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Eurostar Connections in Lille
How to make the transfer between the Eurostar and TGV trains when travelling to and from the UK via Lille.
Simon HarperShare
Lille Europe is an enormous station so SMTJ thought a guide to making the connections there between Eurostars and other trains would be useful.
Particularly as making the connection between Eurostar trains and TGV trains on to other destinations in France is typically much simpler in Lille compared to travelling via Paris.
3 good reasons for connecting in Lille:
(1) You can often avoid having to make the transfer between the Gare Du Nord and Gare De Lyon in Paris.
Connections are available at Lille Europe between Eurostar and TGV trains when travelling by train between Britain and a swathe of French destinations served by trains to/from the Gare de Lyon - including; Avignon*, Beziérs, Lyon*, Marseille*, Montpellier, Nimes and Valence.
*also served by Eurostar direct on certain dates only.
(2) You can also avoid the particularly awkward transfer in Paris between the Gare Du Nord and the Gare Montparnasse.
Connections are also available in Lille between Eurostar and TGV trains when travelling between Britain and a swathe of other French destinations served by trains from Paris Montparnasse, including the likes of Angoulême, Bordeaux, Nantes, Poitiers, Rennes and St Pierre-des-corps/Tours
As can be seen below, some of these connections in Lille involve making a transfer between Lille Europe and Lille Flandres stations, but this is still comparatively simple compared to any cross-Paris connection.
(3) You can also avoid having to make the transfer between the Gare Du Nord and Gare De L'Est when travelling by train between London and Strasbourg.
Onward connections when arriving by Eurostar:
The Eurostar train from the UK will arrive at voie (platform/track) 46 - there are only four voies/platforms/tracks at Lille Europe station - so the numbering doesn't have any apparent logic.
Many (but not all) of the onward trains from Lille Europe will depart from the adjacent voie (platform/track) 44, but making the onward connection in Lille is rarely so simple.
That's because the departure details of the TGV on from Lille won't be confirmed until around 15 -20 mins before departure.
So unless the Eurostar has arrived late and you have a tightly timed connection into a train departing from voie (platform/track) 44, you will have to take the following usual five steps.
Step One - Ascending up to the concourse, which is above the trains:
By the front end of the train - there will be an escalator, stairs AND an elevator, which give access to the concourse above the trains.
Towards the rear of the train there will be stairs and an escalator which also lead up to the concourse.
However, in the middle of the voie (platform/track), the stairs are the only means of heading upwards from the trains; so take your time and work out what your options are - the ascenceur/elevator is signposted.
Step Two - Working out the details of your onward connection:
When you're up at the concourse level check the blue departure screens - which will look like these pictured below (this image was not captured in Lille)
At Lille Europe they MAY also indicate that you should wait in a specific departure hall (usually Hall 2), for the details of the specific voie (platform/track) that you're onward train will be leaving from, to be confirmed.
The concourse at Lille Europe is enormous, so if need be follow the signs to Hall 2 (the concourse is divided into FOUR separate halls) and wait there for your onward connection.
Though the staircases in the middle of the voie (platform/track), which the Eurostar will have arrived at, lead directly up into Halls 2 or 3.
Step Three - Waiting for your onward connection:
Hall 2 is also where the main waiting room and restaurant are located.
Though It doesn't particularly matter in which part of the station you wait for your onward train.
if you want to use the elevators to head back down to the voie (platform/track when your train departure is confirmed, the better option is to wait in Hall 3.
Whatever the location, it can be a good idea to wait where you can keep an eye on the departure screens, because any announcements re: the departure of your onward train will only be made in French.
Look out for when the voie (platform/track) number appears on these screens in the right-hand column.
The number of the voie, that a train will be leaving from, doesn't usually appear on the departure screens until around 10 - 20 mins before departure.
Two TGV trains are often joined together for departures from Lille Europe, each train will be heading to a different final destination and will have separate train numbers - the train number will be on your ticket.
So don't be surprised if it looks as though two different trains are departing at the same time.
If you can't see your final destination on the departure screens, match the train number on your ticket to the train number on the screen.
Step Four - Making your way to the voie (platform/track) which your onward train will be departing from:
There will usually be a rush to head for the voie (platform/track) as soon as it is confirmed, but take your time as your seat on the TGV will be reserved.
The voies (platforms/tracks) at Lille Europe are arranged in two pairs, 43-45 on one side of the halls and 44-46 on the other.
However, the access to each of these two pairs of voies (platforms/tracks) is very different.
The nearest access point to the voies (platform/track) may not be the optimum route to take, so you don't have to follow the crowd.
Also if you want to use the elevators to access the trains, then it's best to wait in Hall 3 for the departure details of the train to be confirmed - as will be seen below, there is no elevator access to the voies/trains in Halls 1 and 2.
