Paris to Torino - Europe's Epic Express Train Journeys

We have singled out this journey between Paris and Torino, as it is one of the comparatively few European train journeys which combines the exhilaration of high speed train travel with epic scenery

When TGV trains travel on the French high speed lines the views from the windows are rarely spectacular, as this typical view below from the LGV between Paris and Lyon below show.
On the train from Paris to Turin

On this section of the journey it's the speed that provides the wow factor.

 

High speed trains need train straight lines so when they encounter mountainous terrain they tend to disappear into tunnels, but the proposed high speed line between France and Torino/Turin is stuck at the planning stage.
So this journey between Paris and Torino/Turin still showcases that a journey by high speed train isn't always devoid of scenic interest, but it's only when the train leaves the high speed LGV Sud-Est line that the landscape becomes more spectacular.

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When this train comes off the high speed line after Lyon and begins to head towards Chambéry, the views become a lot more interesting - on the LEFT the railway lines passes the Lac d'Aiguebelette.
On the train from Paris to Turin
Though when ShowMeTheJourney travelled this way the ability to take images here was compromised by the sunlight shining directly on the somewhat dirty windows of the train.

The most spectacular part of the Paris to Torino/Turin journey is that between Chambéry and the other side of the Italian border - once the train has passed through the Mont Cenis tunnel.
Initially the train will be travelling over the southern end of the Culoz - Modane railway and then once it crosses the border it becomes the Modane to Turin railway.

Around 25 mins after departing from Chambery the train passes through Aiguebelle and between there and the tunnel at Modane the railway shares a valley with an autoroute.
The image below is typical of the views that can be seen to the north and south of the town named La Chambre.
On the train from Paris to Turin
The valley narrows into a shallow gorge between St Jean and Modane and the views are often obscured by the autroute, but this view below was captured on the left just before Modane station.
On the train from Paris to Turin

The three views below were all captured from the LEFT in Italy, after the train had exited the Mont Cenis Tunnel - the most spectacular part of the journey is the stretch between Bardonecchia and Bussoleno - though the train will pass through numerous other tunnels.
On the epic train journey from Paris to Turin.
The image below is of the approach to Chiomonte.

On the epic train journey from Paris to Turin.
And on this image below the train is passing through Chiomonte station.
On the epic train journey from Paris to Turin.

HOW TO TAKE THIS JOURNEY:

All the practical information you need to know about making this incredible journey - including details of the tickets, trains and stations...

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THE OTHER EPIC EXPRESS TRAIN JOURNEYS:

click on the journeys listed below to discover why they are so fabulous:
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LONDON TO CORNWALL

KOLN/COLOGNE TO KLAGENFURT

MALAGA TO BARCELONA

MARSEILLE TO GENOVA

MILANO TO GENEVE

MILANO TO ZURICH

MUNCHEN TO VENEZIA

OSLO - BERGEN

ROME and NAPLES - SICILY

SALZBURG TO ZAGREB

WIEN/VIENNA TO LJUBLJANA

WIEN/VIENNA TO VENEZIA/VENICE

YORK TO ABERDEEN

ZAGREB TO WIEN/VIENNA

ZURICH TO GRAZ

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This is one of more than 100 train travel guides available on ShowMeTheJourney, which will make it easier to take the train journeys you want or need to make.

As always, all images were captured on trips taken by ShowMeTheJourney.