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Travelling with SNCF

Ticket reservations, purchases and collection

In order to get the best conditions, especially for departures during rush hour, it is advisable to reserve your tickets in advance.

They can be reserved in advance and are valid for two months. For journeys planned more than two months in advance, special passes can be collected from a sales point.

Reservations are compulsory for the TGV (high speed train), the Corail Téoz, the national night Corail and for some zones or the use of some services (JVS service, family compartment, car/train service, sleeping car, groups...).

Order a ticket:

• Ticket counters in any station,
• SNCF stores: 280 shops in France,
• Authorised travel agents: 3000 agencies throughout France,
• Automatic ticket machines: found in SNCF sales points:, stations, some banks, Monoprix® shopping centres and shops (payment can only be made with a credit card),
• Remotely:
  • Telephone: Direct Line 3635 (0.34 € per minute) from 7h00 to 22h00, 7/7,
  • Internet: www.voyages-sncf.com, for all French or international travel; airline tickets, hotel rooms, car hire, package holidays and holiday rentals can also be purchased. TGV (high speed train) reservations can also be made on www.tgv.com.

Tickets where supporting documents have to be shown such as Congé Annuel (annual holidays), JVS (young traveller service)…, can not be purchased remotely.

Payment and collection of tickets ordered remotely:

There are two options when placing an order:

• Electronic payment (from 1 €):
  • Tickets are sent to your home free of charge upon request (if purchase is made at least 4 days before the departure date, 7 days for foreign addresses),
  • For Prem’s tickets or last minute offers on the internet, there is the option of printing the fully readable ticket on white (21 x 29.7 cm) A4 paper, (this must be accompanied by an official identity document with a photo when shown for inspection in the train),
  • Tickets can be collected at any time up to the departure time from any station, automatic ticket machine or SNCF store using the file reference number provided when the reservation was made and the credit card used to make payment.
• Payment upon collection

Tickets can be collected from any station, automatic ticket machine or SNCF store before the deadline using the file reference number provided when the reservation was made.

Itinerary

Assistance staff are available for travellers in every station at train arrivals and departures.

All trains operating on the French rail network are non-smoking.

Ticket conditions of use:

Tickets must be date-stamped using the automatic machines. The journey made must be the same as the journey shown on the ticket and it must be completed no later than midnight on the day following the date-stamping of the ticket.

Reduced price tickets must be presented for inspection with the supporting documents / proof (reduction card, identity document with photo, etc...).

Once on the train, if the traveller does not have a ticket that meets the above conditions, they should voluntarily contact the ticket inspector before ticket inspection starts. This allows them to benefit from an on-board price to put their ticket in order.

If they do not present themselves to the ticket inspector, they will be penalised by also having to pay a fine.

Ticket exchanges and refunds

Exchange:

The following tickets cannot be changed: Prem’s, Offres de Dernière Minute (Last Minute Offers), Billet imprimé®, Forfait TGV de nuit (fixed price night high speed train) and some international tickets

• Tickets with reservation: full refund if the exchange is made before the reserved train departs or up to one hour after it has left. After this period and up to 60 days after the reservation was made, 50% of the ticket price is retained,
• Tickets without reservation: 10% of the ticket price is retained except in certain cases (see SNCF ticket counters).

Conditions that apply from the date of purchase to the end of the period of use shown on the ticket.

Where can I exchange?

• At station ticket counters and in SNCF stores. If the ticket was purchased in an authorised agency, it can only be exchanged in that agency,
• At an automatic ticket machine for the same journey that day or no later than the following day,
• At a Minute TGV (high speed train) exchange terminal. TGV (high speed train) tickets can only be exchanged when seats are available. They can be exchanged 30 minutes before the departure time of the reserved TGV (high speed train) and up to 1 hour after it has left.

Refund:

If the journey is cancelled:

The ticket must not have been date-stamped and its tax inclusive cost must be greater than 4.50 €:

• Tickets with reservation: full refund if cancelled before the train leaves.

After the train has left and for up to 60 days after the reservation date, the ticket will be refunded at 50% of its initial price.

• Tickets without reservation: from the date of purchase to the end of the period of use shown on the ticket, 10% of the ticket price is retained.

Some tickets are subject to special conditions: further information is available at SNCF sales points.

