France By Train

Trains in France are generally comfortable, convenient, and reasonably swift. Second-class compartments, which seat from four to six people, are great places to meet fellow travelers. Trains, however, are not always safe; for safety tips, see Personal Safety, . For long trips, make sure you are on the correct car, as trains sometimes split at crossroads. Towns listed in parentheses on European train schedules require a train switch at the town listed immediately before the parentheses.

You can either buy a railpass, which allows unlimited travel within a region for a given period of time, or rely on buying individual point-to-point tickets as you go. Almost all countries give students or youths (usually defined as anyone under 26) direct discounts on regular domestic rail tickets, and many also sell a student or youth card that provides 20-50% off all fares for up to a year.

Reservations. While seat reservations are required only for selected trains (usually on major lines), you are not guaranteed a seat without one (usually €3-20). You should strongly consider reserving in advance during peak holiday and tourist seasons (at the very latest, a few hours ahead). You will also have to purchase a supplement (€5-15) or special fare for high-speed or high-quality trains, including certain French TGVs. InterRail holders must also purchase supplements (€2-10) for many TGVs; supplements are often unnecessary for Eurail Pass and Europass holders.

Overnight Trains. On night trains, you won’t waste valuable daylight hours traveling and you can avoid the hassle and expense of staying at a hotel. However, drawbacks include discomfort, sleepless nights, the lack of scenery, and, most importantly, safety concerns. Sleeping accommodations on trains differ from country to country, but typically you can either sleep upright in your seat (supplement about €4-6, if not free) or pay for a separate space. Couchettes (berths) typically have four to six seats per compartment (supplement about €10-20 per person); sleepers (beds) in private sleeping cars offer more privacy and comfort but are considerably more expensive (supplement €40-150). If you are using a railpass valid only for a restricted number of days, inspect train schedules to maximize the use of your pass: an overnight train or boat journey often uses up only one of your travel days if it departs after 7pm.

Should You Buy A Railpass? Railpasses were conceived to allow you to jump on any train in Europe, go wherever you want whenever you want, and change your plans at will. In practice, it’s not so simple. You still must stand in line to validate your pass, pay for supplements, and fork over cash for seat and couchette reservations. More importantly, railpasses don’t always pay off. If you plan to spend extensive time on trains hopping between big cities, a railpass will probably be worth it. But in many cases, especially if you are under 26, point-to-point tickets may prove a cheaper option.

You may find it tough to make your railpass pay for itself in France, where train fares are reasonable and distances between destinations are relatively short. If, however, the total cost of your trips nears the price of the pass, the convenience of avoiding ticket lines may be worth the difference.

Eurail Passes. Eurail is valid in France, as well as most of Western Europe, but not valid in the UK. Eurail Global Passes, valid for a consecutive given number of days, are best for those planning to spend extensive time on trains every few days. Global passes valid for any 10 or 15 (not necessarily consecutive) days within a two-month period are more cost-effective for those traveling longer distances less frequently. Eurail Pass Saver provides first-class travel for travelers in groups of two to five (prices are per person). Eurail Pass Youth provides parallel second-class perks for those under 26.

Eurail Global Passes	15 Days	21 Days	1 Month	2 Months	3 Months
Eurail Pass Adult	€503	€653	€810	€1145	€1413
Eurail Pass Saver	€426	€554	€688	€973	€1205
Eurail Pass Youth	€327	€423	€527	€745	€920

Other Global Passes	10 Days In 2 Months	15 Days In 2 Months
Eurail Pass Adult	€594	€781
Eurail Pass Saver	€505	€665
Eurail Pass Youth	€387	€508

Passholders receive a timetable for major routes and a map with details on possible car-rental, hotel, and museum discounts. Passholders often also receive reduced fares or free passage on many bus and private railroad lines.

