Since the hiatus of the Pandemic, many of our clients have favoured a more relaxed, not to mention greener, ways to get to France - via the cross-channel ferries and the excellent rail network.
Eurostar have also spotted the trend and are expanding their network of high-speed rail links that connect France, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium and the UK. This includes the Nightjet trains that are well worth taking a look at.
One of the flagship routes that has been anticipated for some time is a direct high-speed rail link between London and Bordeaux. It looks like progress is being made and the route should be up and running in 2026, with a journey time of around 5 hours. A new company called Evolyn is working with the company that holds the UK Eurostar contract and would, in essence, be competing with the french Eurostar service that currently operates the route that necessitates a stop and change in Paris.
The move away from being reliant on air travel looks to be a long-term shift as there has been a change in people’s preferences on where to search for a base in France. British buyers in particular have long favoured Brittany, Normandy and the Pas-de-Calais because of the proximity to ferry ports. However, when planning to travel to France by train, good access to train stations, rather than airports, is an increasingly preferred option for those looking for property further south. Electric mopeds or a run-around car kept at the property for use while there, completes the logistical plans.
It is reported that once the Bordeaux route is operational, this will be followed by direct links to Marseille and Toulouse in France and Geneva, Cologne and Frankfurt in Switzerland and Germany.
We eagerly await further news of the new London to Bordeaux direct train as there is an excellent rail service from Bordeaux to the towns and villages all along Dordogne river valley. If you are interested in being able to hop to-and-from your pied-à-terre in southern France, without entering the fray at the airport, this could be a really interesting area to explore.
Just as an aside, one important note to mention if you are taking your car to France on either the Eurostar or the ferry this summer, due to Brexit you need to have a ‘UK’ sticker on your car. The old ‘GB’ ones are no longer permissible. Don’t ask me why…..?
Moving swiftly on from Brexit and back to exploring France by train….. We have a selection of properties in the Dordogne valley that would be ideally placed for the owners to make the most of the new rail route. Do get in touch to discuss your property search criteria and we'd be more than happy to 'cast the net' to find properties that might fit the bill.
