TGV to Cap D'agde

Getting to Western part of the French Mediterranean coast. 

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Rail

Rail appears to be widely popular as a means of getting to the Western part of the French Mediterranean coast. Among the quoted attractions are the interest of the ever changing scenery, space to move around and stretch during the journey, a 20 minute check-in time and no game of roulette waiting for luggage to appear on an airport carousel. The journey starts with Eurostar from Waterloo or Ashford International (Kent) with a change at Lille onto a TGV. From Montpellier onward the TGV is running on normal track and continues as a "stopping train" through to Perpignan. This makes it very convenient for a whole range of destinations including Port Leucate, Cap D'Agde, La Grande Cos and Port Carmargue. One can leave Ashford at 09:25 and arrive at Agde at about 18:00. David Manser reported that he can connect with that train if he leaves Swindon at 07:00. The return fare (2000 and 2001) is £120 to Nimes or any destination as far as Perpignan. If traveling independently, it is useful to know that for an extra £15 a "limited open" return is available. This allows some leeway for an unexpected change of plan.

But for some, a source of annoyance and frustration has been caused by the fact that the time tables used by high street travel agents do not show the minor stops for that last part of the journey from Montpellier to Perpignan (such as Agde) . As a result, Steve Lewis was told at his local rail station (Reading) he could not have a ticket because D'agde was not on their computers as a "main" station. Instead of offering a ticket to Narbonne (the next main station after Agde) he was offered a £120.00 ticket to Montpellier (the nearest main station before Agde) and told that he would have to buy an additional ticket to cover Montpellier to Agde each way. Mike Hopkins confirmed from his own experience that so long as one has a ticket for a main station further down the line, there are no problems in leaving or boarding the train at one of the minor stops. 

A very important consideration and a possible source of inconvenience is that, whether in France or England, seats on TGV's cannot be booked more than two months in advance of the return journey. This can mean that if you journey coincides with peak holiday travel times in France you may find that, not only can you not buy a rail ticket for your chosen journey day and time but you are by then too late to take advantage of a possible cut price ticket on a low-cost airline.

Air

David Manser has been going to Cap D'Agde for 21 years and has driven, flown, trained(?) and even sailed there. Next year he might motorcycle! He wrote that there are several alternatives to the popular British Airways Montpellier route and that some are very cheap.

"Ryannair, Stansted to Nimes was about UKP80 return this spring (2001). Bus shuttle or taxi from airport to Nimes City and then a train (UKP20) south-westerly to Agde (usually hourly). Total travel time to Agde - about five hours if you connect right. Some weekdays are cheaper and there are often special offers, especially since the WTC tragedy. The plane to Nimes is okay but you can wait at the railway station two hours if you miss a train."

"Another route is Ryannair, Stansted to Perpignan then a train eastwards to Agde. I paid UKP120 return airfare this summer. Midweek can be quite cheap. Travel time is quicker as the airport is right next to the city and railway station. A taxi was UKP6.00. Bus is UKP1.20 but you have to wait. About four hours in all from Stansted to Agde. This is my favourite. It's quick and easy and there are plenty of trains, both TGV and TER (Train Express Regional). A flight leaves at about 13.30 and arrives at 15.30 local giving you plenty of time to connect to Agde station. A short bus ride and you're there at about 18.00. It's about the same journey length from Swindon as by rail but a bit cheaper midweek. My opinion may change if the check-in times become extended.

David finished by saying, "Of course you have to decide which is best for you circumstances. I usually travel alone or with one other. If you have kids you may be concerned about waiting around for trains and buses in the heat. If you require further information feel free to e-mail me direct."

 In a subsequent posting Driftwood wrote, "Although further from the eventual destination, I went Stansted to Barcelona this year, with Go!, for 30 GBP each way, all in." Driftwood also pointed out that Go! fly from Bristol but did not state any of the destinations.

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