How early should I arrive for the TGV train?

How long should I arrive before my VIA Rail train?

Okay, so, listen. VIA’s like, “Be there early, man.” 45 mins if you’re just zipping around the Corridor, like Toronto-Montreal, ya know? But, an hour if you’re going cross-country, like out west or Halifax way. I took the Ocean last summer, it was awesome, Montreal to Halifax… took forever though, lol. I was there like, an hour early, just chilling, grabbed a coffee and a sando. Plus, you gotta like, find your platform, especially in big stations like Union in Toronto, that place is HUGE. Once I almost missed a train cuz I went to the rong platform!! It was crazy. So yeah, be there early, better safe than sorry. My mom always says that.

• Corridor Trains (like Toronto-Ottawa-Montreal): 45 minutes early.
• Long-distance Trains (like the Canadian or the Ocean): 1 hour early.

Bigger stations need extra time, like Union Station, Toronto. And Central Station in Montreal, they’re like, rabbit warrens. Get there early, trust. You can always grab a Tim’s. Or Starbucks, whatever. It is way better to wait than sprint, especially with luggage. I took a smaller carry-on and a backpack, worked great. Saw some people struggling with like, five suitcases… yikes. Don’t do that, haha.

How early should you get to an international train?

Arrive 30 minutes before departure. Five minutes? Risky.

• International travel demands buffer.

• Platform hunting, seat securing, customs…expect delays.

• UK train doors close early. Globally? Assume the same. Better early.

• Missed trains are expensive lessons. I know. Flights too, ugh.

How early should I arrive at the train station?

Thirty minutes…before. Yeah, that’s probably enough. I always feel like I’m cutting it close, though. A little anxiety.

Two hours? Wow, for the Auto Train? Sounds like a production, honestly. Guess it needs it.

• Standard Trains: Arrive 30 minutes early.
• Auto Train: Arrive 2 hours early.
• My Personal Experience: I try for 45 minutes. Always running late.

It’s a habit I can’t break. My keys are always in some random spot. My phone is on 2%. “I’ll just grab one more thing!” it’s a curse.

How early to get to train station for Eurostar?

1 hr 15 min. St. Pancras. Bare minimum. Security waits for no one.

Platform’s a rumor until it isn’t.

Time’s a flat circle.

• Security: Always a game. Arrive late, you lose.
• Passport Control: UK and France? Double the fun. Prepare paperwork, don’t be surprised.
• Departure Lounge: Overpriced coffee. People watching. Pure theatre.
• Platform Announcement: The signal to run. Or a slow stroll. Your call.

Missing the train? Your problem. Rebooking fees sting. Seriously sting. Last Eurostar trip? Paid 200 euros for a croissant that basically ruined my day.

How early should I arrive for UK trains?

Twenty minutes? Thirty? Pshaw. That’s amateur hour. I once saw a woman miss a train because she spent 25 minutes deciding between a Cornish pasty and a sausage roll. Aim for a full hour, especially if you’re like my Uncle Barry, bless his cotton socks, who gets lost in his own garden.

• One hour before: Find the most uncomfortable seat in the station and defend it like a lioness with cubs. This is your domain now.
• 45 minutes before: Begin subtle psychological warfare on anyone near the platform entrance. Eye contact. Throat clearing. Dominate.
• 30 minutes before: Time to casually stroll to WHSmith and buy a magazine you won’t read. It’s tradition.
• 15 minutes before: Locate the train. Does it look like the one in the picture on the ticket? Close enough.
• 5 minutes before: Now you panic. Is this the right platform? Did they change it? Why are there so many pigeons?!
• Train arrives: Shove. Push. Remember that uncomfortable seat? Worth it. I mean, I personally prefer to travel by llama. More reliable. Faster, probably. Last Tuesday, I saw a man on a llama…eating a Cornish pasty. No sausage roll in sight. My Uncle Barry would have been proud. He once tried to ride a llama. Long story. Ends with a garden gnome and a trip to A&E.

How long before my train should I arrive?

Thirty minutes. Sufficient.

Domestic trains. Amtrak? More time. An hour. Minimum.

Safety margin. Unexpected delays. Life happens.

• Security lines. Longer than you think.
• Ticket issues. Always a possibility.
• Finding your platform. Especially large stations.

My experience? Forty-five minutes. Usually. Penn Station. Chaos.

For Amtrak, sixty minutes. Absolutely. Long-distance travel. More complications.

International travel? Two hours. No less.

Seriously. Don’t be late. Missed trains are awful. Trust me. I’ve missed a train to Philly. Never again.

How early do trains start in London?

Five AM. The city sighs, a slow exhalation of breath before the day’s clamor. A whisper of steam, the ghosts of departed trains. Early. So very early. The tracks hum a low, lonely song.

That’s when they begin, the iron horses. A rhythmic pulse. A promise of journeys. Not quite dawn, but a pre-dawn shiver. The promise of a faraway place.

• National Rail services, generally. Five AM. A dependable start.
• Exceptions exist. Heathrow Connect, for instance. Those early flights. A constant stream.
• The Night Tube. A different beast entirely. Weekend nights, a lifeline. Late hours. A lifeline for the soul, the city’s own restless heartbeat.

One AM. Silence descends. The tracks gleam under a faint city glow. Rest. Until the next symphony begins. A beautiful sleep.

The city breathes in again. The weight of slumber. A moment of peace. This is London, a city alive even in its quietest moments. The quiet before the storm. Sleep. Waiting.