TGV (Trains a Grande Vitesse) rail travel in France and Europe

Tips

When buying Rail passes, bear in mind that many charge a supplement for high speed services. www.raileurope.co.uk.

Eurodomino passes are flexible passes allowing unlimited travel in the relevant country for between three and eight days in a one month period. High speed trains are normally included in the price, but do not include seat reservations. www.raileurope.co.uk.

More about travel passes in France

French TGV trains

- Eurostar. Travel from London to Paris, Brussels, Lille and most major cities in France. Tel: 08705 186 186. Bus and coach transfers to ski stations

- TGV French Railways. With the TGV (train à grande vitesse) once you get to Lille, you can travel onto many other towns and cities in France and Europe.

Belgian TGV train - Thalys

- The Thalys train (high speed) travels ro Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg, between Brussels, Paris, Cologne and Amsterdam. Travel from Paris to Amsterdam in just 4 hours 15 minutes. www.thalys.com

Rail Europe - the approved agent for European TGV train fares

 - Rail Europe. The United Kingdom subsidiary of SNCF). For rail travel in France including Eurostar and the TGV.

TIP; Buy a France Railpass

or a France Youthpass

giving you the option of travel on any three to nine days within a one month period. You can stop where you like, it is valid on all trains on the national network including TGV's. Rail Europe.

Other European TGV companies

Eurostar. United Kingdom, France and Belgium. Services include; Eurostar, Eurostar Ski Train, Eurostar Direct Avignon. London and Ashford to Calais Fréthun, Lille, Brussels and Paris.

TGV. France. Extensive network in France. Generally originating from Paris.

TGV Est European. Links 20 city centre stations in the North East of France, and a dozen cross border destinations (Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland).

TGV Lyria. France to Switzerland.

- TGV Lyria. You can now book through Eurostar for direct journeys to Swiss destinations. www.tgv-lyria.com

France to Switzerland. Paris Gare de l'Est to Basel via Strasbourg, Comar, and Mulhouse, and on to Zurich. Paris Gare de Lyon to Geneva via Macon, Bourge en Bresse, Bellegarde. Paris Gare de Lyon to Lausanne via Dijon, Dole, Mouchard, Frasne and Vallorbe, and (2) to Bern, via Dijon, Frasne, Pontarlier and Neuchatel. France to Italy.

- Thello Night train. This service use to be called Artesia (ended December 2011). This service provides day and night connections between Italy and France. www.thello.com

Elipsos AVE (Spain). From Madrid to Cordoba and Seville.

- Elipsos. www.elipsos.com

Thalys. Linking 17 major cities in France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. Brussels to Paris and Antwerp, to Cologne, to Amsterdam.

InterCityExpress - ICE. Between Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium and France.

European Rail Companies

French TGV stations

London St Pancras and Ashford to Calais Frethun, Lille, Roissy CDG, Paris.

Gare du Nord - TGV Thalys trains to Belgium, the Netherlands, and Cologne, TGV trains to Northern France (and RER trains to Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport). TGV Nord - Haute-Picardie (Amiens), Arras, Calais, Lille. TGV Est - Lorraine (near Metz), Meuse, Reims.

Gare de l'Est - TGV trains to Alsace, Strasbourg, Luxembourg, Germany (Frankfurt, Karlsruhe, Stuttgart, Munich), and Switzerland (Basel, Zurich). TGV Interconnexion Est - Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, Marne la Vallée.

Gare de Lyon - TGV trains to Southeastern France (Lyon, Provence, French Alps), Italy, and Switzerland (Geneva, Lausanne, and Bern). TGV Rhône-Alpes - Lyon Airport St Exupéry, Belfort - Montbéliard, Besancon. TGV Sud-Est - Le Creusot, Lyon, Macon-Loché.

Gare de Montparnasse - TGV trains to Southwestern France. TGV Atlantique - Massy, Tours, Vendôme.

From Valence. TGV Méditerranée - Aix en Provence, Avignon, Valence.

Aix en Provence (Marseilles), Angers, Angoulême, Arras, Avignon, Belfort, Besancon, Brest, Calais, Dijon, Haute-Picardie (Amiens), La Rochelle, Le Creusot, Lille, Lorraine, Lyon, Macon-Loché, Marne la Vallée, Massy, Meuse, Montpellier, Nancy, Nantes, Nice, Nîmes, Paris, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, Perpignan, Reims, Rennes, Strasbourg, Toulon, Toulouse-Matabiau, Tours, Valence and Vendôme.

Transfers between Gare du Nord and Gare de l'Est are easiest on foot. Gare de Lyon (adjacent to Gare de Bercy) and Gare d'Austerlitz are also close to each other but on different banks of the Seine. Transfers between other stations are best done by metro, RER trains, or bus.

More about the TGV and to book a fare

Ski Trains

The Snowtrain usually runs every year during the ski season. However it will not be running in 2010/11 - more information about ski trains and the Eurostar skitrain (still running).

Tariffs and fares

These tickets offer a 25% discount - Enfant Plus (If you are with a child under 12), 12 - 25 (for young people between 12 - 26), Senior (60 years plus), à deux (return journeys for 2 - 9 people travelling together), Séjour (return 200km, must include a Saturday night), J8 (if you reserve from 2 months to 8 days before), J30 (if you reserve from 2 months to 30 days before).

Maps for train routes

For TGV routes, try the Institut Géographique National map 912 "La France en Train".

Useful Outside links

- Protect my Holiday. This company offers insolvency cover. www.protectmyholiday.com

SNCF French railways. The co.uk website is run by Rail Europe, the official United Kingdom agent. www.sncf.co.uk

Trains times - departures and arrivals from French stations. www.gares-en-mouvement.com

Rail Europe. www.raileurope.co.uk

Seat 61 - a personal site with useful information. www.seat61.com

- Train Pain. Mostly United Kingdom but worth a look at. www.trainpain.com

- Say NO to 0870. www.saynoto0870.com