From Geneva, Switzerland to Paris, France on board of a TGV Lyria high speed train with 300 km/h

[@alexmcwhirter6611]

Hello Trainviking, probably many/most people taking these short flights are making connections at another carrier's hub. For example, with GVA-CDG there are those who are connecting to AF. There are not many direct long-haul flights from GVA ... most depart from ZRH. So these feeder flights are vital ... how could KLM exist without its very many feeder flights ?

[@omarhamid3638]

Hi! Thanks for this comprehensive and highly informative trip report! I especially appreciated the tour of Geneva's train station at the beginning as I hope to be using the station soon for work trips, so all the tips and explores were so helpful. Also, I liked the graphics you provided on the ultra-low environmental impact of trains when compared to the other modes of transport. I'm cutting back on flights myself so this helps me feel even better about this! I hope the French or Swiss governments can agree to upgrade the line to a fully high-speed one, the journey would become a doddle! Thanks and I have made sure to subscribe and like 🙂

[@Andrewjg_89]

Very nice trains and incredible views of the mountains. Nice 👍

[@RanadeS]

I have done this journey 18 years ago when Switzerland was not part of eu free travel aera.

[@Trainviking]

Nice, must have been very different from today.

[@RanadeS]

@@Trainviking yes I had to get separate visas for both countries and go through immigration.

[@RanadeS]

@@Trainviking train ticket was almost same as last minute plane ticket.

[@michaelhall8586]

Nice

[@wileyhall5376]

Great review! Did that TGV Lyria have a level where stairs are NOT needed? Obviously you need to climb for the upper tier, but is the lower tier a few steps down or is it level with the boarding platform?

[@Trainviking]

If you stat at the lower level, there are almost no stairs, just a little step down.

@@Trainviking yes, and to know that the carriage 1 and 8, the actual tiny stairs for the lower level are elevatable, so the floor actually CAN be aligned with the boarding platform

[@Alfscan777]

How do you make reservation for this train on line if you live in the US? Also do they have similar trains going between Berlin and Switzerland and Poland? Thank you for your help and response. Oh.. I forgot are the trains only coaches.. no sleepers???

[@issambenzakour4631]

Please how much ticket for Genève to Paris

[@Trainviking]

Ticket prices are very flexible and based on demand, you can go to www.trainline.eu to buy tickets.

[@georgechiribogaseniorrealt4319]

When you purchase a global rail pass do you ride on this train? If you purchase directly to this train do you get assigned seats? Nice video Thank you !

[@Trainviking]

You need to have a reservation for this, the French made it really difficult to book this if you want to reserve this, and there won't be standing spots. France and interrail was doable, however it's less and less doable to be honest.

[@T3720]

Informative videos. Was there any passport control during the whole route? (i’am renewing my passport so….)

[@Trainviking]

You ALWAYS need valid travel documents and like I mentioned in the video, there are random pasport checks. Both Switzerland and France signed the Schengen treaty.

[@T3720]

I was asking because i dont have a valid one. But since you said there are passport checks then i will have to wait

[@jeanpauljh]

At Geneva Cornavin station, in order to reach the tracks for trains to/from France, you will pass through a customs control point (French when departing Geneva, Swiss when arriving there). While they don't always check documents, they will do so on occasion... so I wouldn't suggest travelling this route without a passport!

[@42judge]

Yes, you have to scan your passport to board the train in Paris.

[@aikaterinitsahalou2632]

I'm planning to do the reverse route this summer (from Paris Gare de Lyon to gare de Genève Cornavin). How easy is it to find the train in Paris Gare de Lyon?

[@42judge]

It's easy. Did it 4 weeks ago. Just know the platform is only listed 20 minutes before the train departs, and while some of the info says boarding starts 2 minutes before departure, actual boarding started about 15 minutes before departure. We left 10 seconds early from Paris and got to Lyon 70 seconds late, and that was with a 10 minute delay. The ride was very smooth. The trains were towards the left, but not fully (looking at the tracks). Just look for the graphics, the TGV Lyria look a little different.