France Railway Ultimate Guide

France is one of the most advanced countries in the world with high-speed rail technology. The French high-speed railway brings great convenience to tourists who travel to France and neighboring countries.

The French high-speed rail is called TGV (French: Train à Grande Vitesse, meaning “high-speed train”). The TGV train is one of the fastest high-speed trains in the world, with a commercial speed of 320 km/h (TGV-R, TGV-D and TGV-POS) and a maximum test speed of 574 km/h. The record was created by the TGV’s special “V150” modified train on April 3, 2007. Although it failed to surpass the world record of land vehicles (603 kilometers per hour) set by Japan’s JR Maglev train, it was on the wheel and rail. The train is still the “first speed in the world.”

Popular route travel time

• Paris – Amsterdam: 3h
• Paris – Zurich: 4h
• Paris – Lyon: 2h
• Paris – Marseille: 3h
• Paris – Lille: 1h
• Paris – Reims: 45m
• Paris – Strasbourg: 2h20m
• Paris – Bordeaux: 3h
• Paris – Avignon: 2h40m
• Lille – Lyon: 2h55m

Railway operator – SNCF

SNCF,  The French National Railways is the main train company in France and a railway company managed by the French government. The company was founded in 1938, when France’s main private railway merged and is now based in Saint-Denis on the outskirts of Paris and is active throughout the world. SNCF’s iconic TGV high-speed service serves more than 100 million people a year and is the most famous symbol of the French National Railway. Every day, SNCF has 2,000 drivers who drive 7500 trains and transport passengers to 5,000 train stations.

SNCF offers a full range of transportation services. Companies can take advantage of the Portail discount and rent a conference room at the train station. In addition to standard travel tickets, there are a variety of cheap offers available for passengers over 60 and under 12 years old. The SNCF efficiently routes the trains so that passengers can easily take the lines. The SNCF trains are very comfortable, with plenty of food and drinks to choose from, and some major stations even have accommodation facilities.

 

Popular routes in France Paris to Nice

SNCF roadmap

SNCF model

TGV

The French high-speed train, known as the TGV, is a high-speed rail system designed and built by Alstom and the French National Railways. In 1981, TGV opened between Paris and Lyon, and now it has formed a railway network centered on Paris, radiating French cities and surrounding countries. On April 3, 2007, the TGV created the fastest record of the wheel-rail train at a speed of 574.8 kilometers per hour. At the same time, TGV is also the fastest average speed of regular rail-and-rail passenger trains in the world. “TGV” is a registered trademark of France Railway.

The initial success of the TGV promoted the expansion of the railway network, with several new lines built in the south, west and northeast of France. With the success of TGV, France’s neighbors such as Belgium, Italy, Spain and Germany have followed suit and established their own high-speed rail systems. The TGV is connected to Switzerland via the French railway network and is connected to Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands via the Northwest High Speed ​​Train Railway Network and is connected to the UK via the Eurostar railway network.

The French high-speed railway Nordic line (French: LGV Nord européenne), also known as the Northern Line, is a route for French high-speed trains connecting the Paris-Belgian border and the Channel Tunnel. The French high-speed railway north line is 333 kilometers long and was officially opened in 1993. The highest operating speed of French high-speed trains is 300 km/h.

The French high-speed railway Eastern European line (French: LGV Est européenne), commonly known as the Eastern Line, is an extension of the French high-speed train, connecting Paris with the eastern great city of Strasbourg, which offers Paris and the eastern part of France, Luxembourg, Switzerland and Fast service between several cities in Germany. The first phase of the French high-speed railway east line was officially opened on June 10, 2007. French high-speed trains can operate at speeds of up to 350 kilometers per hour, with an initial operating speed of 320 kilometers.

The southeast line of the French high-speed railway (French: LGV Sud-Est) is the first route of the French high-speed train, connecting Paris and Lyon, 409 km long and 425 km between Lyon and Paris. It opened in September 1981 and has a maximum operating speed of 300 kilometers.

