unable to book my Paris to Geneve leg for Jan-25

ask1985

Hey All, I am trying to book train tickets for my family for Jan 11, 2025. The message that i get is that i cant book my ticket because its either booked out, or some problem, or the date is too far in the future. If it is the last reason, then im happy to hold and book once available as i would like all my travel tickets to be consolidated under my swiss login. How do i know this is the reason, is it really too early to book for Jan-25. I have my golden pass reservation done for later in the day on 11th Jan so i want to ensure i have my travel into swiss also confirmed so i dont miss it. Can anyone help me with the best way to ensure i get a direct train booked from Paris to Geneve on 11th Jan 2025. thanks so much in advance

Danhiel

Hello ask1985

There are no direct TGV from Paris to Geneva on this day, I don’t know why, probably due to engineering works. You can take the TGV to Lausanne, departure at 7:56 from Paris Gare de Lyon. You will arrive in Montreux at 12:09.

Kind Regards
Danhiel

Krist

Which Golden Pass service are you planning to take? For the Golden Pass you need to get to Montreux, so what you should book is a Paris - Montreux ticket (or even better, A Paris - Montreux - Interlaken ticket if that is your route).

Paris - Montreux is bookable on www.sbb.ch for 11.01.2024

It is possible that the Paris - Geneve TGV are not yet bookable because of planned engineering works. They are for sure not sold out. But Paris - Lausanne (where you connect to Montreux) uses a different route.

Krist

Danhiel There are no direct TGV from Paris to Geneva on this day, I don’t know why, probably due to engineering works.

And why does SBB not simply state that when people try to book a ticket? Why create the confusion? Is SBB trying to dethrone DB here?

Danhiel

Krist

You must ask the SBB, not me, but I suppose that the definitive planning is currently not know. I see a mismatch between the SNCF timetable and the SBB timetable for the TGV leaving Paris at 08:18 to Geneva. No informations are currently available on the TGV Lyria site.

I find that the system of the DB better, they sell tickets knowing that the train will be cancelled. If you have a non-flexible discounted ticket, you can take any other train. It is not possible for the TGV with mandatory seat reservations.

Krist

Danhiel You must ask the SBB, not me, but I suppose that the definitive planning is currently not know

And this is my complaint: If the problem is that the definitive planning is not yet known, why not just say that? Why confuse people, giving the impression that the train is sold out, whereas that is not what is going on here? This is how you drive people to flights and rental cars…