How to use Paris Montparnasse train station

About the station

Our guide to Paris Montparnasse train station explains what to look out for when departing and arriving here by train.

There’s no doubting that taking a train from Paris Montparnasse station can be an unexpected experience.

In contrast to the other mainline stations in Paris, that have all preserved their 19th century character, Paris Montparnasse train station is a fine example of 1970’s brutalist architecture.

So depending on your point of view it’s either monumentally ugly, or admirable in its own way.

What first time users will find particularly odd is that trains depart from an upper concourse - which is above street level AND two storeys above the Metro station.

But don’t be alarmed - impressive banks of escalators give access to/from the trains, and lifts are also available which connect all the levels.

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Taking A Train to Paris

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Departing From Paris Montparnasse By Train

If you are taking a TGV (InOui) service) from Paris then when you enter the station building follow the signs pointing the way to the ‘Grandes Lignes’.

If you have entered the station at street level, or have arrived by Metro, you will need to ascend to the levels above, to the area of Montparnasse train station used by the TGVs and other long distance trains.

FINDING YOUR TRAIN BOARDING

MONTPARNASSE-VAUGIRARD

Arriving by Metro:

The Metro station at Montparnasse is named 'Montparnasse – Bienvenüe' - but it is very much a station of two parts.

The part of the Metro station used by lines 4 and 12 is much further from the mainline station, Gare Montparnasse, than the part of the Metro station used by lines 6 and 13.

Line 4 links the Gare Du Nord to Montparnasse and or guide to making this transfer between the stations is HERE.

Allow 10-15 mins between stepping off a Metro Line 4 and 12 train to boarding a TGV, or a minimum of 5 - 7 mins if you arrive on Metro Lines 6 or 13.

If you're ascending from the Metro, you will initially see access to trains on the first level that you will come to - but the TGVs and other long distance trains depart from the level above!

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WAITING FOR and FINDING YOUR TRAIN:

When you have reached the top of the escalators, you may assume that you have reached the main departure hall - the signs will tell you that you are in Hall 1.

You’ll be able to glimpse trains ahead of you and people will be waiting around, checking the electronic departure screens etc.

However, this area isn’t the main concourse.

To access the departure concourse, with its range of shops and food/drink outlets etc - you need to walk ahead towards the trains, passed the banks of ticket machines.

But this main concourse can become crowded, so if you don't need to use the shops etc, then hanging back in this Hall 1 can be a better option.

Finding Your Train:

The specific voie (platform/track) that a train will depart from, isn’t usually confirmed until 10–20 mins before departure.

So keep an eye on the departure monitors or the departure board, which dominates the main concourse.
Announcements re: departures are only made in French.

If you can’t see the station that you’re travelling to on the departure screens - find your train using the train number.

This will be a 4 digit number, which will be printed on your ticket - so match the number to the train number that will be on the departure screens.

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BOARDING THE TRAIN:

Despite the fact that everyone who will be taking a TGV has a reserved seat, the confirmation of the voie (platform/track) number usually prompts a stampede towards the train.

Join the throng if you have luggage - space on TGV luggage racks can be limited.

But if you don’t have luggage there's no need to rush, the less stressful option is to hang back and wait until those that do have luggage etc, have stowed their bags and taken their seats.

Though TGV Atlantique trains - which for the time being form the bulk of the long distance (Grandes Lignes) departures from Montparnasse, can be 20 carriages/coaches long.

Two 10 coach trains can be joined toegether, so be prepared to trek down the platform to the carriage/coach in which your seat is located - and give yourself time to do so.

Something to watch out for is that a condition of French train tickets, is that you must be on the platform to board your train a minimum of 2 minutes before the train departs.

Barriers are being installed at Montparnasse to enforce this rule, they’re closed around 2 minutes before departure!

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DEPARTING FROM MONTPARNASSE VAUGIRARD:

Some trains, mainly the Intercités trains to Granville and the OUIGO trains, don't depart from the voies (platforms/tracks) located by the main concourse at Montparnasse station.

Instead they depart from a separate part of the station - named ‘Montparnasse 3 Vaugirard’.

Follow the signs from the station entrance and Metro, but be aware that it is a 5–10min walk to the Vaugirard concourse from the main Hall 1 concourse.

If when initially entering the station you don't see any signs pointing the way to the Vaugirard concourse, then follow the signs up pointing the way to the 'Grandes Lignes' departures.

Go up to the Hall 1 concourse and follow the signs from there to the Vaugirard concourse - it will initially seem like you're heading nowhere in particular, but you'll come to the trains eventually.

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Arriving By Train At Paris Montparnasse

Our guide to arriving by train at Gare Montparnasse focuses on how to transfer to the Metro - and then how to use the Metro to reach the other mainline stations.

If you're not used to using Paris Montparnasse then this can be confusing.

