Getting to and around France by train
There are many possibilities to travel in France by train : here is an overview of them to see clearlier !
Getting to France by train
Map of entire French train network in 2018 (click to this link)
An interactive map of the French train network
Blue = High-speed trains (TGV)
Purple = Local services - can be used by high-speed trains
Green = rail freight - does not take passengers
Train travel time
Some examples of train travel times in France. The last column indicates the time in minutes :
Bicycle transport on European trains
- From Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands: by Thalys
- From Great Britain: by Eurostar
- From Switzerland: by Lyria
- From other countries: by TGV (high-speed train) : see Rail Europe’s website
Getting around France by train
It’s not always that simple to transport a bike by train in France. Apart from the facilities provided along the Loire à Vélo route, elsewhere provision is variable and is generally not suited to dealing with groups.
High-speed trains (TGV):
- The flagship fleet of the SNCF.
- The sleek, speedy TGV trains can whizz you between France’s major cities in superfast time. They’re comfy and stylish too.
Transporting a bike on a TGV is allowed, but you have to pay a fee for the bike (10€), which must be put in a bag.
Download a map of bike-accessible by TGV lines (in French)
Intercités :
- Intercités trains cover fair distances between big cities.
- On certain services, you have to reserve a seat in advance.
You can transport a bike on Intercité trains, you have to reserve a space for your bike (10€); this must be done at the same time as you buy your ticket.
TER (local services):
- TER is the French regional service.
- No seat reservations are required.
- These trains are perfect for budget travellers.
- There are 21 regional networks covering the whole of France.
Most TER trains have dedicated coaches with spaces for bikes that are free of charge. These are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
International overnight/sleeper trains:
- These trains cover long distances.
- On some of them, you have to reserve a seat in advance.
You can transport your bike on certain lines and certain trains have dedicated spaces for bikes.
You have to book for bike transport in advance; this must be done at the same time as you buy your ticket.
YOU CAN FIND FURTHER DETAILED INFORMATIONS:
- On this website, via the tab marked ‘details’ or ‘further details’, describing stages
- On the official SNCF website pages dedicated to bicycles
- On Trainline website