southern france
15
south of France
non-stop to the
Three of France’s most alluring central and southern cities are now directly linked to London by rail. Ben Lerwill considers their timeless appeal
C
entral and Southern France are now easier for British tourists to access thanks to a new year-round high-speed
non-stop train service from Eurostar which started on May 1. Running up to fi ve-times-weekly, the service
travels direct from St Pancras, calling fi rst at Lyon (after four hours 41 minutes), stopping off at Avignon (fi ve hours 49 minutes) and completing its journey at Marseille, six hours and 27 minutes after setting off. Avignon and Marseille are also prime gateways to the countryside and vineyards of Provence. Time-wise, the actual journey length is longer than a direct fl ight, but the ease, comfort and sense of adventure that a rail voyage affords – not to mention its lighter carbon footprint – means that the new service is likely to generate signifi cant interest. Advance London to Lyon tickets are currently just £89 return or from £99 return to both Avignon and Marseille. Indirect services via both Paris and Lille are also available – ideal for anyone wanting to stop off in Paris – from £108 to Lyon or from £117 to Avignon and Marseille.
The trains being used are from Eurostar’s
existing fl eet, so will be near-identical to those employed on the Paris and Brussels services. The only difference will be the absence of a Business Premier class – passengers will be able to choose only between Standard and Standard Premier. On the latter, there will be two meals served on both outbound and inbound routes, and it is planned that the menus will be inspired by the South of France. The new services can be booked with
Voyages-sncf, the travel trade’s one-stop shop for European rail services and specialists for France with access to the whole of the SNCF French and international route network. Agents can book on 0844 848 4066 or, for agency sales support, call 01732 526750 or email
salesteam@voyages-sncf.com. Further information is available at:
voyages-sncf.eu and
eurostar.com.
Lyon
Widely billed as the gastronomic capital of France, the handsome riverside city of Lyon has a history stretching back to the Roman era, when it was
sellingtravel.co.uk
“The ease, comfort and sense of adventure that a rail voyage affords – not to mention its
lighter carbon footprint – means that the new Eurostar service is likely to generate significant interest”
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