The French high-speed railway Atlantic line (French: LGV Atlantique) is one of the routes of the French high-speed train, with a length of 232 km (southwestern branch) and 52 km (western branch), connecting Paris with the western part of France, opening in 1989, also the French high-speed The second early operation route of the railway.

The Eurostar was put into operation in 1994, connecting the European continent with the UK through the Anglo-French Cross-Harbour Tunnel, which is a TGV train designed to accommodate tunnels and British railways. The Eurostar uses the French high-speed railway north line in France. The UK also built the same railway as the TGV standard to connect London and the tunnel entrance to the UK. It was completed in the second half of 2007 and opened in November of that year. At that time, it took only 2 hours from London to Brussels and 2 hours and 15 minutes from London to Paris.

TGV double-layer high-speed rail (TGV Duplex)

TGV Duplex, one of the TGV high-speed trains of the French National Railways, features the first double-decker car and the third-generation TGV train for high-traffic and high-speed rail Designed for the route. Each group of Duplex trains can carry up to 545 people. With the large capacity, this train has become the main model of the French high-speed rail system.

iDTGV

iDTGV only travels between major cities and operates 3-4 trains a day. If traveling in a big city in France, it is preferred to consider iDTGV. Like a special fare, its ticket is not refundable. This is one of the most popular subsidiaries for free travellers. It does not have separate trains and routes. It is actually a special promotion for TGV trains. Unlike the TGV train scheduled on the SNCF website, its pre-sale period is 180 days ahead of schedule, and the price is about half cheaper than the lowest price of TGV. However, its service is not discounted. It is actually a car that is attached to the TGV train (there are optional iDZEN quiet cars and iDZAP cheerful cars). If you don’t check the tickets separately, you can’t feel this is different from TGV.

Booking tickets

Tickets for iDTGV can only be purchased online. Each train contains two different cabins to make travel more personal. Bookings for each train are open 6 months prior to departure and all routes are priced at EUR 19 per person. After booking, all services can be purchased online and often purchased on the train at a lower cost.

Cabin

The train is divided into two compartment areas: iDzen and iDzap. iDzen is popular with business travellers and is ideal for customers who want to travel quietly and are prohibited from using their mobile phones and talking loudly. iDzap is best for families or vacationers and is more tolerant of noise. Food is available at different times in the iDzap area. People in first class can use power outlets as well as have wider seats and more legroom.

Service

Depending on the train, the buffet car in the 4 or 14 car can provide food. In partnership with Navendis, iDTGV operates its own booking taxi service, called iDcab, which serves the 法兰le-de-France region. Tablets that offer a variety of movies and games can be rented with headphones to get the minimum amount. Seats can be selected at any time during or after the booking, but must be reprinted each time you add or change any service.

Baggage

The iDTGV’s baggage allowance is more stringent than the standard TGV: each passenger only needs to carry 1 piece of hand luggage and 1 suitcase. A baggage surcharge of EUR 35 applies to any extra baggage, but can be paid up to 45 Euros upon boarding.

Hercules train THALYS

THALYS, also known as the Hercules train, is the main line of SNCF in northern France and neighboring countries. It is driven by France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. It is a major western European developed country. The cities that arrive are Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Cologne. Wait, it is a must for tourists. THALYS also has two advantages, one is a speed of nearly 350 kilometers per hour, and the other is a punctual rate of up to 95%. Although THALYS also uses TGV train technology, the comfort of the cabin is much higher than that of the ordinary TGV. The first-class seats also provide exquisite meals for passengers to enjoy on the road. Traveling in Europe, high-speed rail is stronger than aircraft, THALYS is the best case. From Amsterdam to Paris 800 kilometers, THALYS takes only 3 hours, and it takes 4-5 hours for the aircraft to count for two more hours.

