We are three sisters who are making our third trip to France in May. In 2007 we used the SNCF website to book tickets from Paris to Reims and also from Lyon to Paris. We found out about PREM fares on this forum and were able to print out our tickets at home. Last night I attempted to book tickets from Paris to Beaune the same way. I was able to make the booking but was told that I had to go to a ticket machine at an SNCF station to print out the tickets. This must be done within the next 8 days or the confirmation is cancelled. As I live in Canada and won't be in France until May 13 (when we need to take this train) is there any way around this? There did not seem to be the option of printing these tickets at home. I was using the English conversion page that I found on this forum as well. Otherwise, if you try to change the language to English, the website switches to RailEurope. Also, I now notice that the PREM rates are gone for Paris to Beaune---I was warned that these were the last of the low fares before I booked them. There doesn't appear to be a contact email for this site to help resolve any questions. Can someone help us?

Have you paid for the tickets? If you pay for the ticket, you should be able to print the ticket at any time before boarding the train. The machines at the stations need the credit card you used to buy the tickets.

After you made the reservation, did you pay for the tickets? The reference to the machine leads me to believe the tickets have not yet been paid. Do you have a reservation number? If so, make an inquiry reference to this number and confirm your ticket status.

At 7:05 PM EDT March 11, I purchased tickets for June 12 TGV from CDG airport to Bordeaux on a Friday afternoon. This was 5 mins after the tickets first became available for that travel date (June 12). There were no PREMS available, which leads me to believe that not all trains offer PREMs. They were available on the same train for travel on June 10. I assume that Friday afternoon is a heavy commute time.

There were three options for obtaining tickets:
1. At a machine
2. mail
3. Pick them up at a SNCF boutique or train station

There was no option for printing them on-line, like I have done in the past.

Our US Credit Cards will not work in the French machines - this was actually mentioned on the SNCF web site, where it discussed these 3 options in more detail

I did not see any reference to the 8 day window.

We choose to pick them up at the train station.

We used the French site (wife speaks French).

There is a SNCF telephone number where they speak English. I have a 6 year old listing, and then it was 33(France) 8 92 35 35 39. In case this number does not work now, within the last month there was a post about the number to call.

Stu Dudley

If all else fails you can call SNCF 7:00 am to 10:00 pm, their time. Right now Paris is 5 hours later than US east coast. To make it cheaper dial 1010987 or similar first. The number from the US is 011 33 8 92 35 35 39. You should be given a choice of French or English.

I don't know why you weren't given the option to print a Prems ticket. Or to pick it up at a station. It does sound like you only have an unconfirmed reservation and have not yet paid for the ticket.

BTW I just checked and saw several Prems fares at 23.70 euros still available for May 13 depending on the time.

Good luck!

Sorry, I just noticed that you said you are in Canada so I don't know if that cheap long distance number will work for you but I imagine you have something similar.

It was my understanding that only PREM fares can be printed at home. As these are non refundable nor changeable, printing several copies, using one for travel and submitting another or a refund is not possible.

Sarastro

I think you are correct. Very clever thinking on your part......

Stu Dudley

Hi deb,

I found the 23E PREMS fare for the 10:28 and 11:24 trains via Dijon for May 13.

It doesn't permit online printing because the Dijon/Beaune portion is not a REMS.

I suggest that you purchase the 17E PREMS fare for Paris/Dijon online and buy your ticket to Beaune when you get to Dijon.

PS,

You have made a booking, but haven't paid for the ticket.

That booking will expire if you do nothing.

Have you tried cancelling it?

stu
can you pick up the tickets at a train station if you pay with a US credit card? i read your post that you cannot pick them up at a machine.

yep - but you must present the ticket agent with the same credit card you used to purchase the tickets. You may need another source of identification with your picture on it - like a passport.

Stu Dudley

Thanks for your advice. I ended up leaving my ticket confirmation to expire---I hadn't given my credit card info so I knew I hadn't paid for them. I then rebooked---had to pay a little more--on the French SNCF site with the help of a French-speaking colleague so I was able to print out my tickets at home.

Good for you, deb