Lost or stolen tickets are neither refunded nor re-issued.

Where can I get a refund?

• At station ticket counters and in <acronym title="Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français">SNCF</acronym> stores.
• If the ticket was purchased in an authorised agency, at the agency that issued the ticket,
• By internet (voyages-sncf.com) from 2 days and up to 5 minutes before the train leaves. The refund will be made at a station or in a SNCF store within 60 days of the cancellation.

If there is a dispute:

If you have comments about how a journey went, send a letter to the SNCF customer service for the region (list available on voyages-sncf.com) accompanied by bank account details if a refund is requested.

The SNCF also has the services of an Mediator, Mr. Bertrand Labrusse, who is responsible for evaluating all disputes arising from a journey and who's services can be called upon via an approved national consumers association after the client has written to the SNCF customer service.

Ticket prices

Calculate the full fare ticket price:

• For the TGV (high speed train) (except night TGV) and Corail Téoz, the ticket price includes a reserved seat. Its price takes account of the quality of service provided (speed, comfort…)
  • There are two price levels in 2nd class: "période normale" price and "période de pointe" price,
  • There is only one price level in 1st class and it is higher than in 2nd class (about 1.5 times greater).
• For Corail trains (except Corail Téoz and Corail night trains) and TER, the ticket price is calculated on the basis of the distance travelled.
  • There are two price levels in 1st and 2nd class: prices that apply during "période bleue" and during "période blanche" (traveller's calendar available from SNCF sales points).
• For all national Corail night trains, the ticket price includes a reservation (except for sleeping cars). Its price takes account of the quality of service provided (Corail Service Nuit and standard Corail night service).
  • There are two price levels in 1st and 2nd class: "période normale" price and "période de pointe" price.

Price supplements:

A supplement has to be paid when additional services are reserved such as:

• Seat reservations in Corail and Téoz trains,
• Reserving a seat with a reclining back,
• Use of a couchette:15 € (17.50 € in night service trains).

Calculate the reduced fare ticket price (excluding any supplements):

For the TGV (high speed train) (except night TGV), reductions are calculated on the whole of the full fare. On other Grandes Lignes (Long Distance) trains and the TER, reductions are based on the full fare price. For social reductions (Famille nombreuse -large families, Congé Annuel - annual holidays), the price of a 1st or 2nd class ticket is always calculated on the basis of the full 2nd class fare.

A la carte service

Luggage:

The luggage at home service

This service is provided by SERNAM on behalf of the SNCF and must be reserved at the same time as the train ticket by telephone on 36 35 (0.34 € per minute), paying by credit card, or at SNCF ticket counters or stores.

Three ordinary bags (weighing less than 30 kg) and one large bag (if wrapped, up to a maximum of 60 kg) are accepted per passenger.

Travel with your luggage:

In the station:

• Luggage trolleys.
• Porters are also available for passengers in major French railway stations at a maximum price of 5 € for 3 bags,
• Automatic left luggage lockers for 72 hours, price varies depending on locker size,
• Left luggage counters are available in some stations at a daily price of 5 € per bag and 6 € for bicycles, wheelchairs and electric carts.

In the train:

• Luggage racks above the seats,
• Storage areas at the end of every carriage,
• Luggage racks behind or under the seats,
• All items of luggage must be labelled with your name and forename.

Carriage:

Car or motorbike carriage:

The Auto/Train (car/train) service offers travellers who want to transport their vehicle with several day and night travel options in a train of their choice (information: Auto/Train (car/train) Direct Line on 36 35 (0.34 € per minute).

Car hire:

To save time, you can reserve a hire care at the same time as you reserve your train ticket (station ticket counters, SNCF stores, authorised travel agents, voyages-sncf.com or Direct Line 36 35 (0.34 € per minute). You can benefit from reductions in AVIS rental charges via the SNCF in nearly 200 stations.

On-board services:

Telephone:

Mobile telephone operators ensure that the <acronym title="Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français">SNCF</acronym> network is covered so you can communicate during most of your journey.

Please respect the peace of other passengers and lower the volume of your ringtone and use the areas at the ends of every carriage for your conversations.

Dining:

Most Grandes Lignes (Long Distance) trains have a non-smoking bar-carriage or a restaurant service.