TGV-LYRIA

LYRIA is similar to THALYS and is also the main line between France and its neighbors. LYRIA is jointly operated by the French National Railways (SNCF) and the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB). It mainly operates TGV train services between France and Switzerland. France and Switzerland are the top three destinations for Chinese tourists to Europe. It takes only 3-4 hours to get to Paris or Zurich’s LYRIA trains from Paris, which is absolutely convenient.

Ticket

Rail pass

The French Rail Pass is the best choice for non-European residents to visit France. The French train pass starts at the cheapest price of 77 euros and is available for 1 day in a month.

If you are not sure about the date of your trip and the number of French cities you are going to, consider buying a French Rail Pass. The pass allows you to take the French National Railway train (including Monaco) unlimited times.

The train pass is a current ticket, which can be arbitrarily selected for 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8 days in one month and divided into first class or second class. You can choose the number of days you want to travel. You can take the trains in France for an unlimited number of times during the train ticket period. Before you take the train, you can fill in the date on the day and you will not limit the number of rides and travel routes.

However, the pass does not include booking fees for TGV and sleeper.

Personal point-to-point ticket

The price of train tickets in France is floating, similar to buying a ticket, and the same itinerary price will change. Generally speaking, the sooner the booking price is cheaper, the higher the tourist season will be, and it may be sold out. The pre-sale period is usually three months.

e-ticket

Online booking: You can book your SNCF e-ticket directly by entering a click in the search box below.

After the reservation is successful, the email will receive the email and confirm the ticket. The attachment of the email is the pdf file of the ticket, which needs to be printed on A4 paper. In addition, you can also use the SNCF client to display the e-ticket using your mobile phone. When you check the ticket, you will scan the trainer for the QR code.

Paper ticket

Print an electronic ticket at the station

Be careful when ordering tickets online. Some e-tickets require passengers to print physical tickets using the ticket machine at the station. To print the ticket at the ticket machine at the station, you must bring the booking code on the confirmation email. You can also use the ticket vending machine directly at the station to purchase tickets, and you can buy tickets at least five minutes before the departure time. Payment can be made by cash or credit card.

Buy tickets at the station

You can also buy tickets directly at many train stations in Europe. You can choose to purchase tickets early or on the same day at the ticket counter in the station. In general, early purchases can enjoy a higher discount.

Return and change clause

Super Saver Price

• Can not change
• Can not refund
• Ticket type: electronic ticket

Saver ticket

• 31 days before the departure of the train, the change fee is 10 Euros. The change fee is 20 Euros 30 days before the train departure. The change fee is 40% of the face value from the 2 days before departure to the departure, the minimum is not less than 25 Euro (TGV high speed train)
• It can only be changed up to two times, and it is not allowed to change after the train leaves.
• 31 days before the departure of the train, the refund fee is 20% of the face value, and the refund fee is 30% from 30 days to three days before the departure of the train. The refund fee is 60% of the face value from the two days before departure to the departure.
• Cannot refund the ticket after departure
• Ticket type: electronic ticket

Flex ticket

• It can be changed from the time of purchase to the train. The change fee is 10 Euro per person.
• Refunds can be refunded from the time of purchase to the train. The refund fee is 30% of the face value.
• Ticket type: electronic ticket

Station and boarding

Most of the French railway stations have a long history. For example, the famous Orsay Art Museum used to be a railway station. There is also the St-lazare train station by the great painter Monet. Generally, there are several railway stations in cities that are bigger or more important.

For example, in Paris, there will be Gare du Nord, Gare de l’est, Gare Montparnasse, Lyons Gare de Lyon, Gare de Lyon. The five train stations of La Gare Saint-Lazare and Gare d’Austerlitz. Therefore, it is necessary to find an accurate station according to the departure station marked on the train ticket.

