France Train Guide | How To Travel France By Train (2024)

It doesn’t get significantly better than zooming via the French countryside at 200mph. In truth, relating to prepare journey, France is without doubt one of the best-connected international locations in Europe and you’ll simply attain lots of Europe’s nice cities from Paris.

But, like all issues French, their rail community could be a little complicated so I’m right here to assist. In this France Train Guide, I’ll inform you all the things it is advisable to learn about touring round France by prepare—from navigating the system to purchasing prepare tickets for the most cost effective worth.

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How To Buy Train Tickets in France

Buying French prepare tickets is usually straightforward however you could expertise a number of quirks when reserving—preserve studying and we’ll stroll you thru the method.

Let’s first have a look at the place and when to purchase tickets to get one of the best costs…

Where To Buy Train Tickets For French Trains

So there are a handful of internet sites/strategies for getting French prepare tickets.

Let’s check out the varied choices:

Omio

Omio is a search engine that allows you to evaluate and guide trains anyplace in Europe. It allows you to simply guide tickets together with your bank card at basically the identical costs as France’s Railways web site.

Additionally, Omio searches routes for a number of rail providers throughout Europe so it’s nice for worldwide journeys (since it may simply mix rail journeys of a number of international locations). They have a pleasant Smartphone App that organizes all of your digital prepare tickets.

TrainLine

TrainLine is one other third-party reserving website that connects on to the French National Rail Network and different European networks. Trainline additionally accepts worldwide bank card funds and retains all of your eTickets organized on their Tranline App.

SNCF (National French Railways)

The web site for the official French Railways is en.oui.sncf. The primary drawback with this website is that it usually tries to redirect you to RailEurope.com—which is SNCF’s official North American associate. Unfortunately, Rail Europe hardly ever finds the most cost effective fares so it’s important to actively attempt to preserve the positioning from redirecting you. And making an attempt to guide via the official SNCF web site could be equally as troublesome as a result of it may be plagued with translation points and typically they reject international bank cards.

Perosanlly, I’d stick to Omio.

Ouigo

A couple of years in the past the French National Railways created a brand new low-budget prepare line referred to as Ouigo. It mainly connects Paris with a handful of standard French locations.

Some Ouigo trains go away from stations outdoors Paris so it takes somewhat beneath an hour by regional prepare to get there from central Paris. However, some trains do go away from central Paris. There are a number of different restrictions (like restricted baggage) however the fares could be loopy low cost. Booking web sites like Omio will embrace Ouigo of their outcomes so that you don’t have to go looking Ouigo’s web site to search out/purchase its tickets.

Eurostar

The Eurostar is the prepare that connects Paris and London. You can often guide this journey on different web sites however we’ve discovered it greatest to guide instantly from the Eurostar website for one of the best costs.

At The Train Station

Of course, you should purchase any French prepare ticket from any prepare station — both from a ticket window or an automatic machine (you’ll want a Chip & PIN bank card to purchase from the machines). You can purchase tickets prematurely from prepare stations as effectively.

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HOW TO COLLECT YOUR FRENCH TRAIN TICKETS

Tickets bought on-line could be collected in a number of other ways. Most occasions you’re given a number of strategies of accumulating your tickets:

• Electronic Tickets: Almost all French prepare tickets at the moment are digital—for instance, tickets purchased by way of Omio will probably be despatched to your Omio app. You can even have tickets despatched to your electronic mail. You merely present your tickets to the prepare’s conductor after they examine your tickets.
• Pick Up At Station: Use your bank card or a reserving affirmation quantity to gather your tickets on the prepare station. You’re usually required to make use of the similar bank card used to buy the tickets to gather them up on the station—so preserve this in thoughts when reserving.
• Mailed Tickets: Some providers will mail you bodily tickets however that is usually a sluggish course of. We recommend avoiding this and sticking to the opposite choices.

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Do You Need To Buy French Train Tickets In Advance?

France has plenty of completely different prepare providers so it may be somewhat complicated to know what tickets must be bought early and which could be purchased at any time when.

I’ve damaged all of it down under:

High-Speed TGV Trains [Buy Early As Possible]

Book high-speed trains in France as early as doable. Tickets for France’s TGV high-speed trains can be found to buy round 90 days prematurely. Booking these early will get you the most cost effective tickets as a result of costs usually proceed to rise because the departure date approaches. For instance, a day-of ticket can value effectively over €100 however the identical ticket purchased weeks early would possibly solely value €30.

International Trains [Buy Early As Possible]

There are a number of separate prepare providers that join France to different international locations. These are high-speed trains so the identical guidelines about reserving early apply to those tickets as effectively:

• TGV Lyria: High-speed trains that join France and Switzerland.
• THALYS: High-speed trains that join Paris with Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands.
• Inter-City Express (ICE): High-speed trains that join France and Germany.
• Eurostar: High-speed trains that join Paris and London.

