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See larger map Red = high-speed line |
A shadow of its former glory
The Gare d'Austerlitz is one of the main Paris termini, although these days a shadow of its former glory, merely handling the intercité trains on the classic route from Paris to Limoges, Cahors, Brive & Toulouse, the intercité de nuit overnight trains to Nice, Latour de Carol, Toulouse, Briançon & Perpignan, and regional trains to Orleans, Blois & the Loire Valley.
The Gare d'Austerlitz was once the grand terminus of the Paris-Bordeaux railway, handling express trains to Bordeaux, Biarritz & Lourdes, the sleeper trains to Barcelona & Madrid and even at one time the Sud Express to Lisbon. However, when the TGV Atlantique high-speed line opened in 1989-90, mainline trains to Bordeaux & southwest France switched to the Gare Montparnasse and the sleepers to Spain were discontinued in 2013.
The Gare d'Austerlitz is a dead-end terminus and has been for decades, but it was built as a through station, obvious when you look at its layout. Until 1939, trains would continue along the banks of the River Seine to the Gare d'Orsay and beyond. However, the suburban RER trains now run in tunnels underground, the Gare d'Orsay is now a famous Parisian art museum, and the Gare d'Austerlitz is a terminus. Indeed, the buffer stops have recently been moved even further east and new platform canopies are under construction. At the time I write this the original huge arched trainshed is a construction site, sealed off from the public.
Station overview See tips Location map
Platforms are numbered 1 to 21 from left to right as you look at them, starting with platform 1 on the north side. The main station building with the main hall and ticket office is on the north side facing the Seine, although if you arrive by metro or taxi you may end up entering from the roadway on the north side. You can find a detailed plan of the station and its facilities at www.gares-sncf.com.
The north side of station. This is the main station building, facing the river Seine. This side of the station is pedestrianised, with steps and a slope leading up to the road that runs along the left bank of the Seine.
The south side of the station. The taxi rank and entrance to the station are at the far end of this roadway. The exit to the street is behind the camera.
Note the bridge carrying metro line M5 into the metro platforms, which are actually built into the upper levels of the mainline station! Line M5 climbs up from underground just north of the Seine, crosses the river on a bridge to arrive at the above-ground Gare d'Austerlitz metro station.
Taken from the same spot as the previous photo, but looking the other way, across the bridge over the River Seine with the Gare d'Austerlitz behind the camera. You can see the clock tower of the Gare de Lyon on the other side of the river. You can see how close the Gare de Lyon and Gare d'Austerlitz are.
Tips for using the Gare d'Austerlitz
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Somewhere to eat before your train
Off Paris Seine: This pleasant floating restaurant on the river Seine right next to the Gare d'Austerlitz is a good place for a decent meal before a train, for example dinner before an Intercité de Nuit to the south of France. See offparisseine.com.
L'Eclipse or Maison du Boulvard: The unpretentious Brasserie L'Eclipse might be worth a try, and the Maison du Boulevard has also been recommended.
The Train Bleu: For somethi8ng special, consider eating at the famous Train Bleu restaurant inside the Gare de Lyon on the other side of the Seine, it's an experience in itself. After your meal it's a 10 minute stroll across the Seine from the Gare de Lyon to the Gare d'Austerlitz. Dinner at the Train Bleu restaurant before taking an overnight train to the south is a great idea, reserving a table is recommended.
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Food outlets & supermarket
There are various small food kiosks at the Gare d'Austerlitz, although there are no major supermarkets nearby. There's a large Monoprix supermarket near the Gare de Lyon on the other side of the river.
There is a public water fountain outside the station on the Quai d'Austerlitz, which you can use to fill a drink bottle. Go up the steps from the station to the main road which runs along the Seine and it's next to the line of city rental bikes on the side of the road nearest the station.
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Left luggage lockers
The Gare d'Austerlitz has luggage lockers if you want to leave your bags for a few hours or a day, see the luggage lockers page for details.
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Showers when arriving by overnight train
There are showers available for 1st class couchette passengers arriving on Intercité de Nuit overnight trains, free of charge on a first come, first served basis. The showers are in the Espace Services next to the toilets opposite platform 4, see the photo above. No showers for 2nd class passengers.
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Taxis
There's a taxi rank on the north side of the station with plenty of taxis. See Paris taxi advice.
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Metro
See the Crossing Paris by metro page for metro advice. Metro line M5 links Paris Nord & Paris Est directly with the Gare d'Austerlitz. The Paris metro & bus website is www.ratp.fr.
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Hotels
If you need to stop overnight, there are very few hotels immediately near the Gare d'Austerlitz, but plenty on the other side of the river near the Gare de Lyon. The 4-star Mercure Paris Gare de Lyon is on the Gare de Lyon station forecourt next to the station clock tower, the 3-star Hotel Terminus Lyon is right in front of the Gare de Lyon, the Novotel Paris Gare de Lyon is opposite the station. Or try the Mistral Hotel 800m from Gare de Lyon, or the 2-star Hotel 26 Faubourg 5 minutes walk from Gare de Lyon.
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For more information on the station and its facilities see the SNCF site www.gares-sncf.com. You'll also find a station plan there.
Starter and main course at the floating restaurant Off Paris Seine, on the river right next to the Gare d'Austerlitz.