.........though I am slightly worried about not been able to find a bar on my stag do!!!

^ No but there is a knocking shop near the ground

As long as they're not on strike French Railways are a doddle ....

Don't rule out the TGVs from Gare De Lyon in Paris ... Down to Perpignan in a little over five hours.

Two and a half hours on the high speed lines down to Avignon and then another two and a half dodging commuter trains down through Montpellier and the like.

The sleeper down from Paris, which I've also done, is basic and means you have share with five other people in your compartment. In my particular one, there were three Cats fans and a old girl who liked the English ... So no worries there. I actually broke my journey on that train and had a morning looking around the old town of Carcassone.

I didn't even bother with a hotel on that trip ... Quick shower and change in a mate's hotel room (after all night in the bars) and then back to the station for the first train up to Paris about 04.30 in the morning.

I merely kipped on the train and remember French 'standard' class on TGVs is as good as (if not better) than First Class on something like East Coast. Wide seats and bags of leg room.

Plan your journey via the DB (German State Railways) timetable system and book your tickets well in advance (90 days) ... As long as you can commit to a specific train and you book early enough, you could land a 'Prem' ticket and they're peanuts

I always enjoy your railway posts.
When we went by sleeper to Perpignan, I think we were in a four-berth and were tucked-up in bed before the others arrived and, on the return journey, we just paid a few francs to freshen-up in the shower room at the station in Paris.

I do agree with your recommendation to use DB's timetables, in the past I have found that, on occasion, they were more up to date than thetrainline.com even for some British services.

I'm not a train freak myself but I did visit Strand / Aldwych (disused) underground station last weekend ... fascinating it was.

Quote: El Barbudo "I always enjoy your railway posts. When we went by sleeper to Perpignan, I think we were in a four-berth and were tucked-up in bed before the others arrived and, on the return journey, we just paid a few francs to freshen-up in the shower room at the station in Paris. I do agree with your recommendation to use DB's timetables, in the past I have found that, on occasion, they were more up to date than thetrainline.com even for some British services. I'm not a train freak myself but I did visit Strand / Aldwych (disused) underground station last weekend ... fascinating it was.'" I'm not a train fanatic either, but heartily commend this to you: www.amazon.co.uk/The-Subterranea ... 145&sr=8-1

Quote: El Barbudo "I always enjoy your railway posts. When we went by sleeper to Perpignan, I think we were in a four-berth and were tucked-up in bed before the others arrived and, on the return journey, we just paid a few francs to freshen-up in the shower room at the station in Paris. I do agree with your recommendation to use DB's timetables, in the past I have found that, on occasion, they were more up to date than thetrainline.com even for some British services. I'm not a train freak myself but I did visit Strand / Aldwych (disused) underground station last weekend ... fascinating it was.'" I'm not a train fanatic either, but heartily commend this to you: www.amazon.co.uk/The-Subterranea ... 145&sr=8-1

If it keeps me off the planes ... Then I'm happy !

Still not over Wolf 359?

Not even over Monarch Airlines flight 359 ....