Trains and Ferries

TRAINS

Train travel in France is convenient, comfortable and inexpensive. For example, there are 25 scheduled trains from Paris Montparnasse to Bordeaux Saint-Jean – a three hour journey on the high-speed TGV. There are three main train services:

  • SNCF - national
  • TER SNCF - regional
  • TGV – high speed network

Train station - GARE SAINT- JEAN

  • Rue Charles Domercq 33800 Bordeaux
  • Phone - 36 35 (0,34 €/ min. from a French landline)
  • Disruptions:  free no. 0805 90 36 35, 4:30 – 1 AM 7/7

Tickets can be purchased online, at train stations or kiosks – tickets must be validated at punch machines before boarding a train.

Train Ticket Centers or kiosks:

  • SNCF City Centre Ticket Office
  • Bordeaux City Centre : 82-84 Rue Sainte Catherine; Open Mon – Sat, 9am to 7:30 pm
  • Mériadeck: Mériadeck Shopping Centre; Open Mon – Sat, 9am to 8pm 
  • Lormont: 4 Pavillons Shopping Centre; Open Mon – Sat, 9am to 8pm
  • Talence Médoquine: Avenue de la gare; Ticket machine at the University Restaurant; Open Mon-Fri,  9 :15am to 6 :30pm
  • Begles: Ticket machine in the Rivers d’Arcins Shopping CentreBordeaux-Lac: Ticket machine in Auchan Bordeaux-Lac shopping centre

Europe-wide train information:

  • EUROSTAR   +33 (0) 862 35 35 39
  • EUROTUNNEL  +33 (0) 810 63 03 04; UK:  + 44 (0) 8443 35 35 35

You can also take your car by train:

  • AUTO TRAIN; 83 bis, rue Amédée Saint Germain; +33 (0)5 47 47 11 77
  • English website

Other services at Gare Saint-Jean

  • Bordeaux Tourism Office at Saint-Jean station,  +33 (0)5 56 91 64 70
  • Lost Luggage – Platform or Quay no.1 –Gate 4, +33 (0)5 47 11 63
  • Disabled facilities – Platform or Quay no. 1 Gate 35
  • Baby changing facilities – "La Conciergerie" Platform or Quay no. 1 – gate 59 

Ferries

There are no direct routes by ferry to Bordeaux from the UK. However there are numerous ferry routes from the UK and Ireland to France.  AFerry.co.uk  or Direct Ferries have comprensive lists of available Ferry companies, fares, special offers, and routes. 
 
Local Ferry Routes:
 
Blaye - Lamargue:
  • Service Maritime Departemental Des Bacs De La Gironde 
  • +33 (0)5 57 42 04 49
  • Crossings from Lamargue every hour on the half hour in high season lasting 20 minutes
  • Lamargue departure: The Port
  • Blaye departure: Allées Marines

Royan - Le Verdon (Mouth of the Gironde Estuary):

  • Service Maritime Departemental Des Bacs De La Gironde
  • +33 (0)5 56 73 37 73 for Verdon
  • +33 (0)5 46 38 35 15 for Royan 
  • Crossings every half hour lasting 15 -20 minutes
  • Verdon departure: 19 avenue du phare de Cordouan
  • Royan departure: rue de la Galiote
  • La Gironde " is 71 metres long and can take 600 passengers and 150 cars.