Travel specialists race a airplane in opposition to a TGV from Paris to Marseille
It’s a long-standing rivalry for short-haul travellers – hop on a speedy airplane or calm down on a practice?
And whereas most individuals have their preferences, in France, the foundations have been modified to pressure the hand of those that desire jet-setting to rail journey.
In May 2023 the French authorities banned any inside flight routes the place an current competing practice route beneath two and a half hours is accessible, to scale back France’s plane emissions. The transfer irked airline officers and left Paris to Marseille one of many few remaining routes serviced by Air France and high-speed TGV trains.
This new rule – which quashed flight routes between Paris and Nantes, Lyon and Bordeaux – attracted the eye of the group at The Points Guy (TPG), which continuously levels high-speed races pitting a practice in opposition to a airplane to the identical vacation spot, to check consolation, value, and pace.
TPG determined to check and distinction the expertise of traversing Paris to Marseille by airplane or by TGV – with the ensuing video a enjoyable take a look at the long-standing competitors between flights and trains. The frantic 481-mile journey began on foot, with the 2 rivals departing from the famed Louvre Pyramid in Paris earlier than wending their separate methods to Marseille’s Old Port. Read on to see
THE TRAIN
France has banned most short-haul inside flights the place a competing practice route beneath two and a half hours is accessible. So journey specialists from The Points Guy determined to check one of many few remaining inside competitors routes – Paris to Marseille
TPG Editor at Large Nicky Kelvin (above) paid £151 for a business-premiere seat from Paris Gare de Lyon to Marseille
Travelling on the TGV InOui was Nicky Kelvin, Editor at Large for TPG, who paid £151 for a business-premiere seat from Paris Gare de Lyon to Marseille (penny-pinching travellers may go for a inexpensive economic system ticket, after all).
The TGV high-speed practice community has been working for 4 many years and guarantees to punt you from Paris to Marseille at speeds of as much as 199mph (320kph). The length? A zippy three hours and 18 minutes.
So what had been the upsides of his TGV expertise?
Nicky advised MailOnline Travel: ‘The train station was very convenient for departing from central Paris and as it was a domestic train there were no security or immigration procedures so the boarding process couldn’t have been simpler.’
The TGV high-speed practice community has been working for 4 many years
During the journey Nicky took himself to the eating carriage and handled himself to a practice picnic: a croque monsieur, yoghurt, cookie and occasional, which got here to roughly £15. But he had anticipated higher hospitality for the worth of his ticket
TGVs between Paris and Marseille attain speeds of as much as 199mph (320kph). Nicky’s practice is pictured above
‘The practice itself was very comfy. It was easy and quiet with loads of house to relaxation and work.’
Any downsides?
Nicky mentioned: ‘The Metro in Paris was working slowly on the morning I travelled. For these relying purely on public transport you might have considered trying or want to go away your self with loads of time, despite the fact that the departure practice station is centrally positioned.’
During the journey Nicky took himself to the eating carriage and handled himself to a lavish practice picnic: a croque monsieur, yoghurt, cookie and occasional, which got here to roughly £15. But he had anticipated higher hospitality.
He added: ‘For the worth of a first-class ticket you might need anticipated a full complimentary meals and beverage service.’
THE PLANE
Racing for ‘group airplane’ was TPG Senior Marketing Manager Liam Spencer. The aeronautical aficionado managed to catch his Air France flight from Paris Orly regardless of heading to the airport a mere hour earlier than the airplane was scheduled to depart
Flying begin: Liam was delighted upon boarding to find the seat beside him was unoccupied
‘Team airplane’ for this enterprise was TPG Senior Marketing Manager Liam Spencer, along with his economic system ticket from Paris Orly Airport to Marseille Provence Airport setting him again £138.
He left his journey to Orly to the final minute, not setting off till an hour earlier than his scheduled flight time.
An affirmed jet-setter who would at all times moderately be up within the air than in a practice carriage, Liam discovered a number of positives about his journey.
Liam advised MailOnline Travel: ‘As this was a domestic flight, I didn’t need to undergo passport safety at both finish of my journey.
‘This made the airport experience a lot smoother and meant I was able to make it from plane to taxi in just five minutes.
Liam’s flight cost him £138, with the added bonus that he didn’t have to go through passport control
Liam was impressed to be offered a small snack despite his air-time from Paris to Marseille only being one hour
‘I wasn’t anticipating any sort of foods and drinks service on this one-hour flight, however after take-off I used to be given a complimentary cup of espresso and a biscuit.
‘This, along with the free seat next to me, meant it was a very pleasant short-haul experience.’
However, he got here a cropper within the race, finally shedding to Nicky by 20 minutes.
He pinpointed the next downsides: ‘My flight ended up taking off half-hour after the scheduled departure time. For such a brief flight this was a disappointing delay, and finally meant I ended up shedding the race.
‘The taxi from Marseille Airport to the Old Port felt costly at £50. Public transport would have been considerably cheaper, however I used to be aiming for pace over value on this event.’
For extra from The Points Guy go to thepointsguy.com/uk-travel. To see the unique video go to right here.
