Train Travel in France

The state-owned railway company, the Société National des Chemins de Fer (SNCF), operates the most extensive train network in Western Europe, with over 21,000 miles of track. The high-speed TGV (Train Grand Vitesse) trains have been successfully exported to other countries on the basis of their success in France. A new high-speed link to southern France has considerably reduced journey times.

Buying your Ticket

If you go to one of the principal railway stations, look to see if one of the counters (guichets) has a British flag displayed in the window. If so, the ticket seller should speak some English. A one-way ticket is an aller-simple. A return ticket is an aller-retour. Tickets are valid for two months from the date of purchase. Once you have validated (composté) your ticket by punching it in the orange box at the entrance to the platform, it will be valid for only 24 hours from the date and time punched on the ticket.

Making Reservations

Tickets can be reserved on most trains, and must be reserved on all TGV trains. A small reservation fee will be levied, but the exact sum depends on the time and category of the train, and of your ticket. Reservations include the choice of first or second class, smoking or non-smoking, and window or aisle seats.

You can either make your reservation in person, or over the telephone by calling the appropriate station. The multi-lingual website www.sncf.com is one of the most popular and successful on-line services in France. Tickets reserved over the phone or on-line and paid for by credit card must be collected within 48 hours from an SNCF station. Tickets reserved on-line can be sent to your home. You can also use the automatic ticket machines in the major stations to make reservations, at the same time as buying your ticket. All reservations will include a carriage number and seat number.

Choosing When to Travel

There are basically two tariff periods, blue and white. Blue is the reduced tariff period for off-peak travel, and white is the opposite. The tariff you pay depends in which period you begin your journey, regardless of whether it ends in a different period. Check which period your journey falls in before buying your ticket and making your final arrangements.

In peak holiday periods - Toussaint at the beginning of November, Christmas, the spring school holidays, the May bank holidays, and in July and August you should definitely make reservations on all mainline journeys to avoid the discomfort of three hours standing in a corridor.

Reduced Price Tickets

The SNCF offers a number of interesting reductions available to young and old individuals and families. Leaflets concerning these offers, partly printed in English, are available in all main-line SNCF stations. The 'Guide du Voyageur' (in French), is available free in all main stations. This is an indispensable guide to all the current ticket reductions and services offered by the SNCF.