How far in advance can I book trains in France?

Tickets open up for sale around 90 days before your travel date. In general, the longer your travel distance, the earlier you should book. But don't try to to book too far in advance, 90 days is the sweet spot. Definitely get reservations for TGV, Thalys and Eurostar, especially if you're choosing popular travel dates.



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For long-distance trains including all TGV, Intercités & Intercités de Nuit overnight trains, reservation is compulsory, but there are usually seats available even on the day of travel and you can buy a ticket immediately before the train departs. But there are much cheaper fares if you pre-book.

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Trainline rely entirely on making sales to people who fall for their adverts. On the contrary, whether you are buying in advance or on the day (which may be more expensive), it is always cheaper to use the actual operators' websites or book at a station.

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OUIGO is a low-cost rail service company established in 2013 as part of the SNCF group. Unlike the TGV INOUI service, OUIGO trains only have one class, which is equivalent to second-class travel. This is why OUIGO tickets are so cheap - from €10 for adults (depending on the destination) and €5 for children.

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Trainline shows various date options side-by-side with their costs. So if you're flexible on dates and willing to travel on whichever day is cheapest, you are able to get some great savings. This is not possible with the SNCF (though their older site used to do it) or other platforms.

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Conclusion: The Easiest Way to Book French Train Tickets We think Trainline is the best bet for almost all cases, because it gives you the same prices as you'll find from the official train operator SNCF but without the extra hassle.

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TGV is SNCF's high-speed rail service. Carrying passengers across France on trains exceeding 300kmh, TGV train has become one of the most popular modes of transport for travelling around the country.

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For long-distance trains including all TGV, Intercités & Intercités de Nuit overnight trains, reservation is compulsory, but there are usually seats available even on the day of travel and you can buy a ticket immediately before the train departs. But there are much cheaper fares if you pre-book.

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Is it okay if we book 30 days ahead ? In general it is cheaper to book long distance trains ahead of time - 10 to 12 weeks is when cheap (but inflexible) tickets are released for sale. At 30 days on most routes there would be a reasonable selection still on sale if you are not too choosy about times.

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On SNCF Connect, you can book two types of TGVs: INOUI or OUIGO TGV. TGV INOUI is a premium, more comfortable TGV offer, while OUIGO offers a single travel class and low prices.

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Both first and second-class tickets include free WiFi, power sockets, and access to the food carriage. The biggest difference between first class and second class on SNCF trains: Quieter coaches. Roomier seats with headrests.

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Put your journey details into the Trainline ticket alert system and you'll get an email when advance tickets for that journey go on sale, which are usually the cheapest fares – though to avoid fees, book via a train-booking site that doesn't charge them.

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Yes, Trainline is legitimate. Their app and website connect directly to rail and coach carriers' ticketing platforms so every ticket you buy through Trainline is valid for travel.

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From live times and disruptions info to split tickets and price alerts for the cheapest tickets, the Trainline app gives you control of your journey. It makes train and coach travel across the UK and the rest of Europe easy.

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