There are six main railway stations in the city of Paris. Each of the main trains is divided into the domestic and other European cities. Each train station has a subway connection and convenient communication. Each station has basic facilities such as currency exchange, luggage storage and restaurant. Among them, North Station, East Railway Station and Lyon Station have a tourist service center.

Six major railway stations in Paris

Paris North Station

Gare de Paris-Nord is one of the train starters of the French National Railways (SNCF) in Paris. It is the busiest train station in Paris. It is located in the 10th district in the north of Paris city and contains a variety of railways. Transportation services and urban rail transit services, with a passenger flow of 180 million passengers per year.

Trains to and from Gare du Nord:

High-speed trains (TGV, Eurostar and Thalys), regional trains (TER), intercity trains (Intercités), Transilien (Transilien), regional trains (RER) and the Paris Metro.

The Gare du Nord is the Eurostar train terminal from London and the Thalys train terminal from Brussels. These international trains take you to other cities such as Lille, Amsterdam or Cologne.

The Gare du Nord is also an important hub for local transport. The Parisian suburban transport network has two important routes passing through the Gare du Nord, and the RER B line passes through the Gare du Nord to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.

Service Facilities:

Gare du Nord offers all the amenities and services necessary for all major stations such as ticket vending machines, rail staff services, waiting areas, cafes, currency exchange, telephone booths, newsstands, lounges, car parks, police stations, Tourist information desk, toilet, luggage storage, wireless internet, ATM.

Train station traffic:
,
Local train & subway: Metro 2, 4nd 5th, RER B, D, E reached the Paris North Station.

Bus: 26, 48, 65, 43, 46, 42, 39, 38, 350, 302, 54 bus.

Taxi: Taxi can be taken at the Eurostar train exit west of the station.

Airport: The regional express train RER B can go to Paris Charles de Gaulle airport every 15 minutes. If you have a lot of luggage, it may be more convenient to take other transportation. During the peak period, the RER B line may appear late, please be careful not to miss the flight.

Main entrance of Paris North Station

Paris North Station Eurostar Train Platform

Paris East Station

Paris Gare de l’Est is one of the main train stations in Paris, France and one of the oldest train stations in the city. It is the end of the route from Paris to Strasbourg and Paris to Mulhouse. station. Paris East Station is located about 1 km from the northern station of Paris, another important railway station. From Paris North Station, passengers can take the Eurostar train to London. Passengers can also take the train from Paris East Station to other European cities such as Zurich, Munich and Frankfurt. Other French tourist destinations such as Metz, Reims and Eperney are accessible from the Gare de l’Est.

Trains to and from Gare de l’Est: High-speed trains (TGV) and regional trains (TER, Corail)

Service Facilities:

French national railway company railway staff service, disabled passenger assistance, parking lot, locker, wheelchair and convenience ramp, business lounge & waiting room, lost and found office, tourist information consultation, station eating space, bathroom, luggage storage , wireless networks, ATMs, and phone booths.

Train station traffic:

Local train & metro: Metro lines 4, 5 and 7 pass to the Gare de l’Est.

Bus: Buses 38, 46 and 65 are available from the Gare de l’Est.

Taxi: You can take a taxi outside the station.

Airport: Passengers can take the RER B line (local commuter train) from the nearby Gare du Nord to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. The train runs every 15 minutes. If you have a lot of luggage, it may be more convenient to take other transportation. During the peak period, the RER B line may appear late, please be careful not to miss the opportunity.

Paris East Station exterior

Lyon train station in Paris

Paris Gare de Lyon is one of the main train stations in Paris. According to the city of Lyon, it is the northern terminal of the Paris-Marseille railway line. The train from Lyon train station in Paris usually goes to the south of France. And the east. About 90 million passengers use the Lyon train station every year, making it one of the busiest stations in Europe.

Trains to and from Gare de Lyon: High-speed trains (TGV), regional trains (TER, Corail) and local trains (RER) in the Greater Paris area.

