Seat Reservations, Rail Passes, Point to Point

.......How does it all work?

Several different documents may make up your rail documents, so it’s important to know the difference. You may only have tickets, or you may also have seat reservations, or you may have rail passes and seat reservations.

Tickets can be point to point (ex: Paris-Lyon) or a Rail Pass (eg the 3 Day France Rail Pass). These are train tickets, but they don’t entitle you to a seat.

Your seat reservation is an additional charge, but it ensures your place on a specific train. (eg the 10:37am train from Lyon to Paris on 1st March). The seat reservation itself is not changeable or refundable. You must take the train that is shown on your seat reservation to use it. If you miss your train, your ticket is still valid for another train, but your seat reservation will no longer be valid.

Therefore, you can use your tickets anytime between the points shown on the face, or any amount on the duration of your pass, within the 6 months from issue date. (Take note of the terms shown on the rail pass, if you have purchased a pass. You may have additional time limits that restrict the use of your pass.)

Seat reservations are required on the TGV, so we always recommend that you pre-order these in advance from VisitFrance. For non-TGV trains, you are not required to have a seat reservation, and therefore we often do not purchase seat reservations in advance. We don’t necessarily recommend you get a seat reservation on these trains, except in the case of high travel season, or for long duration trains. (for peace of mind if you have connecting reservations) These seat reservations can always be purchased prior to departure at the station.

Please also note - We can only reserve your seats up to 60 days before the date of travel.

Boarding your Train

When you arrive at the train station, if you have a seat reservation, look for the Car # on your tickets, and for what class your ticket are issued. (1st or 2nd). Once inside the car, locate your seat.

If you don’t have a seat reservation, find the class of car you are traveling in, and then locate a seat that is not reserved. In the bigger train stations, you must locate your train platform.

Don’t forget to match the train numbers as there may be multiple trains bound for the same city, so double check you have your correct train number.

Before getting on the train, do not forget to date-stamp, or punch, your ticket and to put your names and addresses on every piece of luggage. You will have to load/unload your own luggage.

Getting around on the France Rail network

1. There are two classes on French trains: first and second. The main difference between the two classes is that first class has larger, more comfortable seats, three to a row, whereas second class has smaller seats with less legroom and four to a row.
2. T.E.R.
   Regional trains linking smaller cities to the main transportation hubs like Paris, Toulouse, Nimes. These trains are not air conditioned and travel at a 'leisurely pace'.
3. CORAIL
   good comfort, air conditioned, moderate speed (average service speed including stops is about 60 mph). These trains are used on most other major city links.
4. Autocars (buses)
   Buses are becoming an increasing part of the small regional service, replacing trains. They're also reasonably comfortable.
5. Suburban trains
   Similar to suburban trains nearly anywhere in the world, these serve the suburbs and main tourist sights surrounding large metropolitan areas such as Paris, Lyon, Nice.

Getting around Paris on the Metro

Open from 05.45am to 12.45am, the Metropolitan (Metro) is an efficient, and cheap way to get around Paris. The Metro has a total of 16 lines and more than 360 stations. The Metro's network maps are all colour coded and very easy to follow.

Once you are in the Metro Station, you will need to make sure that you are catching a train heading in the right direction. The name of the last station of the applicable line is the name of the subway train that you will want to catch.

If you plan to travel for a few days around the city by Metro, you can purchase 1, 3 and 5 day passes which will give you unlimited travel. (the validity of each pass starts with your first use).

The pricing for the Metro network is basically divided into two - zone 1-3 (the inner network) and zone 1-5 (the outer network). The outer network also includes CDG airport, Versailles Palaces and Disneyland. You can pre-purchase your Metro passes through VisitFrance.

The Metro also links the 4 major regional train stations of Paris.

• Gare Montparnasse will link you with the West (Nantes…),
• Gare du Nord with the North (Dunkerque, Eurostar…),
• Gare de l’Est with the South East (Lyon, Annecy…)
• Gare Saint Lasare with the North East of France (Nancy, Strasbourg…).

Approximate Travel Times from Paris

• BORDEAUX 3 h (TGV)
• CHAMBERY 3 h (TGV)
• CLERMONT FERRAND 3 h 25 to 4 h
• DIJON 1 h 35 (TGV)
• LILLE 1 h (TGV)
• LYON 2 h (TGV)
• MARSEILLE 4 h 30 (TGV)
• MONTPELLIER 4 h 30 (TGV)
• NANTES 2 h (TGV)
• NICE 6 h 30 (TGV)
• POITIERS 1 h 30 (TGV)
• RENNES 2 h (TGV)
• ROUEN 1 h 10
• STRASBOURG 3 h 50
• TOULOUSE 5 h (TGV)

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