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Ashford to Lyon by train
Prices explained
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Cheapest Price $72.84
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30 day advance $201.70
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First train06:24
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Last train20:28
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Avg changes1
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Fastest journey4hr 45m
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Distance673 kilometres
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Trains per day7
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Avg. journey time6hr 24m
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Train operators
Travelling from Ashford to Lyon by train
Fast trains from Ashford to Lyon take around 4 hours and 45 minutes, covering a distance of approximately 673 kilometres. There are frequent services on the rail route between Ashford and Lyon.
1. Are there direct trains from Ashford to Lyon?
Journeys between Ashford and Lyon usually involve one change of train. We have found some direct departures on this route but these are less frequent than routes requiring a change.
We usually find around 10 departures on the route from Ashford to Lyon every weekday that leave enough time to change trains without waiting around for longer than necessary.
Trains are typically more frequent on weekends, when we found around 12 departures.
2. How long is the train journey from Ashford to Lyon?
The Ashford to Lyon train travel time is normally about 4 hours and 45 minutes, whatever time you make the journey.
3. What are the Ashford to Lyon train times and schedule?
On weekdays the earliest train to Lyon is usually scheduled to depart Ashford around 06:24 and the last train is around 20:28. At weekends the first train of the day leaves Ashford around 06:55, and the last at 20:28.
What's the Ashford to Lyon train price?
The earlier you book the better, and the cheapest tickets we've found for trains from Ashford to Lyon are $72.84.
Trains departing 30 days in advance will cost around $201 while booking 7 days in advance the price is around $169. Booking on the day of travel is likely to be more expensive, so it is worth booking in advance if you can to save money.
When to book Ashford to Lyon train tickets?
Trains for this journey usually open for booking around 6 and a half months in advance. If booking is not yet open for your dates then you can set a booking alert to receive an email on the day that the cheapest tickets are released for your journey from Ashford to Lyon by train.
Which train companies operate between Ashford and Lyon?
More than one train company operates on the route from Ashford to Lyon, so you’ll be travelling with one or more of the following rail operators:
- Eurostar
- TER
- TGV
- Train Express Regional
You can check which train you’ll be travelling on by looking for the train name in search results.
Other journeys to Lyon View all journeys to Lyon
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From London From $70.74
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From Geneva From $38.52
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From Paris From $28.01
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From Barcelona From $51.13
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From Avignon TGV From $18.21
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From Lille From $35.72
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From Nice From $45.52
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From Dijon-Ville From $25.21
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From Bordeaux From $71.44
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From Cannes From $50.43
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From Brussels From $91.05
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From Bourg-Saint-Maurice From $25.21
Direct Eurostar
During summer 2018, it'll be possible to board a Eurostar train at Ashford International station in Kent and travel directly to Lyon without the need to change trains along the way. This is a seasonal direct train to Marseille which stops in Lyon on its fash dash south to the Mediterranean. The travel time from Ashford to Lyon is about four hours.
There are of course plenty of alternative routes to the direct train, with multiple options each day requiring an easy change of train in Lille or Paris.
Ashford International to Lyon
Shortly after leaving Ashford International, the Eurostar train to Lyon dives into the Channel Tunnel. A half hour later you’ll already be in northern France, tracking south through Flanders’ fields towards Paris. Skirting the east of the French capital, it’s then a fast dash south through Burgundy to the Rhône Valley where the first stop is at Lyon Part Dieu station. At Part Dieu, there are excellent onward connections to many cities in the south of France, the French Alps and also Barcelona.
On the return journey from Lyon Part Dieu to Ashford, there is an extra stop at Lille Europe. This is required by the UK Border Force in order for the authorities to carry out immigration checks before the train enters the Channel Tunnel.
Eurostar & TGV via Paris
Travellers taking the train from Ashford to Lyon are spoilt for choice. If you are travelling on a day when there’s a direct train, that’s your best bet. On other days this route described here via Paris makes sense, but there’s also an early morning connection via Lille on certain days.
The journey from Ashford to Lyon kicks off with a high-speed run on Eurostar from Ashford to Paris, where you will need to change stations. The second leg from Paris to Lyon takes just a couple of hours; it includes some very good scenery as the train dashes south from Paris through Burgundy.
London to Paris
The first part of the journey from London sweeps through Thameside landscapes and rural Kent to reach the Channel Tunnel. Little more than an hour after leaving London you'll already be in northern France, tracking south through Flanders fields towards Paris.
Remember to factor in at least half an hour for Eurostar's airline-style baggage check prior to boarding your train. There is a luggage and body scan and you'll be asked to show your passport. There are no restrictions on taking liquids on board Eurostar trains.
Paris interchange: Paris Nord to Paris Lyon
When you alight from the train at Gare du Nord look for signs to the Metro and RER. Once you've bought a ticket follow the signs to 'RER D', direction 'Melun' or 'Malesherbes'. So long as you're heading in the right direction, all the trains on this line stop at Gare de Lyon. The actual train journey takes around 10 mins with just one stop on the way at Châtelet-les-Halles. Upon alighting from the RER train at Gare de Lyon, follow the signs to the mainline station. The signs read 'Accès aux trains Grandes Lignes'. The whole journey from the concourse at Gare du Nord to the mainline departure platforms at Gare de Lyon will normally take about 40 mins but we recommend leaving at least 50 mins.
If you are arriving at Gare du Nord from London, bear in mind that you can buy Paris Métro tickets at the Eurostar terminal at St. Pancras and on board the Eurostar train. Similarly, passengers arriving at the Gare du Nord on Thalys trains from Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands can buy Metro tickets on the train (at the Thalys Bar). Although universally referred to as Métro tickets, they are in fact valid on RER trains too.
Paris to Lyon
Every day, TGVs leave the Gare de Lyon in Paris for the city of Lyon. This is a fast dash on France’s oldest dedicated high-speed rail route – it opened way back in 1981. Within little more than an hour you swap Parisian suburbs for the soft contours of Burgundy vineyards and before long the train is gliding into Lyon. All TGV services from Paris stop first at Lyon Part Dieu station. Most then continue to serve Lyon Perrache.
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