Passengers can take the train from Lyon Train Station in Paris to the tourist destinations of Dijon, Marseille, Macon and Lyon, and take the RER A line to Disneyland Paris.

Service Facilities: French National Railways Railway Staff Service, Parking, Currency Exchange, Ticket Counter, Disabled Passenger Assistance, Lockers, Lounge, Lost and Found Office, Tourist Information Office, Toilet, Luggage Storage, Wireless Network , ATM and telephone booth.

Train station traffic:
Local train & metro: RER D line to Paris North Station, Metro line 14 to Paris Saint Lazare train station.

Bus: Buses 20, 24, 29, 61, 65 and 91 lead to Paris North Station.

Taxi: You can take a taxi in the square in front of the station.

Airport: Air France can go to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.

Paris Lyon train station exterior

Paris Austerlitz Railway Station

Paris Austerlitz is one of the main railway stations in Paris, France. The station is located in the southeast of Paris and is the starting point for the Paris-Toulouse railway line, from where the train to Toulouse departs. The international overnight train Elipsos Trenhotel also stops at the Austerlitz train station in Paris. The train runs from Paris to Madrid and Paris to Barcelona and usually departs at 7:30 pm. The Austerlitz train station in Paris has access to metros 5 and 10, and the RER C line also reaches this station.

Trains to and from Paris Austerlitz: High-speed trains (TGV), regional trains (TER, Corail), intercity trains (Intercités), night trains (Elipsos)

Service Facilities: French National Railways Railway Staff Service, Ticket Machine, Currency Exchange, Wheelchair and Convenience Ramp, Lost and Found Office, Police Department, Tourist Information Office, Toilet, Luggage Storage, Wireless Network, ATM and Telephone Booth .

Train station traffic:

Local train & metro: Metro lines 5 and 10, RER C train to Paris Austerlitz train station.

Bus: Buses 57, 63 and 91 are available from the station to Paris Gare de Lyon and Paris Montparnasse.

Taxi: There is a taxi stop outside the station.

Airport: There is no direct train to any airport from the Austerlitz train station in Paris.

Paris Austerlitz train station exterior

Paris Montparnasse Train Station

Paris Gare Montparnasse is one of the important train stations in Paris, France. The station is located in the western part of Paris and is the terminal for the trains from the Brittany region in western France. From the Montparnasse train station in Paris, take the high-speed train to restrain large cities such as Bordeaux, Rennes and Nantes. Paris Montparnasse train station is also equipped with many amenities such as the Grand Voyageur Business Lounge and the world’s fastest pedestrian walk.

Trains to and from Montparnasse: High-speed trains (TGV), regional trains (TER) and intercity trains (Intercités)

Service Facilities: French National Railways Railway Staff Service, Disabled Passenger Convenience Facilities, Wheelchair and Convenient Ramp, Business Lounge & Waiting Room, Lost and Found Office, Station Food Space, Currency Exchange, Tourist Information Office, Toilet, Luggage Hosting, wireless internet, ATM and telephone booth.

Train station traffic:

Local trains & metros: Metro lines 4, 6, 12 and 13 pass through the Paris city of Montparnasse train station.

Bus: Buses 28 and 91 depart from the station to Porte d’Orléans and Bastille.

Taxi: There is a taxi stop outside the station.

Airport: French flights 4 and 1 can be taken from Paris Montparnasse train station to Paris Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports.

Paris Montparnasse train station exterior

 

Paris Saint-Lazare Station

Gare de Paris-Saint-Lazare is one of the starting stations of the French National Railways (SNCF) in Paris, located in the 8th arrondissement of northwest Paris, in terms of the number of passengers (about 1 per year) At present, Saint-Lazare is the busiest railway station in Paris. Its traffic is second only to the North Station of Paris and the third busiest railway station in Europe.

The Transilien Paris Saint-Lazare is also one of the five major road networks of the Trans-Israel Regional Railway (Transilien). The road starts from the Saint-Lazare station in Paris and covers the outer suburbs of the 法兰le-de-France in the northwest of Paris and the west.