If you take the elevator, you may then have to move along the length of the long voies (platforms/tracks) in order to access the coach/car on the train, in which your reserved seat(s) is located - but this can be a small price to pay if you don't want to use the escalators or stairs.
To voies (platforms/tracks) 43 and 45
These can be accessed by sets of stairs and escalators in Halls 1, 2, and 3 - though some of the escalators can be switched, so they don't lead down to the trains
There is also elevator access in Hall 3.
To voies (platforms/tracks) 44 and 46:
The access points to these voies are less obvious.
From Hall 1 they can be accessed by stairs and escalators, though the escalator can be switched so that it's not leading down to the trains.
The only access down to voies (platforms/tracks) 44 and 46 from Hall 2 is by stairs - and the only access from Hall 3 is by elevator.
At the end of Hall 4, on the other side to Eurostar check-in, there are stairs, an elevator AND an escalator - but the escalator can be switched so that it's not leading down to the trains.
The key thing to be aware of is that you don't have to use the stairs, there will be alternatives.
Step Five - Making the boarding of the train as simple as can be:
When you descend to the voie that your train will be departing from, look at the electronic screens to find out where the specific coach you will be travelling in, will be located.
On your ticket the coach number is the 'VOITURE' number.
The voie (platform/track) will be divided into zones/répéres
Screens which look SIMILAR to this...
You will also see other screens which look like this...
...the red light indicates your location on the voie (platform/track) so you can see whether you need to go left or right to find your coach.
Most of the departures on from Lille will be formed of two TGV trains - one will be commencing its journey in Lille and the other will arrive from Bruxelles and be attached to the train commencing its journey at Lille.
So don't be surprised if you can see a train at the voie (platform/track) but the zone/répére info is telling you to wait where there is no train to be seen.
The timetable summary;
What can be frustrating is that the timetables of the Eurostar trains and the TGV trains, when travelling from the UK to destinations in France via Lille, aren't well co-ordinated.
As can bee seen below, the most viable connections often involve spending more than an hour in Lille between trains - though the connections between trains tend to be better timed when travelling to the UK from France.
All trains listed below call at Aeroport CDG station and at Marne La Vallée - the station for Disneyland Paris.
Trains to Marseille also call at Avignon TGV.
Trains to Montpellier also call at Valence TGV and Nimes.
Trains to Bourdeaux also call at Poitiers
Trains to Nantes also call at Le Mans and Angers
Trains to Rennes also call at Le Mans.
The train to Mulhouse also calls at Dijon
*= a low-cost, more basic Ouigo service departing from Lille Flandres station
**= departs from Lille Flandres
***= this train arrives at Montpellier Sud-de-France station and calls at Nimes Pont-Du-Gard station.
Monday to Thursday:
|
Depart |
Arrive |
Depart |
Destination |
|---|---|---|---|
|
06:47 |
09:26 |
11:03 |
Lyon |
|
|
|
11:25 |
Rennes |
|
|
|
11:25 |
Strasbourg |
|
08:55 |
11:27 |
13:00 |
Marseille* |
|
11:04 |
13:26 |
14:01 |
Marseille |
|
12:58 |
15:30 |
17:03 |
Montpellier |
|
|
|
17:16 |
Bordeaux** |
|
|
|
17:39 |
Nantes |
|
|
|
17:39 |
Rennes |
|
15:04 |
17:26 |
18:25 |
Marseille |
|
|
|
18:57 |
Mulhouse** |
|
|
|
19:09 |
Strasbourg |
............................................................
Fridays:
|
Depart |
Arrive |
Depart |
Destination |
|---|---|---|---|
|
06:47 |
09:26 |
11:03 |
Lyon |
|
|
|
11:25 |
Rennes |
|
|
|
11:25 |
Strasbourg |
|
08:55 |
11:27 |
13:00 |
Marseille* |
|
11:04 |
13:26 |
14:01 |
Nice |
|
12:58 |
15:30 |
16:02 |
Montpellier*** |
|
|
|
17:03 |
Montpellier |
|
|
|
17:16 |
Bordeaux** |
|
|
|
17:39 |
Nantes |
|
|
|
17:39 |
Rennes |
|
15:04 |
17:26 |
18:25 |
Marseille |
|
|
|
18:57 |
Mulhouse** |
|
|
|
19:09 |
Strasbourg |
............................................................
