Travel by Train to Paris via Newhaven/Dieppe Ferry

Thinking of travelling to Paris or somewhere further afield in France? If you live on the South Coast at Brighton, Lewes, Newhaven or Seaford why not travel via Newhaven/ Dieppe instead of having to go up to London to get the Eurostar? If you’re not in a hurry, it’s certainly worthwhile considering.

It’s cheaper than the Eurostar. The Newhaven/Dieppe ferry costs about £23 each way at current prices. The train from Dieppe to Paris is just under £15 one way. This price could be less if you have a travel card such as a ‘Avantage Senior’ card or it could be more if you want a flexible ticket Total cost £38. To this you add the cost of the local train journey in Sussex and a taxi at Dieppe if you want one.  This compares with just under £100 (advance booking only) if you travel via London St Pancras International. This could increase to about £200 (or more) if you are booking last minute whereas the cost of travelling via Newhaven/Dieppe varies very little.

Yes, the journey times via London is much shorter, – just over 5 hours whereas the journey time from say, Lewes to Paris would be about 8 hr 30 mins. Check in time for the both options not included, – add at least an hour in both cases.

The journey from the South Coast of England would be more relaxing for those who like a ferry crossing which becomes part of the holiday. Stopover in Dieppe or break the journey in Rouen, – both very interesting places.

Here is a typical journey

• Check in at Newhaven by 10:15 in the morning and cross on the ferry which departs at 11 am and arrives in Dieppe at 4:00 pm (French time). Take a meal in the self-service restaurant on the ferry and have a relaxed crossing. There is a bar open throughout the journey for snacks and drinks.
• Get a taxi (best to pre book) or walk to the railway station – the Gare de Dieppe (30 mins walking or 10 mins by taxi) See below
• Take a train to Paris via Rouen leaving at 5:15pm and arrive in Paris at the Gare Saint-Lazare just before 8:30pm
• Check into one of the many hotels very near the station

TAXI: Ango Taxi Dieppe (https://www.ango-dieppe-taxi.com/) located in Dieppe. Best to pre-book They are available 7 days a week:
Monday to Thursday 5:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. in low season and 0:00 a.m. in high season. From Friday 5 a.m. to Sunday evening 24 hours a day. Telephone: +33 2 35 40 40 00

Facebook site: https://www.facebook.com/angotaxidieppe/ 

Email: taxidieppe@gmail.com

This type of journey is not for everyone and certainly in the winter probably not the best option. However, you can book journeys on this route via Newhaven at very short notice without suffering a price hike. This route also suits cyclists as you can take your bike on the French regional trains through Normandy just in the same way as you can in England without any extra charge and without packing your bike away.