Passengers can travel to and from Paris, the northwestern suburbs, and the western suburbs. Domestic train lines are relatively small, mainly leading to Upper Normandy, and there is no international train service. The train station in the Impressionist masterpieces of Saint-Lazare Station, mainly to the suburbs, Caen and Rouen in Normandie, and the Impressionist towns.

Trains to and from Saint-Lazare Train Station: High-speed trains (TGV), regional trains (TER) and intercity trains (Intercités).

Train station traffic:

Local train & subway: There are several underground stations and RER stations on the ground floor of the Saint-Lazare station in Paris, forming a huge underground transit hub. In this hub, passengers can transfer to metro lines M3, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13 and 14, as well as the RER A and RER E lines to and from the city and suburbs of Paris.

Bus: 20, 21, 22, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 32, 43, 53, 66, 80, 81, 94, 95 bus.

Taxi: You can take a taxi around the station.

Airport: Multiple subways can be transferred to the regional fast-track RER B line to Paris Charles de Gaulle airport. During the peak period, the RER B line may appear late, please be careful not to miss the opportunity.

Paris Saint-Lazare station exterior

Boarding

After the passenger enters the central hall of the train station, you can see the electronic display in the center of the hall. The display is in French, with the number of trains (no), time (Heure), destination (Destination), train type (such as TVG high-speed rail), and the access lane (Voie).

Note that if you arrive early, the inbound channel will only display “Hall 1” or “Hall 2”, and the capitalized lane will be displayed when the driving time is approaching. If it shows 5, go to the 5 lanes and get on the bus.

Check in

Before boarding the bus, what you need to do is check in. If you forget, be sure to contact the train ticket inspector and get the ticket after you get on the bus. Because there is no ticket for ticket checking, you can get the refund ticket at the ticketing window of SNCF. Therefore, if you do not check the ticket, the staff will think that you are deliberately evading and fine you. Therefore, be sure to remember to check in before boarding. Guests with an electronic ticket need to be aware that the electronic ticket printed on A4 paper does not need to be replaced by a physical ticket. You can scan the QR code on the ticket at the gate before entering the train.

At platform

After checking the ticket, when you go to board the bus, you should pay attention to the car number at the door. Some trains are two-story, and if they are on the second floor, they need to go up the stairs. After going up the stairs, find the corresponding seat and sit down. If you have unfortunately missed your train, go to the ticket window or ticket vending machine, change the ticket or refund the ticket, choose the next bus ticket that you think is appropriate, the staff or ticketing machine will take back your expired ticket and ask you to make up The difference in the ticket is so that the ticket is replaced.

For a big city like Paris, the trains that go to many trains every day, the missed one bus actually has little effect. However, if it is a small city, there are fewer trains, so it is more reliable to get on the train on time! Of course, when you buy a ticket, the ticket will be marked with 100% full refund and non-refundable tickets. Unfortunately, the general discount ticket is not refundable. But you can make up the difference for the ticket.

During the trip

Of course, the most important thing to pay attention to on the road is to be optimistic about your luggage. Do not leave your valuables. You will see that the French people are very big and just throw their luggage on the luggage rack and don’t look at it. However, if you are traveling outside, it is better to have more than one thing. It is always right to be optimistic about luggage. Once the baggage is lost, you should contact the conductor and the police in time to explain the situation.

Arrival

Generally, the local tourist office and the train station are not too far away. If you are confused about the city, you can first ask the tourist office for a local map. Or ask at the consultation desk of the train station if there are any maps or travel guides. But it is more recommended to use Google Maps to find your location and where you want to go.

There are also some cities that will build a TGV train station in order to open TGV (High Speed ​​Rail). Generally it will be far from the city center. Sometimes you need to do a ferry bus, you can ask the station service staff when you get off the train, or check the information in advance.

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