Travelling by train in France is fast and convenient. In this article, we will see the different trains you can use, the different ways to buy a train ticket, and the railcards to pay for your train tickets cheaper. Let’s go!
🚉 Train in France
The efficiency of the French train infrastructure has made train travel one of the most popular ways to travel in France. Here are the different trains you can find in France:
🚄 TGV (High-speed train)
🏎️ Fast way to go to major cities in France and Europe
ℹ️ Information
High Speed Train in France: TGV inOui
High Speed Train in France: TGV Ouigo
Eurostar Trains
TGV which means Train à Grande Vitesse (High-speed train), can go up to 320 km/h.
They are operated under different brands such as:
- TGV inOui
- Ouigo (SNCF’s TGV low-cost brand)
- Eurostar
- Thalys (which will become Eurostar in October 2023)
- Frecciarossa
💺 Seat Class
There are two classes in the TGV:
- 💺 2nd class
- 💺 1st class
TGV Seats: 2nd Class
TGV Seats: 1st Class
The 1st class is for the people who would like to have a more comfortable and larger seat as well as a more peaceful environment, compared to the 2nd class. However, the gap between the two classes is not that big, you can already find great value in the 2nd class.
⏱️ Travel Time
From 🗼 Paris, you can reach multiple cities in France and Europe such as:
- ⚽️ Marseille (3h10)
- 🍽️ Lyon (2h)
- 🍷 Bordeaux (2h25)
- 🍺 Lille (1h)
- 🇬🇧 London (2h20)
- 🇧🇪 Brussels (1h20)
- 🇳🇱 Amsterdam (3h30)
🚆 Intercités (Non high-speed train)
🐎 Regular trains for cities in France
ℹ️ Information
Intercités
Intercités are non-high-speed trains that can go to cities in different regions of France.
They are operated under different brands: Intercités, Ouigo Train Classique.
💺 Seat Class
There are two classes in the Intercités:
- 💺 2nd class
- 💺 1st class
🌘 Intercités de nuit (Night train)
🛏️ Night trains for cities in France
ℹ️ Information
Intercités de Nuit (Night Train)
Intercités train de nuit are night trains going to different cities such as ☀️ Nice or ⛷️ Briançon. It is a convenient solution for people who like slow travelling and would like to spare a night in the hotel. You will be able to book a normal seat or a bed in a compartment.
⚠️ Keep your important belongings close to you while sleeping:
Some people can take advantage of this situation to steal stuff.
💺 Seat Class
Intercités de Nuit: 2nd class reclining seats
Intercités de Nuit: 2nd class 6-berth couchettes
Intercités de Nuit: 1st class 4-berth couchettes
There are two classes in the Intercités:
- 💺 2nd class: reclining seats
- 🛏️ 2nd class 6-berth couchettes
- 🛏️ 1st class 4-berth couchettes
🚊 TER (Regional Express Train)
📍 Trains for daily commute in regions
ℹ️ Information
TER train from SNCF
TER is a regional express train dedicated to going to cities in the same region.
💺 Seat Class
- 💺 2nd class
The trains in France are in good condition and cleaned from time to time, and they are usually safe.
🛒 How to Buy Your Tickets
Buying a train ticket in France is really easy. You can buy it from a ticket vending machine as well as on the Internet.
For high-speed trains (TGV) and regional trains, the ticket pricing is dynamic, so you should better book them in advance.
For the TER, the ticket pricing is usually more stable.
Here are the different options to buy your train tickets:
Train Stations
🚉 The physical way to get your ticket
ℹ️ Information
In the SNCF train stations, you can buy your train tickets with:
- the ticket office
- the ticket vending machine
SNCF Ticket Office
SNCF Vending Machine
📱 The official SNCF app for ticket booking
ℹ️ Information
SNCF Connect: book your ticket (train)
SNCF Connect: book your ticket (bus or carpool)
SNCF Connect is the official ticket booking website from SNCF. You will be able to book your train, bus, and even carpool tickets in Europe easily, within the same app.
You will be able to see the prices in the different classes.
You will even be able to add your loyalty and railcards to see the discounts available with them.
You might have fewer countries covered than Trainline, but it still works well.
🌐 Website
📱 Book easily your train and bus tickets in Europe
ℹ️ Information
Trainline: Booking your Train Ticket
Trainline: Booking your Bus Ticket
Trainline helps you book your train and bus tickets in Europe easily, within the same app.
