France has an extended and well-maintained railway network. Train travel in France is complicated in long-distance trains due to several separate tariff systems, strange timetable and problems with seat reservation for Interrailers. High-speed trains connects the largest cities, there are numerous international trains with almost all adjacent countries.
Last updated: 13.07.2024
The first plans to build seven national railways from Paris appeared in 1810, but the first railway line in France was inaugurated in 1827. The line from Saint Etienne to Loire was 21 km long and horse-drawn trains carried a coal. The first passenger line was put into operation in 1835 or 1837.
The 57 km railway line between Saint-Etienne and Lyon was constructed between 1828 and 1833.
By 1867 railway network in France had a total length of 16,000 kilometers.
In 1938 the government nationalised railway system and Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Francais (SNCF) was founded.
In 1981 TGV train set a world speed records, reaching 380 km/h.
In 1989 TGV Atlantique was put into operation. The train was designed to travel at 300 km/h.
The Channel Tunnel, that connects Folkestone (Kent, England) with Coquelles (Pas-de-Calais, France) beneath the English Channel, was opened in 1994.
Train travel in France – timetable and booking
The train connection search engine with an online shop is available on the website sncf.com or www.sncf-connect.com . The second one website also provides ticket prices for international trains. You can also buy train tickets from almost all booking agents selling train tickets.
Ticket prices for long-distance trains from France to Germany are available on the Deutsche Bahn search engine.
Publication a timetable for the most important connections would be senseless, because the timetable, like ticket prices in France, depends on many factors. Most long-distance trains do not run every day, and principles of train timetable in France remain unclear for me.
Useful information about traveling by train in the Paris metropolitan area can be found at www.transilien.com . The website provides, among other things, maps of railway stations in Paris with additional information about facilities for passengers.
Interactive map of France’s rail network on the SNCF website
Railway map of France (Wikimedia)
Eurostar train (Photo: Bloodua, dreamstime.com)
Train travel in France – overnight trains
In the past, France had interesting national and international night connections, operating under the Corail brand. The carriages were old but very comfortable. Over the next 10 years, the authorities focused on the development of high-speed rail and daytime connections. In recent years we can see the revival of night trains in Europe. SNCF also reinstate overnight connections in France. Currently, night trains in France are comprised of refurbished carriages with couchettes and carriages with reclining seats (sleeperettes).
At the time of writing this article, the following night trains were running:
Paris – Nice (via Toulon, Cannes, Antibes)
Paris – Toulouse – Latour de Carol, connected by train to Barcelona
Paris – Lourdes
Paris – Rodez
Paris – Briançon
Paris – Port Bou (seasonal train via Perpignan and Narbonne)
During the holidays, a night connection between Paris and Hendaye is planned. In addition, Austrian Railways runs a night train Vienna – Paris and Berlin – Paris. In the future, night connections with other European countries are planned.
I don’t know if trains run every day because I can’t understand the train timetable in France.
There are two classes available in couchette cars: in the second class there are six-person compartments. In the first class, four-person compartments. Passengers receive, among other things, a bottle of mineral water and earplugs. French railways allow you to book an entire compartment for one person and travel in a compartment for women traveling alone. The compartments are mixed – apart from the designated compartments, women and men can travel together. There are promotional tickets for each train.
Ouigo trains
In April 2013, the French railways SNCF launched new, low-cost connections between Marne-la-Vallée Chessy station (on the outskirts of Paris) and Marseille and Montpellier branded Ouigo. High-speed trains stop at the most important stations. Connections are served by TGV Duplex trains. There are more seats for passengers than in InOui trains at the cost of space for luggage and the bar area. There is no division into classes, each passenger of Ouigo trains can take only one piece of hand luggage on board without fee, the second and next pieces will be charged with an additional fare.
Ouigo was rapidly expanded to cover more stations and regions.
Ticket prices for adults start from 10 euros. The idea of Ouigo trains is based on low-cost airlines. Currently, Ouigo trains also run in Spain.
From 2022 there are Ouigo Vitesse Classique trains comprised of locomotive and passenger carriages. These trains are slower than TGV Duplex.
Tickets can only be bought online through a dedicated website or mobile app, not from ticket machines, ticket counters, or through the regular SNCF website.
www.ouigo.com – official website and online shop
France by train – what to see
In France, there are countless places worth visiting. Beautiful cities, picturesque villages, grand palaces and castles, cathedrals, and museums. Tens of thousands of tourist attractions in the country’s 20 regions. I will try to describe the most important places that must be visited, but it will take at least a few years.
Brittany by train
Alsace by train
Champagne by train
Lorraine by train
Normandy by train
Scenic railways in France
Many railway lines in France offer beautiful views from the train windows. Most beautiful railway lines in France are located in mountains and in coastal areas. Some of them are world-famous and attract railway enthusiasts and tourists from all over the world.
Ligne des Cévennes – the most famous French scenic railway line between Nimes and Clermont-Ferrand.
Grenoble area – railway lines around Grenoble are famous for stunning views.
Ligne des Hirondelles – a very popular railway line in the Jura, connecting Dole and Saint-Claude.
Le Train des Merveilles – world-famous railway line from Nice to Tende.
Most beautiful railway lines in France – more information
Funicular railways in France
There are several funicular railways operating in France. Most popular funiculars are located in Thonon-les-Bains near border with Switzerland, Paris and Pau. The two funiculars operate in Lyon, another one funicular in this city was converted into rack railway.
Funicular railways in France – a list
Rack railways in France
Several rack railways operate in France. Some of them are of no importance to travellers, but three of them should be noted by railway enthusiasts and people who like railway attractions.
