WW1 Battlefield Tours by Rail
- Organized Battlefield Tours by Rail
- Independent Travel to the Battlefields by Rail
- Eurostar Train Travel
- SNCF (French Railways)
- NMBS/SNBC (Belgian Rail)
- WW1 Railway Museum (Somme Battlefield)
Organized Battlefield Tours by Rail
Great Rail Journeys
ABTA No. V2170; AITO; ATOL 3278
Telephone: 0800 140 4444
Website: www.greatrail.com Battlefield Tours
Great Rail Journeys is offering holidays incorporating guided battlefield tours in 2015. The journey by rail starts from London St. Pancras, with rail travel by Eurostar to a city where your hotel accommodation will be located. Tours to the battlefields are conducted on a coach.
- Lille, Flanders & the Somme
- Bruges & the Battlefields of Ypres
Visit the website for information and photographs for the tour itineraries, requests to tailor-make your tour, for the accommodation, maps and tour departure dates.
Rail Discoveries
ABTA No. V2170; AITO; ATOL 3278
Telephone: 01904 - 734 939
Website: www.raildiscoveries.com Battlefield Tours
To mark the Centenary of the First World War Rail Discoveries is offering five 4-5 day holidays to include guided battlefield tours on the Western Front. The rail journey starts from London St. Pancras, with rail travel by Eurostar to a city where the hotel accommodation is based. Tours to the battlefields are conducted on a coach led by an experienced guide. Tours for 2015 include:
- Flanders & the Somme
Visit the website for information and tour itineraries, accommodation, maps and tour departure dates.
Independent Travel to the Battlefields by Rail
If you are planning a trip to travel independently by rail to the battlefield areas of Belgium and France, the following information and websites offer advice and help with searching for destination stations, timetables and train tickets.
The information given here is intended to assist you with your planning. Please be advised that the most up-to-date details of travel and train route availability will be published on the websites we recommend you look at below.
Rail Travel from the United Kingdom to France
For rail travel to France and Belgium from the United Kingdom you can travel by Eurostar:
- London St. Pancras International Station, Ashford International Station (Kent), Ebbsfleet International Station (Kent)
to
- Lille Europe Station, Paris Gare du Nord (France); Brussels-Midi/Zuid (Belgium)
Rail travel from UK to Ypres/Ieper in Belgium
- Travel by Eurostar to Bruxelles Midi/Zuid Station.
- Take a direct train from Bruxelles Midi/Zuid Station to Ieper/Ypres with 1 change (approx. 2 hours 10 mins).
Rail Travel from UK to Arras
- Travel by Eurostar to Lille Europe Station.
- Take a direct train from Lille Flandres Station to Arras (approx. 30 mins).
Rail Travel from UK to Amiens
- Travel by Eurostar to Lille Europe Station.
- Take a direct train from Lille Flandres Station to Amiens (approx. 1 hour 20 mins).
Rail Travel from UK to Verdun via Paris
- Travel by Eurostar to Paris.
- Take a train from Paris Est Station to Verdun with one change (approx. 1 hours 35 mins).
Rail Travel from Paris to Amiens, Arras or Ypres/Ieper
For international travellers arriving in France, you have the following options for onward travel to the battlefields.
- Onward travel by train from Paris to Amiens (for Somme battlefields).
- Onward travel by train from Paris to Arras (for Arras, Vimy battlefields).
- Onward travel by train from Paris by Eurostar train to Lille Europe Station (for French Flanders & Fromelles battlefields).
- Onward travel from Paris by Eurostar train to Brussels, and change to a local train for Ypres/Ieper (Ypres Salient battlefields).
See the websites for SNCF (French Railways), NMBS/SNBC (Belgian Rail) and Eurostar below:
Eurostar Train Travel
For information, tickets and timetables for travel from King's Cross, London, to Lille Europe Station, Paris and Brussels.
Website: www.eurostar.com
SNCF (French Railways)
For information on the official website of sncf, available in a range of languages and easy to follow, on trains & tickets, online booking, destinations, interrail & passes, deals, and hotels see the French railways website:
Website: voyages-sncf.com
Useful Links
Website: www.bonjourlafrance.com (France)
Website: www.bonjourlafrance.com Albert (Somme)
Website: www.gares-en-mouvement.com
NMBS/SNBC (Belgian Rail)
For timetables, online tickets, excursions & leisure, stations, on-board services, customer service see the official Belgian Rail website:
Website: www.belgianrail.be
Useful Link
This website gives helpful reviews and information about train travel to Ypres/Ieper.
Website: www.virtualtourist.com West Flanders Transportation
WW1 Railway Museum (Somme Battlefield)
Le P'tit Train de la Somme
Somme Battlefields Partner
A WW1 narrow gauge railway running between Froissy-Cappy-Dompierre. The railway is twinned with Leighton Buzzard Railway in England.
There is a museum, train rides along the River Somme, a small shop and café.
Address: P'tit train de la Haute Somme - APPEVA, BP 70106, 80001 AMIENS CEDEX 1
Telephone: +33 322 83 11 89
Email: appeva@club-internet.fr
Website: appeva.perso.neuf.fr
Related Topics
Maps for Travel to the WW1 Battlefields
For recommended modern cycling and walking maps on the Western Front battlefields, see our page:
Maps for Travel to the WW1 Battlefields
Visiting the WW1 Western Front Battlefields
Advice and useful information about travelling, accommodation and tourist information for visitors to the Western Front battlefields:
Visiting WW1 Western Front Battlefields
Battlefields of the Western Front
Pages on the battlefields by area including comprehensive listings and locations of military cemeteries, main memorials, battle remains, museums and accommodation:
Yser Battlefields & the Belgian Coast The Ypres Salient, Flanders, Belgium The Ypres Salient, Flanders, Belgium French Flanders and Artois The Somme, Picardie, FranceInternational Guild of Battlefield Guides
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The International Guild of Battlefield Guides is for guides with a specialism in battlefield history, providing an organization where guides can meet one another, share information and approaches to the subject. Members of the Guild can take part in an accreditation programme to become a “Badged Guide”. Visit:
Website: www.gbg-international.com
Battlefield Tours
Battlefield Tour Companies and Guides (from the United Kingdom)
Battlefield Tour Companies and Guides based in Belgium and France
Cycling Routes & Tours on the WW1 Battlefields
Self-drive Itineraries & Tours of the WW1 Battlefields
Motorcycling Tours on the WW1 Battlefields
WW1 Battlefield Tour Companies for Students & School Groups