You will be able to see the price in the different classes.
You will even be able to add your loyalty and railcards to see the discount available with them.
I recommend to use this app, as you will be able to centralize all your train and bus tickets you will buy in Europe.
🌐 Website
🪪 The Railcards
If you travel often by train in France, it would be cheaper in the long term to buy a railcard from the SNCF. Here are the main railcards you can buy:
🤑 Carte Avantage Jeune
✅ 12-27 years old
💰 49€/year
ℹ️ 30% discount: profitable after one round trip
ℹ️ Information
With this card, you will be able to have discounts on:
| TGV inOui | -30% |
| Intercités | -30% |
| TER | -25% up to -50% |
Moreover, the 2nd class price tickets are ceiled:
| Journey < 1h30 | 39€ max |
| Journey between 1h30 and 3h | 59€ max |
| Journey > 3h | 79€ max |
✅ Validity
For 12-27 year-old people.
Also, the following people can have a discount if they travel with you:
- 1 companion
- Up to 3 children between 4 and 11 years old
💰 Price
49€/year
💡 This card is sometimes at half price during special events (ex.: Black Friday).
🛒 How to Subscribe
You can get more information and buy the card on one of the following websites:
♾️ MAX JEUNE Pass
✅ 16-27 years old
💰 79€/month
ℹ️ Unlimited journeys in TGV inOui, OUIGO, Intercités
ℹ️ Information
With this card, you will be able to have unlimited journeys on:
- TGV inOui
- OUIGO
- Intercités
The booking period begins 30 days before departure and continues right up to the last minute. You will be able to have up to 6 bookings in your account.
⚠️ You might have some issues finding trains during busy days such as the weekends or public holidays.
✅ Validity
For 16-27 year-old people.
💰 Price
79€/month with at least a 3-month commitment
🛒 How to Subscribe
You can get more information and buy the pass in one of the following websites:
🤑 Carte Avantage Adulte
✅ 27-59 years old
💰 49€/year
ℹ️ 30% discount on weekend trips: profitable after one round trip
ℹ️ Information
With this card, you will be able to have discounts on:
| TGV inOui | -30% (-60% for the children) |
| Intercités | -30% |
| TER | -25% up to -50% |
Moreover, the 2nd class price tickets are ceiled:
| Journey < 1h30 | 39€ max |
| Journey between 1h30 and 3h | 59€ max |
| Journey > 3h | 79€ max |
✅ Validity
For 27-59 year-old people, on specific journeys:
- Round way trip with a day or a night from the weekend included between the start date and the return date
- One-way trip on Saturday or Sunday
- One-way trip with a child
Also, the following people can have a discount if they travel with you:
- 1 companion
- up to 3 children between 4 and 11 years old
💰 Price
49€/year
💡 This card is sometimes at half price during special events (ex.: Black Friday).
🛒 How to Subscribe
You can get more information and buy the card on one of the following websites:
🤑 Carte Liberté
✅ No conditions
💰 399€/year
ℹ️ Up to 60% discount
👨💻 Great deal for professionals travelling often by train
ℹ️ Information
With this card, you will be able to have discounts on:
- -60% on 2nd class tickets (calculated on the Business First fare)
- -45% on 1st class tickets, (calculated on the Business First fare)
- -50% for 3 accompanying children (from 4 to 11 years old), on the reduced fare paid by the cardholder.
✅ Validity
For everybody, but it targets mainly professionals between 27 and 59 years old, travelling often by train.
Also, the following people can have a discount if they travel with you:
- up to 3 children between 4 and 11 years old
💰 Price
399€/year (379€/year with the Pro Contract)
🛒 How to Subscribe
You can get more information and buy the card on one of the following websites:
🤑 Carte Avantage Sénior
✅ 60+ years old
💰 49€/year
ℹ️ 30% discount: profitable after one round trip
ℹ️ Information
With this card, you will be able to have discounts on:
| TGV inOui | -30% |
| Intercités | -30% |
| TER | -25% up to -50% |
Moreover, the 2nd class price tickets are ceiled:
| Journey < 1h30 | 39€ max |
| Journey between 1h30 and 3h | 59€ max |
| Journey > 3h | 79€ max |
✅ Validity
For 60+ year-old people.