In some Grandes Lignes (Long Distance) trains and all Service-Nuit (Night Service) trains, automatic hot and cold drink and snack dispensers are available for passengers.

Night trains:

• For night TGV (high speed train) there is one fixed price for a single ticket: 44 € in 1st class, 35 € in 2nd class . With an Enfant + (Child +), 12-25 or Senior card, the 1st class ticket is the price of a 2nd class ticket,
• A free bottle of water,
• The choice of reclining seats, couchettes or sleeping car,
• For couchettes, a couchette and a welcome pack are provided,
• Compartments dedicated to women travelling on their own of with children (must be specified when reserving the ticket),
• Full time staff on board, vigilant and dissuasive,
• In Wagons-lits (sleeper) trains, a "Accueil-Information" Service carriage,
• In sleeping cars, a steward is available for passengers,
• Automatic dispensers,
• Option of reserving a place for carrying bicycles when ordering the ticket,
• Children under 12 years old can share the same couchette place.

Taxis:

On some routes, 1st class passengers can nor reserve a taxi for when they arrive at the station.

Other services:

The Grand Voyageur (Great Traveller) map:

It allows passengers who use the train regularly, at least two return journeys per month, to:

• Collect points every time you buy a ticket or services from partners such as Avis or Hertz that can be exchanged for free train tickets and gifts (weekends in delightful guest houses, car hire, gastronomic dinners, hot-air balloon flights…),
• Get access to the Grand Voyageur (Great Traveller) lounges found in many main stations,
• Exchange TGV (high speed train) reservations by telephone wherever you are,
• Benefit from discounts from the <acronym title="Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français">SNCF</acronym> and participating partners,
• Benefit from priority treatment in the event of overbooking.

To obtain this card which is valid for 3 years, an application should be collected from stations, SNCF stores or authorised travel agencies. The card fee is 30 €.

more info

The Jeune Voyageur Service (JVS - young traveller service):

Unaccompanied children are looked after from their departure station to their destination station during school holidays by a qualified supervisor. Must be reserved in advance when reserving a 2nd class ticket at a cost of 39 €.

Family zone:

In the TGV (high speed train):

• The family zone contains four places opposite each other that are separated from the rest of the carriage by a semi-partition and have been especially modified for the travel needs of the smallest passengers,
• A nursery zone fitted with a changing table and a bottle warmer.

In the Corail and TER:

• Family compartments can be reserved in 2nd class. There must be at least 4 people with an child under 12 years old and the additional cost is 12 € during the day and 90 € at night,
• A nursery zone fitted with a changing table and a bottle warmer.

Disabled travellers

SNCF Accessibility service 0800 15 47 53 (Freephone)

You can obtain the Mémento du Voyageur Handicapé from the following address or station ticket counters.

Mission Voyageurs Handicapés SNCF, 209/211, rue de Bercy, 75585 Paris Cedex 12, France

(Also available in Braille and large font versions).

Train + bicycle:

On the Grandes Lignes (Long Distance), bicycles are carried free of charge if the train has a bicycle zone or a luggage car (tandems are accepted) or if the bicycle can be dis-assembled and stored in a bag.

A reservation fee of 10 € may have to paid for some TGV (high speed train) that have a specific zone for this purpose that can contain up to 4 bicycles (tandems are not accepted).

more info

Single TGV (high speed train)-AIR ticket:

The SNCF in combination with several airlines allows passengers to combine their flight and their TGV (high speed train) journey (reservation at the " TGV’AIR " counter in larger SNCF stations).

Train+Hotel Service:

The SNCF in combination with ACCOR offers passengers preferential prices on the cost of room reservations in over 1,300 hotels in 250 different European and French destinations.

Travelling with pets:

• For an animal weighing less than 6 kg, the maximum fare is 5.10 €. The animal must be carried in a bag or basket.
• For a dog that is larger, the fare is 50 % of the full 2nd class fare. The dog must wear a muzzle,
• There is no supplement for a blind person's guide dog for the blind or a disabled person's assistance dog.

Radiolignes - TGV (high speed train) traffic news by telephone:

For full traffic information on Grandes Lignes (Long Distance) trains, call 36 35 (0.34 € per minute) 7j/7 from 06h30 to 22 h00