Intercité Trains (IC) [Buy A Little Early]

Intercité trains are quick trains however not as fast because the TGV trains. They often additionally join shorter distances and the trains aren’t fairly as good because the TGV. These tickets may also be bought prematurely for a reduction.

Regional/Local Trains [Buy Whenever]

France has plenty of sluggish trains that join suburban and regional areas. TER (regional trains that join smaller cities with regional hubs), Transilien (connects suburban Paris), and RER (additionally connects suburban Paris). These tickets are priced by distance traveled so that you don’t want to purchase them prematurely—merely buy them on the station proper earlier than departure.

Don’t overlook to validate your ticket earlier than you get on the prepare otherwise you’ll be fined.

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How To Use Your French Train Tickets

On high-speed trains, your ticket is barely good for the particular time acknowledged in your ticket. You’ll even be given an assigned seat.

You don’t must validate your ticket as a result of your seat is reserved (however they could examine your ID on the prepare).

NOTE: Your ticket will present the automotive and seat quantity so be sure to’re in the precise automotive (the trains are clearly marked).

On regional/native trains, you might need a bodily ticket. Make certain to validate (i.e. stamp) your ticket within the validation containers on the platform earlier than you get on the prepare. They’re typically exhausting to search out so watch what the locals are doing. If you overlook to validate, hunt down the prepare’s conductor rapidly and have him/her stamp it—in case you wait till they arrive round you could be given a high quality.

Regional trains received’t have seat reservations so you’ll be able to sit anyplace.

Once you’re on the prepare the conductor will ultimately stroll via the aisles to examine tickets.

HOW TO MAKE RAIL PASS RESERVATIONS

High-speed trains require you to make a reservation when utilizing a Eurail go — the reservation prices €10-€30/seat for home journey and worldwide trains can cost anyplace from €35-€89/seat (relying on vacation spot). As you’ll be able to see, these worldwide prepare reservations could be wildly costly—in reality, the reservation payment is commonly costlier than shopping for a separate ticket.

You should make the reservation earlier than you get on the prepare. There are a number of methods to make reservations:

• Make Reservations Online: Omio allows you to guide your reservation on-line via their platform. Simply search for a button that claims “I Have A Railpass” and comply with the prompts.
• Make Reservations At The Train Station: You can merely go to the prepare station and guide your reservation from the customer support desk or self-service kiosks. You can guide it weeks prematurely or you are able to do it the day you depart. We recommend utilizing the kiosks as a result of the ticket window can take without end.

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More Tips For Riding Trains In France

Here are a number of basic tips on prepare journey in France.

Get To The Train Station A Little Early

Train stations are often pretty straightforward to navigate however they could be a little complicated. There isn’t any safety that it’s important to undergo (aside from Eurostar and THALYS trains) so there isn’t any purpose to reach an hour earlier than your departure nevertheless it doesn’t damage to reach about 20-Half-hour early in case you’re not aware of the station.

Stations may also be bigger than you would possibly count on so you could possibly must do a little bit of strolling to search out your platform.

Study The Departures Board

The most complicated a part of prepare journey is discovering your prepare’s departure platform.

First, discover your prepare quantity in your ticket.

Next, research the departure board till you see your prepare quantity. The board will present you which of them platform your prepare is leaving from—don’t fear if there isn’t any platform listed but as a result of they usually solely show the platform for trains departing inside the subsequent 10-20 minutes.

However, do concentrate as typically the platform can change on the final minute.

Know Train Station Names

Most giant cities have a number of prepare stations (Paris has seven) so this usually creates confusion. Double-check that you’ve got the precise station—particularly when reserving your ticket.

Self-Service Machines Are In English

Don’t fear in case you don’t communicate French as a result of the ticket machines (and prepare station indicators) are all in English. Most customer support employees additionally communicate some English.

Cheap Tickets Are Non-Refundable

One draw back to low cost tickets is that they’re non-refundable and might’t be modified.

Pack A Picnic

You’re allowed to deliver your individual meals and alcohol on trains. It’s nice for these lengthy prepare rides.

No Luggage Restrictions

There aren’t any weight limits on baggage and you’ll deliver as a lot as you need (effectively, as a lot as you’ll be able to carry). Simply deliver it on and retailer it above your head, behind your seat, or within the baggage racks in every automotive.

Making Connections

Your rail journey would possibly require you to vary trains alongside the route. Don’t fear if there are only some minutes between trains as a result of switching trains is often pretty fast and simple—it’s not like flying the place you want an hour-long layover.

First Class vs Second Class Tickets

First Class tickets usually value 1.5x the Second Class charge. Second Class is completely snug however First Class seats are a bit larger and it’s quieter. Other than that, there isn’t way more of a distinction.

Rail Strikes

France is well-known for prepare strikes. They at all times give ample warning earlier than happening strike they usually nonetheless run some trains, nevertheless it’s one thing to concentrate to.

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