Also, the following people can have a discount if they travel with you:
- up to 3 children between 4 and 11 years old
💰 Price
49€/year
💡 This card is sometimes at half price during special events (ex.: Black Friday).
🛒 How to Subscribe
You can get more information and buy the card on one of the following websites:
♾️ MAX SENIOR Pass
✅ 60+ years old
💰 79€/month
ℹ️ Unlimited journeys in TGV inOui, OUIGO, Intercités
ℹ️ Information
With this card, you will be able to have unlimited journeys on:
- TGV inOui
- OUIGO
- Intercités
The booking period begins 30 days before departure and continues right up to the last minute. You will be able to have up to 6 bookings in your account.
⚠️ You might have some issues finding trains during busy days such as the weekends or public holidays.
✅ Validity
For 60+ year-old people.
💰 Price
79€/month
🛒 How to Subscribe
You can get more information and buy the pass on one of the following websites:
♾️ Interrail One Country Pass
🌐 Interrail website
🇪🇺 Unlimited travel in a specific country in Europe
🧳 Perfect for travelers
ℹ️ Information
Interrail One Country Pass will give you access to unlimited travel in a specific country in Europe within 33 countries. It is perfect for travelers going to one specific country in Europe.
It has different plans to make it convenient for everybody’s needs.
This pass must be compared with the price you could get with a long-distance bus trip.
⚠️ You cannot be the country inhabitant of the pass you will buy. However, I don’t know how they can really control that information.
✅ Validity
For everybody, during the period of the plan chosen.
💰 Price
The price depends on the country. Here are the starting prices for some of them:
| 🇫🇷 France | From 127€ |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | From 105€ |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | From 146€ |
| 🇨🇭 Switzerland | From 127€ |
| 🇧🇪 🇳🇱 🇱🇺 The Benelux | From 105€ |
| 🇳🇴 Norway | From 148€ |
⚠️ You will have to pay a seat reservation fee for the trains with mandatory reservation. For more information, you can check this page.
🛒 How to Subscribe
You can get more information and buy the pass on one of the following websites:
♾️ Interrail Global Pass
🌐 Interrail website
🇪🇺 Unlimited travel across 33 countries in Europe
🧳 Perfect for travelers
ℹ️ Information
Interrail Global Pass will give you access to unlimited travel across 33 countries in Europe. It is perfect for travelers going to multiple countries in Europe.
It has different plans to make it convenient for everybody’s needs.
This pass must be compared with the price you could get with a long-distance bus trip.
✅ Validity
For everybody, during the period of the plan chosen.
💰 Price
Here is the starting price for 2nd class, depending on your age:
| 👶 Child (4-11) | Free (Up to 2 children travel for free and can only be travelling with an adult) |
| 👦 Youth (12-27) | From 194€ for 4 days within a month |
| 👨 Adult (28-59) | From 258€ for 4 days within a month |
| 👴 Senior (60+) | From 232€ for 4 days within a month |
For more details, you can check the Interrail website.
⚠️ You will have to pay a seat reservation fee for the trains with mandatory reservation. For more information, you can check this page.
🛒 How to Subscribe
You can get more information and buy the pass on one of the following websites:
👍 The Best Tips to Buy Your Tickets
💳 Pay with a premium card
🧳 Get a free travel insurance
Visa Premier Card
Visa Infinite Card
Mastercard Gold Card
Mastercard World Elite Card
When I pay for my train tickets, I always use a premium credit/debit card (ex: Visa Premier, Mastercard Gold, Visa Infinite, Mastercard Gold Elite), to be covered by the travel insurance of the card.
💡 You don’t need to subscribe anymore to the travel insurance offered by the broker you book your ticket with.
Here is a few examples of what travel insurance covers:
- 🧳 Delayed luggage
- 🧳 Lost/stolen/damaged luggage
- ✈️ Delayed flights
- ❌ Cancelled/Modified/Interrupted travel
- 🚑 Medical transport/repatriation assistance abroad
- 🏥 Medical assistance abroad
⚠️ To be covered by the card travel insurance, you need to:
1. Pay your ticket with the premium card.
2. If you have an issue, you need to warn the premium card insurance company as soon as possible, before spending on anything.
Conclusion
You have now all the tips to buy your train tickets in France. Enjoy your trip!