[18/11/2009] Ireland v France - Stade de France, Paris

[Colm Moore]

http://www.irishrail.ie/news_centre/news.asp?action=view&news_id=544

Need to get to Paris for the Football? by Marketing Department

There are more ways to get to Paris than flying direct. Why not talk to our European Rail team on (01) 703 1885 and see if we can get you there. Here are some sample journeys.

Brussels to Paris

* Thalys high speed service from Brussels Midi station in central Brussels to Paris Gare du Nord in the centre of Paris.
* From €86 return per adult.
* Journey time less than 1½hrs.

London to Paris
* Eurostar high speed service from St. Pancras station in central London to Paris Gare du Nord in the centre of Paris.
* From €80.50 return per adult.
* Journey time less than 2½hrs.

Amsterdam to Paris

* Thalys high speed service direct from Schipol Airport to Paris Gare du Nord in the centre of Paris.
* From €110 return per adult.
* Journey time less than 4hrs.

Please note that:
- All fares include guaranteed seat reservations.
- All fares quoted above are based on outward travel on Wed 18th, returning on Thurs 19th November.
- All fares are subject to availability.
- All fares are non-exchangeable and non-refundable. Flexible tickets are available if preferred but at a higher cost.
- Discounts for Seniors (over 60’s) and Youths (under 26’s), subject to availability.

For further information and to book your rail tickets, talk to a member of our European Rail team on (01) 703 1885. Booking fees apply.

[Colm Moore]

How about an ex-Dublin* / Cork** / Rosslare*** fare?

Roscoff-Paris is about €100 return, depending on ticket type and time of travel. You may however have to deal with French fans.


* via London or Rosslare
** via Rosslare or Roscoff
*** via Le Harve, Cherbourg

[MOH]

A quick look on the Thalys website shows I can get a Brussels - Paris return from €58 on the dates indicated.

[Colm Moore]

Oh, note that Brussels Midi / Zuid is the South station, not the middle one. I nearly paniced!

Ryanair fly to Charleroi, which is quite some distance from Brussels.

[plant43]

Originally Posted by Victor

Oh, note that Brussels Midi / Zuid is the South station, not the middle one. I nearly paniced!

Ryanair fly to Charleroi, which is quite some distance from Brussels.

Midi is the main station though?

[Colm Moore]

Originally Posted by plant43

Midi is the main station though?

Yes, all 17 platforms or so. Its just "Midi" suggests "middle".

The origin of the name is the French colloquialism for "south" - its where the sun is in the middle of the day.

[Mark Gleeson]

Be really careful in Brussels, the station names can be a very confusing due to multiple langauges. By our standards every station in Brussels is huge, what a joke Pearse is by comparison when you have seen the catheral like booking hall in some of the stations in Brussels

[sean]

Originally Posted by Victor

How about an ex-Dublin* / Cork** / Rosslare*** fare?

Roscoff-Paris is about €100 return, depending on ticket type and time of travel. You may however have to deal with French fans.


* via London or Rosslare
** via Rosslare or Roscoff
*** via Le Harve, Cherbourg

My thoughts exactly ... why on Earth would an Ireland fan, who most likely lives in Ireland, need to know how to get there from Brussels or Schipol.

And if they did, (i.e. were living in Amsterdamn or Brussels or London) why would they not contact Eurostar or Thalys or whoever was their local hi-speed operator instead of calling CIE in Ireland?

This press release doesn't make any sense whatsoever.

[Mark Gleeson]

I know several people traveling via London, in fact Eurostar is booked out already for the match day and return

To be fair, it seems like Irish Rail have awoken to the ability to make money

[Colm Moore]

Originally Posted by sean

My thoughts exactly ... why on Earth would an Ireland fan, who most likely lives in Ireland, need to know how to get there from Brussels or Schipol.

And if they did, (i.e. were living in Amsterdamn or Brussels or London) why would they not contact Eurostar or Thalys or whoever was their local hi-speed operator instead of calling CIE in Ireland?

This press release doesn't make any sense whatsoever.

Because on those days, direct flights to Paris will now be expensive. Plane + train may be cheaper than plane only.