13th Annual Computer Security Incident Handling Conference
Congress Center Pierre Baudis, Toulouse, France June 17—22, 2001

Visitors travelling to the city by air will arrive at the newly-extended international airport at Blagnac, located about 5 km to the north-west of the city.

Rail passengers will put into the main railway station, Gare Matabiau, a fifteen-minute walk or two stops on the metro systems from the heart of the city, while bus passengers will arrive at the new Bus Terminal (Gare Routière) just a hundred metres from the train station.

Approaching the city by road is a relatively straightforward option; whether you arrive by major road (the A61 from the Mediterranean coast, the A62 from the north-west, the A64 from the south-west, the A20 from the north) or via the numerous minor roads surrounding the city, you will eventually meet the Toulouse ring-road, La Rocade. From here, just follow the signs to Toulouse Centre.

Aéroport de Toulouse-Bl agnac

Phone number:     +33 5 61 42 44 00

The airport is situated approximately fifteen minutes to the north-west of Toulouse. It is an international airport with an increasing number of flights to domestic and international destinations. Current domestic services include over 50 flights a day to Paris (both Orly and Roissy-Charles de Gaulle).

·         A shuttle bus (Les Courriers de La Garonne) leaves the airport for the centre of Toulouse every 20 minutes on weekdays and at a reduced frequency at weekends (cost: approximately 25 FRF / 3.81 EUR single, 40 FRF / 6,09 EUR day return. Tickets are valid for two months), stopping at Compans-Caffarelli (where the Conference is held) , Place Jeanne d’Arc, the bus stop opposite the Air France office on the Allées Jean Jaurès, and the bus station (Gare Routière).

Journey time is approximately 20 minutes.

At the airport, tickets should be bought at the shuttle bus desk (Phone: +33 5 34 60 64 00) situated outside the terminal building in front of car park PO on the arrivals level (Porte C). The bus departs from in front of this desk.

The last departure of this service is shortly after the arrival of the last plane of the day (11.30 p.m).

The shuttle service from the city to the airport starts at 5.20 a.m from the bus station and tickets should be bought on board.

·         Taxis depart from between Halls 1 and 2 on the Arrivals level (Porte C).

Approximate fares to/from the city centre are 120 FRF / 18.29 EUR during the day and 150 FRF / 22.86 EUR at night.

Phone:           +33 5 61 30 02 54.

·         In addition, there are a number of car rental companies based at the airport. Their offices are located in Hall 2 in the Arrivals lounge.

Airport facilities

An information desk (Phone: +33 5 61 42 64/65) situated in Hall 2 on the Arrivals level is open 6 a.m – midnight daily and is able to provide a range of local information including maps of Toulouse and the region, as well as details on hotels and restaurants. Messages for incoming passengers can be left or phoned through at this desk, which also handles lost property enquiries.

Exchange facilities are available in Hall 2 of departures (Travelex desk: open daily – Phone: +33 5 61 71 69 05) and at the Banque Populaire in Hall 1 on the Arrivals level available on both airport levels.

The Post Office (La Poste) in Hall 1 of the Arrivals lounge is open Monday to Friday, 1 p.m – 4 p.m.

An automatic stamp machine is also available outside of these hours. There are no postal facilities in the departure lounge. The airport has a number of bars, restaurants and shops, all open daily.

Taxis are plentiful in Toulouse though the habit of hailing one from the street is less of an art form here than in other European cities. As a result, taxi ranks are located strategically throughout the city centre; the ones at Place Wilson, Place Esquirol and Matabiau railway station are available day and night, while those at Place Jeanne d'Arc, Place St Cyprien and Toulouse-Blagnac airport are usually available until early or late evening. If you are not near one of these stands, the following telephone numbers can be called 24 hours a day.

Inter Taxis                                            +33 5 61 52 22 22

Capitole Taxi                                        +33 5 34 25 02 50

Taxi Radio Toulousains                     +33 5 61 42 38 38

Gare Matabiau

Boulevard Pierre Sémard

Phone:   +33 5 61 10 10 00

For information/reservation (in French)

The railway station (Gare Matabiau) is situated about 15 minutes’ walk from Place Wilson and the city centre. It is well connected to both bus services and the métro (Marengo-SNCF stop) – an underground passageway provides immediate access to the métro system. In addition to its normal ticket desks there is a special information centre which includes an international desk. The station has a reasonable selection of fast-food outlets plus a restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. For visitors arriving in Toulouse, a small Tourist Office has recently been opened at the station.

Train tickets can be bought at the railway station or at a number of retailers in the city, including the Espace Esquirol at Place Esquirol. In addition, tickets to certain destinations can be bought at reduced prices if purchased a week before travelling.

The ultra-sophisticated metro which was opened in 1993 is a model for future underground systems – clean, comfortable and efficient. To date, the system consits of just one line of 15 stations, from Jolimont to Basso-Cambo (18 minutes), although construction is already underway on a second line.

There is a metro stop at the railway station (Marengo-SNCF) which makes the system handy for anyone arriving in the city, with stops at Jean Jaurès (for Place Wilson and the Boulevards) and Capitole (for Place du Capitole and Rue Alsace Lorraine). The network is open from 5.00 a.m to midnight, 0.42 a.m Fridays and Saturdays (the last train leaves at 0.12 a.m from each terminus).Trains run every 2 minutes during rush hour, every 4 minutes out of rush hour and every 6 minutes at night.

Tickets can be bought at machines (instructions available in English) at metro stations – be warned that many stations do not have ticket counters so you will need coins to buy tickets, though they do give change. Tickets are valid 45 minutes after validation and can be used on both the metro and bus networks.

Because the most interesting parts of the city are all generally accessible on foot, it is unlikely that visitors will use many of the city’s bus services. Apart from the airport shuttle bus, which is privately run and is detailed under the airport section, the main bus route likely to be used is route 1 which covers a circular route along the main boulevards (passing by the Conference location, the Centre de Congrès Pierre Baudis), .

Tickets and prices are the same as for the metro. If using the bus network make sure you stamp your ticket in the machines on board.