Sadly the direct Bern-Neuchatel- Pontarlier-Dijon Paris Lyria TGVs no longer run. However, a train shuttle between Neuchatel-Pontarlier- Frasne, with change there to pick up the Lausanne-Paris TGV, is now available 3 times a day.
That means that if you live in Neuchatel area you can now take the train without reservation to Pontarlier to do some shopping, etc, 3 times a day. This is included in your GA if you have one, and valid for 1/2 abo too.
Pontarlier is a fun little town, with lots of individual shops and boutiques, brasseries and cafés, market day Thursday and Saturday. Currently there is a Christmas market until the 24th too. The large hypermarkets (Géant, Leclerc and HyperU, Decathlon, etc- are outside the town to the North, and not so easily accessible on foot- but there is quite a good larger Spar in the middle of town, not far from the station.
It is also possible to take the train to Travers on the Swiss side- great for sightseers who want to walk along the Areuse to the Asphalt mines at La presta, or to Noiraigue to go up to Creux-du-Van (quite a hike!) the amazing limestone circle above- or down the Gorges de l'Areuse all the way back to Boudry by the lake- although it is perhaps easier to take the local Neuchatel-Buttes train to do this.
It means just that- however, the shuttle will allow people wanting to go to Paris from Neuchatel, Travers and Pontarlier will be able to do so and connect to the Lausanne-Vallorbe-Frasne TGV at Frasne- without loss of time. Before quite a bit of time was wasted physically connecting the 2 trains (from Bern and Lausanne)- now passengers from Neuchatel will just have to change train at Frasne- travelling time will not be longer than before.
For us who live near Pontarlier, travel time to Paris is just 3hrs07 minutes- about 4 from Neuch- as before. We will still be able to then take the Eurostar to St Pancras, and get straight to the centre of London in a day- at very reasonable cost and much easier than the plane, with a bit of advance planning. I much prefer the train to the plane- and no fuffing about having to get to Geneva, high parking cost, etc- just door to door service and then on from St Pancras to our litttle town in East Midlands- arriving early evening. Brilliant.
Great for those in Neuchatel who want to shop in Pontarlier... but are terrified of the mountain roads- they know who they are?
Wednesday Ra220? By car though this time- and return via Fleurier. A huge favour- can I have your meat allowance just this time as I want to buy a leg of lamb for Christmas???
Well there is a certain amount of pfaffing about involved in crossing Paris so not exactly door to door service.
We did use the Eurostar quite a lot when we lived in Brussels but I just find the journey too long to do from here.
A very good idea although the times are a little bit inconvenient for that. The first one is a bit early ( more like breakfast and shopping) and the next one doesn't give much time for both lunch and shopping. I'm always up for lunch with or without the shopping though.
I'm fine with the drive up to Fleurier, it's just the last bit that I don't like doing in Winter.
The 12.11 train is fine for lunch at 1- which is a good time as the restaus are quieter by then. From Fleurier there are buses to Pontarlier too, 2 mins after train arrival (bus waits for train).
We love the train to UK- and it is only 1 stop tube in Paris- from Gare de Lyon- although if we have big cases we take a taxi, about 10 Euros, no prob. It helps too that our destination is just one hour by train from St Pancras, so no change required. A leisurely day reading, watching the world go by- much prefer it to plane.