Rail travel in France
Photo: Kabelleger / David Gubler (http://www.bahnbilder.ch), CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Trains are a great way to get around in France. You can get from pretty much anywhere to anywhere else by train. For long distances, use the TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse, or High-speed train) on which reservations are obligatory. But if you have time, take the slow train and enjoy the scenery. The landscape is part of what makes France one of the top tourist destinations in the world.
UnderstandThe French national railway network is managed by SNCF Réseau, a branch of the nationalised company SNCF (Société nationale des chemins de fer français).
Within FranceSeveral train categories run in France, each with its own rules.
InternationalMany companies operates lines between France and the neighbouring countries, but there is almost no competition between them.
Booking ticketsIt is possible to book the same journey through a number of different travel agencies websites (in different languages and currencies). The fares for journeys inside France are the same with every travel agency.
Getting on boardTo find your train, locate your train number and the departure time on the departures board. There will be a track ("Voie") number next to the train and departure time. Follow signs to that track to board the train.
Sources and licences
- Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Rail travel in France" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo: Kabelleger / David Gubler (http://www.bahnbilder.ch), CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons