deg. 59.35 mins N
0 deg. 14.11mins E

Again you'll note that there is no tram station at the Arche, but the nearest station as shown above is right next to the most notorious council estate in Le Mans. Highly recommended if you don't want to see your car again or want to see it torched.

Carrefour parking is free but for how much longer we know not, but given that 17 shops in the mall are empty I don't see them implementing charges in the near future.

47 deg 58.19 N
0 degs 13.00E

You can park in one of the adjacent streets if you prefer. Probably safer.

[Dblue]

We always do this, go in and out during the race too. Its pretty easy to park on the street away from the circuit but the retail park a few hundred metres away is perfect. There can be a crush getting on/of the trams and you might end up having to wait for another.

[Bobo W]

Thanks once again for the advice.

While Carrefour is very close to the circuit is it far enough away not to get caught up in the gridlock around the circuit? So any traffic we'd have to contend with would be normal local Saturday traffic. If it does get really busy around there is there a better direction to approach it from?

[MadMacMcMad]

Why not buy a Parc Vert car park pass (circa £45-50 tops) inside the track at the Bugatti circuit. Easy access to everything, 24hr ACO security and you can kip in your car. No brainer.

Tickets are still available. PM me if you can't find any.

[Dblue]

Bobo W said:

We'll be coming from North of Le Mans and then skirting round the East of the city to come in from that side which is why Espal-Arche De La Nature appeals. I had discounted Carrefour on the assumption we would get caught up in all the event traffic just getting there. If this is not the case how would you suggest we get there avoiding the worst of the traffic and is there a limit on time you can park at Carrefour?

There's no time limit and getting there is easy enough. You could even just about walk into the circuit from there.

[lowdrag]

Bobo W said:

Thanks once again for the advice.

While Carrefour is very close to the circuit is it far enough away not to get caught up in the gridlock around the circuit? So any traffic we'd have to contend with would be normal local Saturday traffic. If it does get really busy around there is there a better direction to approach it from?

Well, as the Irish say, "If I was going there I wouldn't be starting from here". Or in other words, have a look at a map or on Google Earth and plan coming in from the east but avoiding the outer and inner ring road. Me, if I were coming down the old N138 (now D338) during race week I always pick up the motorway at Auchan and go south on the A28 to J24 for Parigné l'Eveque and take the first exit on the roundabout to Bois Martin and there turn left to Ruaudin. On arriving at the next roundabout first exit and you are then behind the Mulsanne and main road which goes past Carrefour. Longer but a damned sight quicker during the race. It takes me 10 mins to get home from St Saturnin on the Friday instead of 45 minutes taking the usual route around past the university and Carrefour.

Edited by lowdrag on Tuesday 4th April 05:31

[Bobo W]

MadMacMcMad said:

Why not buy a Parc Vert car park pass (circa £45-50 tops) inside the track at the Bugatti circuit. Easy access to everything, 24hr ACO security and you can kip in your car. No brainer.

Tickets are still available. PM me if you can't find any.

It's a toss up between Vert or Blanche for main tribune parking - My issue is just getting there on the Saturday and not getting stuck in traffic hence the discussion about parking at Carrefour prior to the start and then we can move the car to on-circuit parking when everything dies down a bit.

[Bobo W]

lowdrag said:

Bobo W said:

Thanks once again for the advice.

While Carrefour is very close to the circuit is it far enough away not to get caught up in the gridlock around the circuit? So any traffic we'd have to contend with would be normal local Saturday traffic. If it does get really busy around there is there a better direction to approach it from?

Well, as the Irish say, "If I was going there I wouldn't be starting from here". Or in other words, have a look at a map or on Google Earth and plan coming in from the east but avoiding the outer and inner ring road. Me, if I am

were coming down the old N138 (now D338) during race week I always pick up the motorway at Auchan and go south on the A28 to J24 for Parigné l'Eveque and take the first exit on the roundabout to Bois Martin and there turn left to Ruaudin. On arriving at the next roundabout first exit and you are then behind the Mulsanne and later main road which goes past Carrefour. Longer but a damned sight quicker during the race. It takes me 10 mins to get home from St Saturnin on the Friday instead of 45 minutes taking the usual route around past the university and Carrefour.

I'm familiar with the road that leads from Ruaudin to round the back of Carrefour although don't you get caught up with the Parking Vert traffic that is directed along a small stretch of this road just before the bridge over the D323?

[lowdrag]

Look, Le Mans is a town of 150,000 which changes to 400,000 during race week. It is impossible to avoid traffic no matter what you do. Yes, that is the only road north from Mulsanne so busy but the route I take is quicker than the alternative, except on reflection if you leave the motorway as suggested, take the first exit and carry on you can turn left in town after you pass under the ring road and arrive at Carrefour avoiding the Ruaudin stretch. Pardon me, but I suggest you buy a map of the area and you can then plan your own route street by street to where you decide to park. Maybe even near Hotel Green 7 and the hospital which is within walking distance of the circuit.

[Bobo W]

Thanks Lowdrag, as ever so useful to have a locals view on things

[MadMacMcMad]

Bobo W said:

It's a toss up between Vert or Blanche for main tribune parking - My issue is just getting there on the Saturday and not getting stuck in traffic hence the discussion about parking at Carrefour prior to the start and then we can move the car to on-circuit parking when everything dies down a bit.

Parc Vert, but approach from the South West on the D323 then you can drop down to the Stella bar, along the Chemin aux Beoufs under the Mulsanne and Parc Vert is 1/4 mile ahead of you with the TL site on your right.

The North of the circuit is an absolute mare on the Saturday!

[Bobo W]

MadMacMcMad said:

Bobo W said:

It's a toss up between Vert or Blanche for main tribune parking - My issue is just getting there on the Saturday and not getting stuck in traffic hence the discussion about parking at Carrefour prior to the start and then we can move the car to on-circuit parking when everything dies down a bit.

Parc Vert, but approach from the South West on the D323 then you can drop down to the Stella bar, along the Chemin aux Beoufs under the Mulsanne and Parc Vert is 1/4 mile ahead of you with the TL site on your right.

The North of the circuit is an absolute mare on the Saturday!

Thanks although I would normally avoid the D323 so close to the circuit as getting off at either- the junction signed Vert (which eventually takes you down to the Ruaudin road) or - the junction for Tours, ends up as a car park. As a regular in Houx Annexe and club parking for CLM on the Bugatti circuit, I've got stuck in traffic jams all round this side of the circuit ;-)

[lowdrag]

Coming off at J23 will usually run you straight into a five mile queue to the circuit which is why I always advise people to go to J24 Parigné l'Eveque. It is longer but you are taking the back way in and I usually reckon on 20 mins to Tertre Rouge using my route from the autoroute exit.p