Saturdays:
|
Depart |
Arrive |
Depart |
Destination |
|---|---|---|---|
|
06:57 |
09:26 |
11:03 |
Montpellier |
|
|
|
11:25 |
Rennes |
|
|
|
11:25 |
Strasbourg |
|
08:55 |
11:27 |
13:00 |
Marseille* |
|
11:04 |
13:26 |
14:01 |
Marseille |
|
12:58 |
15:30 |
17:03 |
Perpignan |
|
|
|
17:03 |
Marseille |
|
|
|
17:16 |
Bordeaux** |
|
|
|
17:39 |
Nantes |
|
|
|
17:39 |
Rennes |
|
15:04 |
17:26 |
18:57 |
Mulhouse** |
|
|
|
19:09 |
Strasbourg |
|
17:04 |
19:26 |
20:02 |
Lyon |
............................................................
Sundays:
|
Depart |
Arrive |
Depart |
Destination |
|---|---|---|---|
|
08:55 |
11:27 |
13:00 |
Marseille* |
|
11:04 |
13:26 |
14:01 |
Marseille |
|
12:58 |
15:30 |
16:02 |
Montpellier*** |
|
|
|
17:03 |
Montpellier |
|
|
|
17:16 |
Bordeaux** |
|
|
|
17:39 |
Nantes |
|
|
|
17:39 |
Rennes |
|
15:04 |
17:26 |
18:25 |
Marseille |
|
|
|
18:57 |
Mulhouse** |
|
|
|
19:09 |
Strasbourg |
Connecting into Eurostar departures:
No matter which of the voies (platforms/tracks) which your train will arrive at, you will have to ascend up to the main concourse in order to check-in for the Eurostar departure
If you will be taking a Eurostar from Lille to the UK keep in mind that other train services which don’t require check-in, also depart from Lille Europe station.
You may see other travellers heading directly down escalators and lifts to the voies (platforms/tracks) from Halls 1, 2 and 3 - but if you’re taking a Eurostar you need to use the check-in that's located in Hall 4.
At Lille-Europe check-in for the Eurostar doesn't USUALLY open until around 30 mins prior to departure.
If the desk is closed when you arrive in the station there is little point in joining the queue which will form.
Finding a seat or heading off to a cafe can be a better option.
Multi-lingual announcements will be made throughout the station informing you when the check-in has opened.
Check-in will usually only open for the next train to depart, so you cannot check-in early for a subsequent departure and then wait in the Eurostar departure area.
Check-in also usually closes around 10 mins before departure - though in actuality if you're already in the queue for the desk 10 minutes prior to the check-in closing, you may not be turned away.
Though avoid checking-in at the last minute, the train departure won't be delayed because passengers haven't allowed enough time to pass through the boarding process.
Escalators and elevators link the Eurostar departure lounge down to the voie (platform/track) that the train will depart from.
Though the access to the voie won't usually open until around 10 mins prior to departure.
Check the coach number on your ticket, then once you're on the voie (platform/track), you can use the info screens to work out in which zone on the voie you should then wait in, for easy access, to your assigned seat(s).
The timetable summary:
(F) = an arrival at Lille Flandres station
* = travel to Lille by a low-cost, but more basic Ouigo service.
The departures in bold are from the new out-of-town stations, Montpellier-Sud-de-France and Nimes-Pont De Gard.
The departures from Lille at 13:30, 15:30: 17:56; 18:35 and 21:00 all also call at Ebbsfleet International, the departure at 18:25 also calls at Ashford International.
Monday to Thursday:
|
From |
Arrive |
Depart |
Arrive |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lyon (05:50) |
08:59 |
09:30 |
09:57 |
|
Strasbourg (06:07) |
09:08 |
09:30 |
09:57 |
|
Mulhouse (05:41) |
09:57 |
11:35 |
11:57 |
|
Nantes (06:02) |
10:17 |
11:35 |
11:57 |
|
Bordeaux (05:57) |
10:40 (F) |
11:35 |
11:57 |
|
Marseille* (05:27) |
10:44 (F) |
11:35 |
11:57 |
|
Lyon-Perrache* |
12:21 (F) |
13:30 |
14:05 |
|
Montpellier (09:10) |
14:31 |
15:30 |
16:05 |
|
Marseille* (10:04) |
14:30 (F) |
15:30 |
16:05 |
|
Strasbourg (12:41) |
15:38 |
17:36 |
18:13 |
|
Rennes (11:52) |
15:56 |
17:36 |
18:13 |
|
Marseille (12:10) |
16:57 |
17:36 |
18:13 |
|
Bordeaux (12:59) |
17:58 |
18:35 |
19:13 |
|
Nantes (13:57) |
18:29 (F) |
19:35 |
19:57 |
|
Marseille (15:09) |
19:59 |
21:00 |
21:33 |
............................................................
