TGV stands for Train à Grande Vitesse, in English this simply means high speed train but in France it is so much more. TGV trains operate to over 230 destinations across France, with connections to neighbouring Germany, Belgium and Switzerland. For more than 20 years TGV has been the favourite travel option of many Europeans with its safe, quick, reliable and comfortable service.
TGV trains operate smoothly and silently at speeds of up to 320kms per hour and with continual upgrades to the lines journey times have reduced and services have become more frequent.
Routes and Travel Times
With its vast network and wide range of journey times: every day, even every hour for certain destinations, there are direct connections with just about every corner of France and into neighbouring countries.
Destinations:
Best Travel Time:
Paris-Lille: 0h58
Paris-Rennes: 2h03
Paris-Lyon: 2h08
Paris-Strasbourg: 2h20
Paris-Bordeaux: 2h59
Paris-Marseille: 3h00
Paris-Montpellier: 3h16
Paris-Nice: 5h28
Paris-Toulouse: 5h12
Number of Services:
Paris-Lille: 6 daily round trips
Paris-Rennes: 19 daily round trips
Paris-Lyon: 21 daily round trips
Paris-Strasbourg: 16 daily round trips
Paris-Bordeaux: 21 daily round trips
Paris-Marseille: 17 daily round trips
Paris-Montpellier: 12 daily round trips
Paris-Nice: 6 daily round trips
Paris-Toulouse: 5 daily round trips
Onboard Services
General Features:
• All trains are non-smoking
• Refurbished interior by C.Lacroix and spacious seating featuring broader and more comfortable seat cushions
• Every ergonomic seat is reclining with comfortable headrest and footrest
• Individual reading lights
• Spacious luggage storage, at eye-sight
• Ambient lighting, softer and natural
First Class:
• A solo seat for peace and privacy.
• 2 adjoining seats or a Club space for working in groups of two or four.
• Power sockets for laptop or mobile phone
• Larger seats, recline electronically
• A space for a person in a wheelchair is available (refer below of more information).
• Taxi reservations can be made on board with the train manager on specific TGV (Lille, Paris - Nantes, Paris - Rennes and Paris - Nice)
Second Class:
• Comfort, convenience
• Access to the bar service.
• The ’’Carré’’ for travelling in groups of four.
Bar TGV:
• The TGV bar has a wide selection of meals and sweet snacks available to satisfy everybody's hunger. Eat at the bar or take them back to your seat.
• The bar and food counter is open for the duration of the journey and can generally be found in coaches 4 and 14
• You will find a variety of food and refreshments to enjoy in the bar car: breakfast cereals, meals, warm and cold dishes, sandwiches, dessert, warm and cold beverages, as well as a children’s menu.
• There is also a selection of DVDs, magazines, games, USB sticks and public transport tickets on sale.
• A range of payment methods are accepted; cards, cheques, different currencies, making life easier!
Cash in euros, Swiss francs and dollars (notes only)
Credit cards for payments of €5 and over (Visa, Eurocard, Mastercard, American Express)
Travelling with young children:
Travelling with a baby, you will more than likely have to change a nappy. TGV is fitted with baby changing facilities complete with changing table. Restaurant staff will be happy to warm up a baby's bottle, jar or meal
There are baby changing facilities in coaches 7 or 17 and 1st Class.
Some trains feature an on board nursery which is equipped with a dressing table and a bottle-warmer, where available these can be found in the 2nd class.
Facilities for disabled travellers:
On all major routes, the TGV have a special coach in 1st class.
This seating is also accessible with a second class ticket. Seating must be requested at time of booking.
Facilities include built-in wheelchair lift, accessible toilet facilities and a Train Manager call button for additional assistance when required.
Luggage:
Take everything you need on board the TGV: each type of luggage has its own special area. For security reasons all luggage must be labelled. The traveller's full name must be legible on every item.
There are special areas for outsize luggage on board the TGV. These are located at the entrance or in the middle of the coaches. If you prefer to keep your bag with you, place it in the luggage rack above your seat.
Hand luggage only is accepted (suitcases, travel bags, rucksacks) on board the TGV. In addition to bags and suitcases, you can also take the following items on board: skis, pushchairs and dismantled cycles in a bike bag, and watersport boards (which must be easy to carry and place in special areas).
Leaving your luggage in left-luggage lockers is a possibility in certain French stations. Prices vary from €4 - €9.50 depending on the station, the size of the locker and the duration. Have small change ready as you can't pay by credit card Please note: lockers may be unavailable for security reasons.
Fares
TGV services can only be booked up to 90 days in advance.
Seat reservations are compulsory and must be booked in conjunction with a ticket or a rail pass.
Validation of the ticket before boarding is mandatory in France only. Travellers will find yellow automatic stamping machines at the entrance of the platform prior to entering the train. If travelling on a return ticket, tickets must be validated on each way.
Fare application:
Adult:
Child: 4-11yrs
Traveller’s ages are based on age at travel departure date
Fare types:
Book Early Fares: Instant purchase
Leisure Fares: Advance purchase recommended
Passholder Fares: Several options available, depending on pass type.
Not all fares options are available on every TGV service.
Passholder fares:
Holders of flexi passes will have to use one day of validity from the pass.
Customers must validate the rail pass prior to boarding the train.
Customers are not allowed to purchase a first class passholder fare with a second class pass.
Passholder fare: are valid for travellers carrying a France Rail Pass, Eurail Global Pass or any other Eurail Pass which includes France.
Exchange/Refund
Exchange and refund policies vary depending on the type of fare purchased
Refunds, when authorised, can only be performed in the country of purchase up to 60 days after the Train Departure Date.
Exchange can only be performed by the issuing office. To exchange a ticket, a new ticket must be issued and the unused one sent back to the issuing office for a refund within the time frame allowed for such refund.
The refund granted on the returned ticket depends on the refund policy of that particular fare.
Tickets have to be endorsed as UNUSED at station.
Check-in and Immigration Procedures
There are no check-in or customs procedures before boarding TGV’s trains.
Ticket control checks will occur on board the train.
To ensure the prompt departure of national and international high-speed trains, all passengers must be aboard at the latest 2 minutes prior to the departure time, after which time access to the train cannot be guaranteed.
Rail Protection Plan
Many rail passes and tickets are non refundable and cannot be reissued, our Rail Protection Plan offers peace of mind knowing that you are financially covered if things do go wrong.
