Has anyone taken this train fm Paris to Aix; how was it and what was the cost please?

That's a Japanese term for their trains, they don't call them that in France.

I've taken a TGV from Paris to Avignon or Marseille or that general area. It's fine, it's a high-speed train, not sure what you want to know. It is quick and comfortable.

The cost varies tremendously depending on dates, any special discounts you might get and tickets that can vary if bought and paid in advance, that are not refundable, and lots of other things. It can probably range from around 25 euro to 125 euro, second class.

TY Christina. I just figured out TGV is tres grand vitesse, oui? I'm returning to Paris(Sept9-Oct12) after many years and am so excited. A friend who's coming to share the costs of apt. wants to go "somewhere." I thought of Aix after reading that the trip can be 3 hrs on TVG. I suppose we could go/come in one day....hate to pay for hotel w/ the grostesque price of apt!
My son lives in Old Town and I'm coming there 2 days early and flying out on Air France.....ooooo la la!
Do you know if I can buy telecarte at CDG?
Merci, js

> I just figured out TGV is tres grand vitesse ..

Almost. That's Train à Grande Vitesse.

Unless you score deep discounted PREM fares at www.voyages-sncf.com and get those 39 euro or so fares each way - still 80 euros or $120 or so then if not you'll pay probably $100 each way - so when those PREM fares comes on 90 days in advance hop on them - limited in number and non-refundable, non-changeable i believe.

The lowest possible fare is 19€ one way. If you are not traveling in mid-summer or during the Christmas holidays, this obsession with booking at midnight 90 days ahead of time is kind of ridiculous. I normally book a month ahead of time out of season and am perfectly satisfied with the available fares.

Aix has two train stations. Slow trains go to the Gare centre. TGV trains go to the shiny, sprawling new Aix-en-Provence TGV station which is half way between Aix and Marseilles. That's about 15 minutes from Aix by shuttle bus (a "navette"). Be sure to specify which station you want when looking for information on the Internet.
A search on this site will turn up a bushel of advice about buying TGV tickets. These are the top points:
1.) The earlier you buy on-line, the cheaper the ticket may be.
2.) Use the site www.tgv-europe.com to shop in English.
3.) If you are in the United States, the official railroad sites will shuffle you off to RailEurope, which could cost you extra. Instead, tell tgv-europe.com that you are in the United Kingdom or Canada so you can deal directly with the rail company. You don't actually have to be in those foreign lands to order the tickets.
4.)Sometimes you can print your reserved tickets at home; otherwise you can take the reservations to any SNCF station or boutique to pick up the actual tickets.
5.) Once you reach France, your American credit card probably will not work in the kiosk ticket machines -- these gizmos demand a card with a chip. No problem: Just go to a sales agent with your print-outs and card. Drawback: You may wait in line.
5.) Good train info at http://www.seat61.com and http://parisbytrain.com/tgv-tickets/
6.) Most important: The TGVs can take your breath away with their speed and elegance. And yes, second class beats many first-class services elsewhere. But pack your own meal if you can't stand a three-hour ride without sustenance, since food and drink are pricey.

Hi KY,

You might also consider the TGV to Nancy or Strasbourg - about 2 hr.

Definitely look for Prems at www.voyages-sncf.com

> 6.) Most important: The TGVs can take your breath away with their speed and elegance. And yes, second class beats many first-class services elsewhere.

Really ? Trains elswhere that bad ? Actually I do think TGV is ok for a means of a quick transportation for a long distance travel from one point to another, not much more than that. And 2nd class seat is a bit tight. For a comparison, I was used to those tight TGV 2nd class seats and then once took a Catalan Talgo direct train Geneva - Barcelona 2nd class. I was so suprised of the large seat. This is a long time ago and this train does not exist any longer though.

> this obsession with booking at midnight 90 days ahead of time is kind of ridiculous. I normally book a month ahead of time out of season and am perfectly satisfied with the available fares.

That depends on the lines I guess. Since we are talking about PAR - AIX, you may be right. However, just for the record, with the routes I take a few times a year, especially GVA - PAR and GVA - Marseille, actually booking extactly 3 months (for me it's 3 months and not 90 days) ahead is important. Also I don't want to travel in the middle of the day and lose holiday time, so my prefered timing is typically dep. in early morning and return in late evening, this makes me not so flexible. It happens one of the trains I want to take have no bottom price Prem's nor Piccolissiomo fares available already a few days after the 3-months day.

Forgot to say, about my finding TGV 2nd cls seats rather tight, I’m not large nor tall being 173cm / 70 kg