Ready to purchase rail tickets for a couple of train trips in France. In at least one case, I won't be able to print tickets and will need to pick them up at train station. I've heard that the automatic ticket machines will only except credit cards with chips. Not sure I believe this but want confirmation.

And what is meant by Gare ou boutique?

Thanks

>>ticket machines will only except credit cards with chips. Not sure I believe this but want confirmation. <<

Chip & PIN cards are required for many machines. Chip & Signature cards (which are what some US banks issue) will work in a few. But in general if you have a US-issued credit card whether it is magnetic strip or Chip & Signature - you will usually have to collect your tickets from a staffed window since they can process non-Chip & PIN cards.

If you're using you CC to collect the tickets, it shouldn't be a problem. If it is, then you can pick up your tickets at any of the SNCF stores in France.

Gare ou boutique means the train station or one of the SNCG shops.

Why not simply print them off once you've paid for them?

That should be "one of the SNCF shops".

You go to a train station window or a boutique to get your tickets if your card doesn't work.

Gare = train station
Boutique = SNCF store

Thanks for the comments. With a little more research I located two SNCF boutiques near my hotel.

You can safely select the self-service automatic machine option at www.voyages-sncf.com or www.capitainetrain.com without a chip n PIN card.

You then simply collect from the staffed counter instead.

Thanks, I did realize one could do that but, IME, lines can be long at the larger train stations. I think the SNCF boutiques might be the answer.

yes, I think the lines are shorter there.