PDF maps are available showing the main TGV and Intercités rail routes, or if you prefer, the entire French rail network!

Buying tickets

You can book tickets for travel on all SNCF services at the SNCF Connect website. Other websites are available, however they may charge booking fees unlike SNCF.

On TGV INOUI, Intercités and Ouigo services, you can buy tickets as early as three months before travel. The cheapest tickets are called Prems, but are often booked up very quickly. They are not refundable or cannot be exchanged, so you need to make sure you can travel on the service you select.

If a Prem is no longer available, look out for Premieres (first class tickets) and Secondes (standard class). You can still get some really great deals, but prices will typically increase as more seats are booked. An interesting upshot of this is that that Premieres can be cheaper than Secondes!

Fares are more expensive during peak and holiday periods. The good thing is that these tickets are flexible, so if your plans change then you can rebook onto another journey, as long as you do so before the scheduled departure time.

Fares on TER services are the same whenever you book.

Child fares are available for children aged 4 to 11. Infants travel free, although you can purchase a seat for them at a reduced rate (Forfait Bambin) if you would rather they didn't sit on your knee.

Tickets
If buying online, you have the option of printing off your ticket or using the SNCF app. Another option is to collect it from a self-service machine at the station, however this requires verification using the same card you paid with.

If you're travelling on a Ouigo service, then you must print off your ticket or save it to your phone - Ouigo is only available to book online.

Seat reservations
Seat reservations are mandatory on all TGV INOUI, Intercités and Ouigo services. When booking, you will be allocated a seat which will be printed onto your ticket. The great thing about this is that you'll be guaranteed a seat, and services won't be overcrowded.

 If you're travelling using a rail pass such as Interrail, you will need to book a seat reservation (a small fee is charged).

Paris stations

Much of the long distance railway network centres on Paris, a legacy of how the railways were originally built in the 19th Century.

It is possible to make through journeys on some routes, such as Lille to Marseille via Lyon, as some north-south TGV services are able to make use of a dedicated line that bypasses Paris to the east of the city.

However, many journeys will still require a cross-city transfer via the Métro or RER from one of the main central termini to another. If this is the case, make sure you allow enough time to make your transfer. It is possible to change routes away from Paris (in particular Lille), however services may be less frequent than those that run to or from Paris.

The list below shows the major cities that are served by each of the seven main stations (via the quickest route, some cities are served by slower trains from other stations):

Ouigo services generally use suburban stations at Marne la Vallée Chessey or Massy.

Other things to consider

Bringing a pet
If you want to bring your pet along, bear in mind that fares are charged on French trains.

Small animals weighing less than 6kg are charged €7.00, and for larger animals it is 50% of the second class fare. Assistance dogs travel free and don't need a ticket.

All animals (except assistance dogs) must be carried in a pet carrier or otherwise wear a muzzle. They must be kept at your feet or, if in a pet carrier, on your knee. Remember to bring all documents with you.

Get there early
Make sure you don't miss your train. We recommend you arrive at the station at least 10 minutes before your train is due to depart. This will ensure you have enough time to walk from the concourse to the platform. Likewise, allow for at least 10 minutes if you are changing trains as again, this will allow enough time to change platforms. Ouigo customers must be at the station at least 30 minutes before departure.

If you're using a larger station, give yourself a bit longer - perhaps 15 to 20 minutes. Some of the Parisian stations are huge, with different sets of platforms for local and long-distance services. If you're catching Eurostar to London, you'll need to allow sufficient time for customs and security checks.

Know your train
Every train has it's own four digit identification number, which will be printed on your ticket or e-ticket, and will also appear on departure boards. This is useful if you need to check you have the right train, particularly if a couple of trains going to the same destination are running close together or in the rare occasion it is running late.

Validate your ticket
If you have a paper ticket, you must validate it by inserting it into the yellow machines that are located around the station. If you don't, then you risk being fined. If you have an e-ticket (either on the SNCF app or if you've printed it at home), then you don't need to do this.

Keep a close eye on your possessions
Don't leave luggage unattended, and avoid leaving valuables in easy-to-reach places. Not only could you cause a security alert, pickpockets love to work in busy places. They will take your belongings without you noticing.

If you do need to leave luggage anywhere, consider using the consigne manuelle (left luggage desk). On the train, we recommend using overhead compartments rather than under your seat.

What's on board
You can find many mod-cons on board selected French trains, including TGV Inoui and Intercités services:

All trains are climate controlled, ideal for those hot summer days or cold winters.

You can also take your bike with you, however charges may apply if it cannot be folded. Bikes cannot be carried on Transillien services during Monday to Friday peak periods.

For more information on travelling by train in France, or anywhere else for that matter, we highly recommend The Man at Seat 61 website which is run by the highly respected railway expert, Mark Smith.