CONNECTING TO THE METRO

TO GARE DU NORD TO EST

TO GARE DE LYON TO ST. LAZARE

TO AUSTERLITZ

Many TGV trains that arrive at Montparnasse can be 20 coaches long, so if your reserved seat is towards the rear of such a train, it can take around 5 mins before you step on to the main concourse at the station.

Once you're on the main concourse keep going ahead of you until you are in the Hall 1 area of the station,

At the rear of Hall 1 you will see two banks of escalators, both of which connect this Hall 1 to street level and the entrance to the Metro station

Although the escalators can be switched so that they only ascend up into the station.

If they are you'll have to seek out the lifts back on the main concourse, if you don't want to take your luggage down flights of stairs.

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TRANSFERRING TO THE METRO:

The entrance to the Metro station is located two levels below the area of Montparnasse train station that the long distance express trains arrive at.

Though be aware that if you do use the lifts on the main concourse to access the Metro, the access between stepping out of the lift and entering the Metro station is not step free.

The Metro station is named 'Montparnasse – Bienvenüe' - and it is very much a station of two parts.

Line 6 and Line 13 use the part of the Metro station closest to its entrance hall.

However, Line 4 and Line 12 are some distance away at the end of an exceptionally long travellator - that can be accessed from the Metro entrance hall.

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TO THE OTHER MAIN LINE STATIONS IN PARIS:

Connecting to Gare Du Nord:

This step-by-step GUIDE explains how to make the connection from Montparnasse to the Gare Du Nord by Metro.

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Connecting to Gare de l'Est:

This is a transfer that looks straightforward - as Metro Line 4 provides a direct link between Montparnasse and the Gare de l'Est - direction Porte de Clignancourt.

However, if you have luggage it’s far from convenient – and even if you don’t, it can be energy sapping.

Also line 4 is the 2nd busiest Paris Metro line - so at peak times the crowds can seem overwhelming.

(1) The line 4 platforms/voies at Montparnasse – Bienvenüe metro station, are connected the Metro entrance hall by long passage ways.

So long, that despite the travellators, it takes 12-15 minutes to make the transfer to the Metro platform, from stepping off a main line train at Montparmasse.

You will experience a ‘will I ever get there’ feeling and you'll also have to negotiate stairs - so it's awkward if you have luggage.

(2) It’s then 13 stops from Montparnasse – Bienvenüe metro to the Gare de l'Est, so the train journey takes 20–25mins.

(3) When you eventually arrive at Gare de l'Est - follow the signs to ‘Grande Lignes', if you will be taking a TGV, Thalys, Eurostar or Intercités train.

In the summer, making the transfer can be particularly uncomfortable, temperatures can soar at both main line stations, on the train and in the passage ways.

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Connecting to Gare de Lyon

This is an awkward transfer- as there are no direct Metro or RER lines between Montparnasse and the Gare De Lyon.

The easiest of many options is:

(1) Take a line 6 train to Bercy station - direction Nation.

(2) At Bercy transfer to a Line 14 train (direction St Lazare) for the one stop hop from there to the Gare De Lyon.

Two reasons why we recommend this routing.

(i) The Line 6 platforms are the nearest to the entrance to the Montparnasse – Bienvenüe metro station

(ii) From the Line 14 platforms there are lifts up to the Metro station concourse at the Gare De Lyon.

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Connecting to Gare St Lazare:

Direct Metro trains on two lines connect Montparnasse to St Lazare.

However use Line 13 and take trains heading towards Saint Denis or Asineres and NOT line 12.

The line 13 trains are much easier to access from the Meto station entrance at Gare Montparnasse than the Line 12 trains.

Then at St Lazare, the part of the station complex used by the line 13 trains, also has easier access to the main part of the station than the Line 12 trains.

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Connecting to Gare Austerlitz:

This is an awkward transfer - as there are no direct Metro or RER lines between Montparnasse and Austerlitz.

The easiest of many options is

(1) Take a line 6 train to Place d’Italie - direction Nation

(2) Transfer there to a Line 5 train - direction Bobigny

A plus is that the Line 6 platforms are the nearest to the entrance at Montparnasse – Bienvenüe metro station.

A negative is that multiple staircases need to be used when making the transfer between the Metro Lines at Place d’Italie.

Another negative is that Austerlitz Metro station is above ground - and there are no escalators/lifts down to ground level where the mainline trains depart from, you have no choice but to use the stairs.

If you have luggage or the weather is hot, a taxi can be worth every cent.

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Conveniently Located Quality Hotels and Hostels

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Our General Guide to Using French Stations

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Paris Montparnasse

Paris, (France)

Journeys from Paris

About the station

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Departing From Paris Montparnasse By Train

Arriving By Train At Paris Montparnasse

Conveniently Located Quality Hotels and Hostels

Our General Guide to Using French Stations