Why are French trains so expensive?

France increases cost of train fares The rail network announced a decision to raise prices last November because of the increase in energy costs. Christophe Fanichet, CEO of SNCF Voyageurs, said the company was “facing additional costs of 13 per cent in 2023.”



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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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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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Your destination, travel goals, and budget will all play a role in making the right decision. Renfe's AVE trains offer a premium experience with a wide range of destinations, while OUIGO Spain provides affordable prices and a straightforward ticketing system.

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Tips for traveling inexpensively by train
  1. Book your trip in advance. ...
  2. Don't miss the best train deals. ...
  3. Think about Prem's tickets. ...
  4. Subscribe to our Advantage card. ...
  5. Board our OUIGO trains. ...
  6. MAX ACTIF and MAX ACTIF+ reflexes. ...
  7. Take out a MAX JEUNE subscription. ...
  8. Control your budget with MAX SENIOR.


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Book your trip in advance Planning your trip is a simple and effective way of saving money on your tickets. Remember to plan your trips in advance, and make a point of checking when tickets go on sale to take advantage of the best prices.

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Track design. High-speed railway track construction in France has a few key differences from normal railway lines. The radii of curves are larger so that trains can traverse them at higher speeds without increasing the centripetal acceleration felt by passengers.

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Cost: $3,385 per night The Maharajas' Express holds the record for the most expensive train trips in the world. It costs $3,385 to spend a night in this traveling Presidential Suite. The Maharajas' Express is operated by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC).

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You must validate (composter) all French train tickets before you board a train unless you have printed your ticket off at home or downloaded it on your mobile phone. Tickets that are bought or exchanged at a station self-service machine in the hour before you travel may be validated automatically, according to SNCF.

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Many of the lines don't make any money or are operated at a loss. To accommodate the money-losing routes, Amtrak uses profits from its popular lines, such as the Northeast Corridor. Since this is one of the most popular routes, Amtrak can charge higher prices and send those profits to other, less profitable lines.

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By 1848, Brassey and his partners had built three-quarters of all the mileage of French railways yet constructed. These were built in accordance with best British practice, with the trains running on the left. And that is why French railways run on the left to this day.

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SNCF is the only company offering national rail transportation because it enjoys a legal monopoly. There are two types of trains: HS trains (TGV) and “normal speed” trains (Intercités or IC). TGV can use both HS and normal tracks, when IC can only use normal tracks.

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Most long distance trains have a restaurant café where you can buy snacks or a meal for your journey but if you do not feel for train food you can of course bring your own, even a bottle of wine if you want to really be in keeping with the French, as there are of course no rules against drinking wine and eating cheese ...

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