Fridays:
|
From |
Arrive |
Depart |
Arrive |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lyon (05:50) |
08:59 |
09:30 |
09:57 |
|
Strasbourg (06:07) |
09:08 |
09:30 |
09:57 |
|
Mulhouse (05:41) |
09:57 |
11:35 |
11:57 |
|
Nantes (06:02) |
10:17 |
11:35 |
11:57 |
|
Bordeaux (05:57) |
10:40 (F) |
11:35 |
11:57 |
|
Marseille* (05:27) |
10:44 (F) |
11:35 |
11:57 |
|
Lyon-Perrache* |
12:21 (F) |
13:30 |
14:05 |
|
Montpellier (09:10) |
14:31 |
15:30 |
16:05 |
|
Marseille* (10:04) |
14:30 (F) |
15:30 |
16:05 |
|
Strasbourg (12:41) |
15:38 |
17:36 |
18:13 |
|
Rennes (11:52) |
15:56 |
17:36 |
18:13 |
|
Marseille (12:10) |
16:57 |
17:36 |
18:13 |
|
Bordeaux (12:59) |
17:58 |
18:35 |
19:13 |
|
Nantes (13:57) |
18:29 (F) |
19:35 |
19:57 |
|
Marseille (15:09) |
19:59 |
21:00 |
21:33 |
............................................................
Saturdays:
|
From |
Arrive |
Depart |
Arrive |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lyon (05:50) |
08:59 |
09:30 |
09:57 |
|
Strasbourg (06:07) |
08:57 |
09:30 |
09:57 |
|
Mulhouse (05:41) |
09:57 |
11:35 |
11:57 |
|
Nantes (06:02) |
10:17 |
11:35 |
11:57 |
|
Bordeaux (05:57) |
10:40 (F) |
11:35 |
11:57 |
|
Lyon-Perrache* |
12:21 (F) |
13:30 |
14:05 |
|
Perpignan (07:25) |
14:31 |
15:30 |
16:05 |
|
Marseille* (10:04) |
14:30 (F) |
15:30 |
16:05 |
|
Strasbourg (12:41) |
15:38 |
17:36 |
18:13 |
|
Rennes (12:00) |
15:56 |
17:36 |
18:13 |
|
Nice (09:23) |
16:57 |
17:36 |
18:13 |
|
Bordeaux (12:59) |
17:58 |
18:35 |
19:13 |
|
Marseille (15:09) |
19:59 |
21:00 |
21:33 |
............................................................
Sundays:
|
From |
Arrive |
Depart |
Arrive |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Strasbourg (06:07) |
08:57 |
09:30 |
09:57 |
|
Marseille (15:09) |
11:27 |
12:35 |
12:57 |
|
Perpignan (07:25) |
14:26 |
15:30 |
16:05 |
|
Marseille* (10:04) |
14:30 (F) |
15:30 |
16:05 |
|
Strasbourg (12:41) |
15:38 |
17:36 |
18:13 |
|
Rennes (11:50) |
15:56 |
17:36 |
18:13 |
|
Marseille (12:10) |
16:57 |
17:36 |
18:13 |
|
Bordeaux (12:59) |
17:58 |
18:35 |
19:13 |
|
Nantes (13:57) |
18:29 (F) |
19:35 |
19:57 |
|
Lyon (16:00) |
19:06 |
21:00 |
21:33 |
|
Montpellier (14:53) |
19:59 |
21:00 |
21:33 |
Worth keeping in mind:
The departure and arrival details in these tables are based on the usual timetable, so can be impacted both by works on a route - and by the French national rail operator, SNCF's habit of having trains not depart on certain dates.
When you look up a journey, the ticket agents won't split out the options which involve making a connection in Lille instead of Paris.- so use these tables as a guide, to hone in on the departures which do involve connecting into a Eurostar in Lille.
As can be seen when travelling to the UK by Eurostar, many of the connections in Lille involve timings of 35 mins to 1hr 15mins between arriving in Lille by TGV and departing for London, or Ashford and Ebbsfleet on the Eurostar.
Not only should this usually ensure a trouble-free transfer, but what's also key is that connections with these timings are typically made available by the ticket agents - booking an end-to-end journey should ensure that tickets can be transferred to a later Eurostar departure, in the event of a train delay.
When the transfer time in Lille is longer than 1hr 15mins, the ticket agents may not make the end-to-end journey available as a single booking, if that is the case then an option will be to book separate tickets.
There are multiple circumstances in which spending more than 75mins in Lille Europe station would be SMTJ's preference over using the public transport connections across Paris, but keep in mind that for a station of its size, the passenger facilities at Lille Europe station are comparatively sparse - and the area right by the station, offers limited alternative options for locations in which to spend time between trains.
Simon Harper
I wanted to share my passion for train travel and explain how anyone can take the fantastic journeys I have taken.
This is one of more than 100 train travel guides available on ShowMeTheJourney, which will make it easier to take the train journeys you want or need to make. As always, all images were captured on trips taken by ShowMeTheJourney.
