Venir en France en train
De nombreux trains de jour ou/et de nuit relient la France aux principales villes en Europe. Pour organiser votre voyage en train ou faire vos réservations, vous pouvez consulter le site francophone de la SNCF, Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer.
Si vous êtes à l'étranger, le site multilingue dédié au Train à Grande Vitesse vous renseignera sur les lignes existantes. Eurail propose des "pass" pour voyager à travers l'Europe.
Si vous visitez plusieurs pays en Europe, voici les solutions :
- Venir en train depuis la Grande-Bretagne : Eurostar est le train à grande vitesse qui vous emmène de Grande-Bretagne vers la France. Il relie Paris, Lille et Calais à Londres, Ashford (Kent) et Ebbsfleet (Kent), en empruntant le tunnel sous la Manche (Paris-Londres en 2h35).
- Venir en train depuis les Pays-Bas et la Belgique : Thalys assure vers Paris, jusqu'à 25 trains par jour depuis Bruxelles, en Belgique, et propose des liaisons directes vers Paris depuis Anvers, Gand, Bruges, Oostende ou Amsterdam, aux Pays-Bas ou Cologne et Düsseldorf en Allemagne (Paris-Bruxelles en 1h20).
- Venir en train depuis l'Allemagne : depuis Francfort-sur-le Main, Stuttgart et Munich, en Allemagne, le TGV Est ou l'ICE 3 proposent des liaisons vers Paris et Strasbourg via la SNCF ou la Deutsche Bahn.
- Venir en train depuis la Suisse : Le Mont-Blanc Express relie la Suisse et la France, tout comme le TGV Lyria.
- Venir en train depuis l'Italie : l'Artesia propose des trains à grande vitesse et des trains de nuits au départ notamment de Rome, Florence, Venise, Milan et Turin en Italie vers la France, Lyon, Paris…
- Venir en train depuis l'Espagne : l'Elipsos relie l'Espagne, Barcelone et Madrid, à Paris avec des arrêts à Perpignan et Limoges ou Poitiers et Blois.
- Venir en France avec le nouvel Orient Express : un train de luxe, géré par la compagnie russe RZD, relie Moscou à Nice à partir pour un voyage de 48 heures à travers l'Europe.
Coming to France by train
Taking the train is a fast, often comfortable and relatively cheap way to travel in France. Yes, there are strikes, but not all the time, and all in all, taking the train is quite reliable.
I will be writing several lessons on this subject: tips to feel prepared when you travel by train, easy learn French in context story with English/French side by side translations and even a useful questions and answers lessons.
- Un voyageur – a traveler
- La gare – the station (watch out for the pronunciation – gAr, not gayr which is “la guerre": war)
- Un billet – a ticket
- Un guichet – a booth
- Une salle d’attente – waiting area
- Un panneau d’information – information display
- Le départ – departure
- L’arrivée - arrivals
- La seconde classe, la première classe – 2nd and 1st class
- Un aller simple – one way
- Un aller-retour – round trip
- Une place (assise) – a seat
- Une place duo – 2 seats next to each other
- Un carré – 4 seats, separated in 2 rows facing each other
- Une réservation – booking
- Voyager dans le sens du train – to be facing towards where the train is going
- Un billet remboursable – refundable ticket
- Un billet échangeable – exchangeable ticket
- Un train direct – direct train
- Une correspondance – transfer
- Un changement – transfer
- Le quai – the platform
- Le passage souterrain – the underground pass
- Le rail, la voie – the track (rail is pronounced like "rye" in English)
- La voiture, le wagon (v sound) – the car
- Le bar – the snack car
- Un contrôleur – a controller
Ticket prices vary according to the level of comfort (there are 2 classes) and departure time (rush hour or not). There are many attractive price options reserved for foreign travellers (Inter-Rail.), which can be obtained from your country of origin before you leave.
Information, reservations
Voyages-sncf.com is your European rail expert.
Trains from London to Paris, onward connections throughout France and rail passes can be booked via their website or call centre.
Voyages-sncf.com
Tel: 0844 848 5 848
(calls to 0844 numbers cost 7p per minute plus the phone company's access charge)
International Rail
Tel: 08700 841 410
www.internationalrail.com
Eurostar's ultra modern, high-speed service travels from London St Pancras International or Ebbsfleet International in Kent direct to Paris or Lille. Eurostar also offers direct services to Disneyland Paris and to the French Alps. Certain services also serve Ashford International in Kent and Calais-Fréthun.
Eurostar Plus
Take Eurostar to Paris, Lille, Lyon Avignon and Marseille and simply connect onto the TGV, France's high-speed rail network. In most cases, you only need to make one simple change of train. You will arrive in the heart of your chosen destination, feeling fresh, relaxed and ready to enjoy your stay. It's simple, it's speedy - it's the smart way to travel! If you live in London, read this article.
Eurotunnel
The Eurotunnel is the fastest cross Channel operator, taking only 35mins to cross the Channel. This option allows you to arrive in France by train with your car, giving you the freedom to explore France at your own pace and in the comfort of your own car. The Eurotunnel train operates between Folkestone (UK) and Calais (FR).
High-speed train (TGV)
With an average speed of 300km per hour, the TGV is one of France's technological pride and joy. Safe, punctual and comfortable, it allows travel to city centres in record times: Paris-Lille in 1 hour, Paris-Marseilles or Paris-Bordeaux in 3 hours (until Summer 2017), Paris-Rennes in 2 hours. Please note that booking is obligatory, even if it is just before departure time.
To find out everything about the high-speed train network:
TGV or Voyages-sncf.com.
InterRail
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. Visitors to France can purchase an InterRail France Pass priced from £180 for adults. The key benefits of the pass are: the ability to choose dates of travel within 1 month, staying in one countryfor the Country Pass, or, for the Global Pass Unlimited 1st or 2nd-class travel within a month between 30 European countries. Special discounted fares are available on Eurostar services from London or Ashford to Paris or Lille, refer to the availability of fares in advance of expected travel.
Bonus discounts on local museums and other attractions are also available, refer to information from InterRail for current deals on offer.
Autotrain
Enjoy the experience of taking your own car on holiday - without the bother of driving it there. The easiest way to take your car to multiple destinations across France at any time of year is by AutoTrain. Drive to Paris, put your car on the overnight car carrying train and then you follow on. Travel by day or overnight on a separate passenger train where you can relax in a choice of couchette or sleeper accommodation. Then simply collect your car when you get there – no tiring drive, expensive tolls, or wear and tear on the car. Services operate to Avignon, Bordeaux, Brive, Fréjus/St Raphaël, Lyon, Marseille, Narbonne, Nice, Toulon and Toulouse
Booking and information:
SNCF
Tel: 0033 892 35 35 35 (calls charged at 5p per minute)
An £8.00 fee per booking will apply.
After arrival
Once you have arrived in France, there is an extensive network of trains to help you get to your next destination, run by SNCF. If arriving into Paris, your connecting train may depart from a different station. There are 5 main train stations in Paris (Gare du Nord, Gare de l'Est, Gare de Lyon, Gare d'Austerlitz and Gare Montparnasse) each of which can be easily found on the Paris Métro or RER network.
Please note
You must always validate your ticket before getting onto your train (yellow or orange ticket punching machines situated at the end of the platforms). If it has not been done, advise the ticket inspector straight away, so that you may be able to avoid fine!