I’ve had a lovely couple of nights in Rennes with my daughter and grand-daughter, but now it’s time to head over to Caen so that we can catch the ferry home to the UK the following morning.
It might be raining hard, but the somewhat circuitous route from Rennes to Caen on the TER bi-mode unit is actually a real pleasure. The seats are comfortable, the train is (fairly) smooth and quiet and the Brittany and Normandy countryside is interesting as it rolls by the train windows.
So join us for a ride through Brittany and Normandy.
Departure: Rennes, France
Destination: Caen, France
Distance: 277 km / 172 miles
Duration: 1 hr 25 mins
Average speed: 257 km/h 160 mph
Adult 2nd Class Single
Usual price: €38,30 / £32.20
Promotion: €9,00 / £7.60
Date of Travel: February 2025
Operator: SNCF
Motive power: Class B82500 bi-mode multiple unit. Built: Bombardier (2004 – 2011)
you can find out more about Dictée en Gare here
https://www.garesetconnexions.sncf/fr/actualites/dictee-gare-poursuit-son-tour-france?language=en
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20 Comments
Great and ejoyable video >
I hadn't twigged your trip from Paris was part of this too. Great couple of videos
Used to drive through this area after taking ferry from Jersey to St Malo.
Caen is pronounced more like con with a soft n.
"Beyond Bayeux a tapestry of colours". Was that a kind of Freudian slip or pun? Guess you didn't see the tapestry.
Nice little ride on a minor route. Good that it's still running.
I think this trip was in Jan 2025. I drove that part of France around then and thankfully missed the flooding (and closed roads) by a day.
The western coast doesn’t have a consistent, efficient rail link. Great shame but change is coming from both SNCF and private operators investing on this.
I am journey with you. From India.
Waiting for your upcoming riding.
*Waves from Caen*. Glad you enjoyed the journey. I also used to live in Rennes, so know the whole area very well. I can even remember Rennes station before it was rebuilt for the TGV trains.
Great Video Johnny
French stations are not the only ones with grass growing on the platforms, many British ones do in remote areas, the ones that get around two passengers a day, not only the remote and quiet ones neglected though. Kilo-metres, having lived in a country for over 25 years that uses them it is pronounced key-lometre. A country kilometre is about the same distance as a country mile, a bloody long way.
Wow, this trip looks lovely & I am very excited to watch the final episode next week!
I am very jealous of your granddaughter’s hat (niece number 2 has one with Paddington on that I am also jealous of).
Dol De Breteagne is an amazingly beautiful place in its own right …
What a super journey. I was interested by the mention of Granville with its ferry service to the Channel Islands. Back in the day, Sealink operated a ferry service to the Channel Islands using a ferry named Earl Granville. I wonder if there's a connection.
Thank you again Johnny for a lovely slow ramble. Do we head back on the ferry next Friday?
Delighted to see your journey through Brittany and Normandy. Despite the rain, this trip is riveting. By train, you passed through my village of Pontaubault. In fact, the railway viaduct passes through the village and the spelling is Pontaubault. Pont aubaud is the old spelling. The fact remains that your video is an interesting documentation of the Caen-Rennes line, which remains little-known and under-exploited.
I look forward to seeing more of your adventures in Normandy in warmer weather.
Shame about the weather but that was a nice journey through Brittany and Normandy, cute train as well
nice trip I just did Madrid to Barcelona with Ouigo on one of their double decker trains in an XL seat highly recommend it
Backing in Granville involves a great time loss, at least 30 to 40min due to additional mileage. Shame too that the service Rennes and Granville is bare-bone with only two return trips per day, both for and from Caen. Brittany tending to ignore neighbouring Normandy…both returns rolling stock being provided by the later.
Great journey you did, how are saying that fast train is more interesting compare a local train.
Have to laugh at the state of the ceiling, funny enough ScotRail seem to have the same issue with their class 170 units with diesel soot covering the plastic innards that they seem to have given up cleaning. Certainly looks like they have had a heavy dose of rain when you were there, ironically watching this whilst we having temperatures of 15 to 17c with clear blue skies here in Inverness (19c forecast next few days). Interesting railways you find Mr Hoover 😊
I suspect you caught many unawares ( including myself) with the sophisticated design of the station in Rennes. Very impressive. I hope the city was equally appealing. I write to you from the home of your third favourite station in Cordoba and regret to say that metal sheets at the rear of the building have fallen victim to rust.