The Eurail Select Pass is a slimmed-down version of the Eurail Pass: it allows five, six, eight, 10, or 15 days of unlimited travel in any two-month period within three, four, or five bordering countries of 23 European nations. Eurail Select Passes (for individuals) and Eurail Select Pass Saver (for people traveling in groups of two to five) range from €319/270 per person (5 days, 3 countries) to €706/600 (15 days, 5 countries). The Eurail Select Pass Youth (2nd class) costs €207-459. You are entitled to the same freebies afforded by the Eurail Pass, but only when they are within or between countries that you have purchased.

Shopping Around For A Eurail. Eurail Passes are designed by the EU itself and can be bought only by non-Europeans almost exclusively from non-European distributors. These passes must be sold at uniform prices determined by the EU. However, some travel agents tack on a handling fee, and others offer certain bonuses with purchase, so shop around. Also, keep in mind that pass prices usually go up each year, so, if you’re planning to travel early in the year, you can save cash by purchasing before January 1 (you have 6 months from the purchase date to validate your pass in Europe).

It is best to buy your pass before leaving; only a few places in major European cities sell them, and at a marked-up price. You can get a replacement for a lost pass only if you have purchased insurance on it under the Pass Security Plan (€10). Eurail Passes are available through travel agents, student travel agencies like STA , and Rail Europe (Canada ☎800-361-7245, US 888-382-7245; www.raileurope.com) or Flight Centre (US ☎866-967-5351; www.flightcentre.com). It is also possible to buy directly from Eurail’s website, www.eurail.com. Shipping is free to North America, Australia, and New Zealand.

Other Multinational Passes. If your travels will be limited to one area, regional passes are often good values. Eurail offers regional passes to France and Germany, France and Italy, France and Spain, and France and Switzerland. Rail Europe offers all of the above in addition to a France and Benelux pass.

For those who have lived for at least six months in one of the European countries where InterRail Passes are valid, they prove an economical option. The InterRail Pass allows travel within 30 European countries (excluding the passholder’s country of residence). The Global Pass is valid for a given number of days (not necessarily consecutive) within a 10-day to one-month period. (5 days within 10 days adult 1st class €329, adult 2nd class €249, youth 2nd class €159; 10 days within 22 days €489/359/239; 22 days continuous €629/469/309; 1 month continuous €809/599/399.) The One Country Pass limits travel within one European country. Passholders receive free admission to many museums as well as discounts on accommodations, food, and some ferries. Passes are available at www.interrailnet.com as well as from travel agents, at major train stations throughout Europe, and through online vendors (such as www.railpassdirect.co.uk).

Domestic Railpasses

Although Eurail and its brethren are great if you’re spending some time out of France, a railpass on a smaller scale may be what you need for purely domestic travel. A national pass—valid on all rail lines of a country’s rail company—is sometimes more cost-effective than a multinational pass. However, many national passes are limited and don’t provide the free or discounted travel on private railways and ferries that Eurail does. Some of these passes can be bought only in Europe, some only outside of Europe; check with a railpass agent or with national tourist offices.

National Railpasses. The domestic analogs of the Eurail Pass, national railpasses are valid either for a number of consecutive days or for a specific number of days within a given time period. Usually, they must be purchased before you leave. The basic France Railpass (US$278-328) provides travelers with three days of unlimited train travel in one month. The France Saverpass (US$240-279) offers the same perks for people traveling with groups of two or more. Finally, the France Day Railpass (US$115-165) provides travelers with the opportunity to venture from Paris on daytrips to big cities like Lyon or Marseille. Senior and youth passes are also available. For more information on national railpasses, check out www.raileurope.com/us/rail/passes/france_index.htm.

Rail-And-Drive Passes. In addition to simple railpasses, France (as well as Eurail) offers rail-and-drive passes, which combine car rental with rail travel—a good option for travelers who wish both to visit cities accessible by rail and to make side trips into the surrounding areas. Prices range US$348-784, depending on the type of pass, type of car, and number of people included. Additional days cost US$58-142 each (see By Car, ).

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