Tramway du Mont Blanc – the highest railway line in France and one of the highest railway lines in Europe.
Panoramique des Dômes – a rack railway from the city of Clermont-Ferrand to the viewing platform at the top of Puy-de-Dôme.
Petit train de la Rhune – a heritage rack railway in the Pyrenees.
Rack railways in France – a full list
Train travel in France – the best offers
You can travel by train in France using promotional tickets or an Interrail ticket (it is very difficult if you use long-distance trains). French railways offer a number of discount cards, but they are useful for people who regularly travel by train in France, while they will not be useful for a tourist who wants to travel by train several times in a short time.
If we choose a starting point (base for trips) and want to visit a French province by train, we can found regional discount offers, which also include passes (network tickets) for tourists, sometimes covering a specific railway line or part of the province and allowing us to travel by train and buses. Similarly to Poland, some provinces apply a separate tariff for passenger trains.
Sample offers:
Pass Pau Canfranc – cross-border offer on the route from Pau to Spanish Canfranc (trains and buses). Along the way, there is the possibility of hiking along mountain trails, visiting the Aspe Valley or the village of Borce (scenic line Pau – Bedous, then by bus).
Pass Ok – a one-day, weekly or monthly ticket allowing unlimited travel on passenger trains and buses within a designated area between the cities of Belfort, Montbéliard and Héricourt. In Belfort you can see the former citadel overlooking the city (forts nearby), the cathedral, art museums, and in Montbéliard the Museum of Art and History, the castle museum and the very popular Peugeot Adventure Museum in nearby Sochaux with a collection of Peugeout’s cars.
Pass Rémi Découverte – a network ticket (pass) available in several variants for those who want to travel cheaply in the Loire Valley in the Ile de France region. Information about the offer can be found on the SNCF website, while the ticket validity map was available at www.remi-centrevaldeloire.fr. As you can see, it’s easy to visit some interesting places with this ticket.
Normandy offers a network weekend ticket, but it is only available for groups of two to five people. Single travelers can’t take advantage of the offer.
Information about regional promotions on the SNCF website
Railways in neighboring countries, e.g. Switzerland, offer network tickets covering Euroregions.
Related articles:
Train travel in Corsica
Most beautiful railway lines in France
Funiculars in France
Rack railways in France
Railways in Europe by country
Train travel in France – international trains
There are numerous train connections from France to adjacent countries. Passengers can choose relatively cheap cross-border regional trains or much more expensive high-speed trains (SNCF offers various types of promotional tickets if you buy in advance). Most tickets for international trains from France can be purchased at www.sncf-connect.com.
List of most important international trains from France:
Austria
There is a night train from Vienna to Paris two or three times a week, depends on a period of timetable. Train has two seating carriages, two sleeping carriages and couchettes. The connection is relatively expensive; tickets can be purchased on shop.oebbtickets.at website
Belgium
In recent years, the offer of passenger trains between France and Belgium has improved. The Belgian railways, in cooperation with the French railways, run TGV trains under the TGV INOUI brand from Brussels to Marseille, Nantes, Bordeaux, Lyon, Strasbourg and other cities along the way.
Additionally, passenger trains run on the routes:
Kortrijk – Lille
Tournai – Lille
Another way to get from Belgium to France is to travel to the last station before the border and cross the border on foot. For example, we take a train from Charleoi to Erquille and cross the border to find ourselves in Jermont, France.
For example, in the divided city of Comines, train stations are located on the French and Belgian sides, but are not connected to each other. There are single trains on the French side, and many more on the Belgian side.
In addition, the Eurostar/Thalys runs Paris-Amsterdam and Paris-Cologne trains,
Tickets can also be purchased on www.b-europe.com website
Germany
Numerous long-distance trains as well as regional connections with separate tariffs.
For example, TGV trains Paris – Stuttgart, Paris – Frankfurt am Main, regional trains Strasbourg – Saarbrucken, local trains from Offenburg.
In December 2023, the Nightjet Berlin – Paris night train was launched. It runs twice a week. Ticket prices, apart from the cheapest promotional tickets, are very high.
Tickets for most connections can be purchased at int.bahn.de
Trains between France and Germany – additional information
Great Britain
There are international Eurostar trains connecting Paris and Lille with London. Eurostar trains connects Paris and Amsterdam (former Thalys train). More information: eurostar.com
Italy
There are direct daily trains Milan – Paris, as well as regional trains Ventimiglia – Nice and Cuneo – Tende. Thello sleeper trains no longer run.
Luxembourg
There are regional trains from Luxembourg to Thionville, Longwy, Metz and Nancy. TGV trains run from Luxembourg to Paris, Nancy and Marseille.
Spain
Currently, TGV Duplex trains run from Paris to Barcelona. The trains start at Paris Lyon station and cover a route of over 1,000 kilometers in 6 hours and 35 minutes. The trains run twice daily in each direction. In the summer third train will be added. Ticket prices start from 39 euros. The connection is operated by SNCF.
SNCF International – additional information and online shop
There are regional trains from Port Bou to Perpignan and from Hendaye to Irun (Euskotren).
You can also reach Spain by TGV trains from Paris to Hendaye or Paris to Bordeaux and then by regional train, and then cross the border by the narrow-gauge Euskotren train and continue your journey deeper into Spain by RENFE or Euskotren trains.
Switzerland
Numerous long-distance and regional trains. There are TGV Lyria trains, for which you can buy tickets at a promotional rate, but based ticket prices are very expensive, as well as local trains from Geneva, on which you can travel under the cross-border integrated fare system, including Lemon Pass one-day ticket.
