• A few more useful tidbits:

    If you prebook your bike on the Eurostar, it goes on your train- you can check when you drop it off. When you arrive and get off the train make a beeline straight to the bike carriage (Its in the middle, look for the loading buggy). If you're quick enough you'll find someone offloading the bikes. Hand over your receipt and take your bike right on the platform, no need to trudge over to the depot.

    The trip across town between Paris Gare du Nord and Montparnasse takes about 35-40 minutes at an easy pace, and the route avoids the heroic roundabouts of death. The black tower at Montparnasse is the only tall building in Paris proper, so good for navigation when you get over the river. The station is under it.

    The bike carriage on the TGV's are usually at the very front or the rear or the train, next to first class. The fold-down seats are the ones people head to if the train is full. So best to get on when the train is announced if you think it's going to be busy. Otherwise the carriage is usually quiet, with some space to stretch out. You sit with the bike, so no need to unload everything.

    There is a UK number for buying TGV tickets, and they happily speak English. It's best to check online then buy the tickets by phone to confirm there is space for the bike reservation.

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