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Information about rail companies going to, and operating in France - Day-tripper.net the web magazine for visitors to France.

Rail travel in France (Rail travel in Europe)

Links and telephone numbers for French rail companies and agencies.

Here are some useful links direct to rail companies concerned with France. Bear in mind that you can generally book up to 3 months in advance.

There are three main rail companies in France; SNCF is the national train service, TER SNCF is the regional French rail system, and TGV is the fast train network. In Paris, there is the Transilien service, operated by SNCF.

Rail Europe is the U.K. subsidiary of SNCF French Railways, and are the U.K.’s leading supplier of rail travel into France and Europe, whether a short break in Paris, a fortnight in Venice, or a month backpacking across Europe. A number of companies handle TGV services. They are: Eurostar, Eurostar Ski Train, Eurostar Direct Avignon, Elipsos (Spain), TGV Lyria (Switzerland), Thalys (Brussels & Amsterdam), and the TGV (France).

Eurostar - Ski Train from St Pancras and Ashford. The weekly direct train service to Aimé la Plagne, Bourg-St-Maurice and Moutiers runs from December 19th 2009 to April 17th 2010 this season. More

2009 Good news! Eurostar are keeping their lead in fares at £59 (to Paris, Disneyland, and Belgium). You will need to book up to four months in advance or travel mid week to get this fare though.

Rail Europe is also the official site for all the European rail companies.

A very good site which explains in useful detail everything a rail traveller in Europe needs to know is Seat61.com

Rail Europe and Motorail - Foot Passengers - Eurostar to Paris - Eurotunnel - Buses and trains to airports

Eurostar with hotel

Book a ferry to France

OFFER 1 - Cheapest ferry fares Dover to Calais with P O Ferry. Daytrips only £25 on Day-tripper.net. Car and up to 9 people.

OFFER 2 - Brittany Ferries Offer. Daytrip from £65 (£25 a car plus £25 per passenger, minimum two people)

OFFER 3 - DFDS Seaways Ferries. Mini cruise breaks to Amsterdam from Newcastle. Great deals available.

OFFER 4 - PO Ferries, Hull 2 for 1 mini cruise

Direct Booking links

Transmanche Ferries Dieppe	LD Lines Ferry Boulogne	Transeuropa Ferries
Norfolkline Dover to Dunkirk
		DFDS Ferries Newcastle
Eurostar to Paris

Book a Hotel in France, Belgium and Europe

Useful outside links

Europe Rail Passes

You can often save money with a rail pass. Europe wide consider the Inter-rail pass or the Euro Domino Pass. In France they have cards that give reductions of 25 to 50% on normal fares. Examples you may want to consider include; Senior Card, Child Plus Card, Youth Card, Discovery for Two Card, Séjour (return 200km, must include a Saturday night), J8 (if you reserve from 2 months to 8 days before), and the J30 (if you reserve from 2 months to 30 days before). They can run from 3 to 9 days for travel taken within one month.

Inter Rail passes allow unlimited travel for a month through 27 European countries (and Morocco), but does not include your home country. Consider a regional pass if you can as its much cheaper. There are supplements for all 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 .

Benelux Pass - The Benelux pass gives 5 days of unlimited rail travel throughout the Netherlands, Belgium & the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Your travel days do not need to be consecutive but can be used at any time within a one month period giving you plenty of time to explore.

Independent agents

- European Rail. This company specialises in tickets to the continent and can arrange rail based packages. Tel: 020 7619 1083. www.europeanrail.com

- French Travel Service. Long standing British travel agent specialising in French rail travel and breaks. Tel: 0844 84 888 43. www.f-t-s.co.uk

- International Rail. An agent which offers rail tickets throuout the world. www.internationalrail.com

European Rail Passes. 1) Inter Rail, the best way to explore Europe. It's great value for money too, starting from as little as £10 a day! 2) Benelux Rail Pass. Covers Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. 3) Swiss Rail Pass.

InterRail Pass. The InterRail Pass has always been the perfect companion to anyone exploring Europe as it provides a fun and economical way to see all that Europe has to offer. The key benefits of the pass are: Ability to choose dates of travel with 1 month for Country Passes. Choice of a Flexi Pass or a Consecutive Pass for the Global Pass Unlimited 1st or 2nd-class travel in 1 or ALL-30 countries. Special discounted fares on Eurostar from London or Ashford to Paris, Lille or Brussels. Bonus discounts on local museums and other attractions.

- Rail Bookers. Specialises in rail breaks and classic journeys. Tel: 0870 458 9080 (U.K.). www.railbookers.com

- Treyn Holidays, escorted rail holidays. Tel: 01904 73 49 39. www.treynholidays.co.uk

More about travel passes in France

French Rail

- 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

- RATP French Railway company. Tel: 0033 1 4468 2020. Local bus, metro and railway services in and around Paris. www.ratp.fr

Paris Metro map. www.ratp.info/orienter/cv/carteparis.php

- The U.K. 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.

- SNCF / TER French Railways. The SNCF is divided into five systems (East, North, West, Southeast and Southwest), and provides transportation within France's 22 regions. More about SNCF and to book a fare. www.sncf.fr

SNCF offer many different types of trains. If you are going to make extensive use of the train, familiarize yourself with the different names and their meanings.

- 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. More about TGV trains in France and Europe. BOOK a FARE

- French Motorail. Calais to Brive, Toulouse, Narbonne, Avignon and Nice.

TGV (Trains a Grande Vitesse) - High speed trains in France

Travelling by TGV in France is quick and easy, and you can start your journey in the U.K. By TGV you can travel from Paris to Lyon in 1 hour and 55 minutes.

Ski Trains

Belgium

- Belgium Railways. www.b-rail.be

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