France, train schedules.
 

I will be in France in October/November. I can't check train schedules for my travel dates as yet since they are more than 90 days in the future. I can only check schedules through to September this year. Do the schedules change each month or is there a summer and winter timetable? I'm trying to organie my travel dates and book hotels and as I will be travelling around by train it's difficult to finalize things as I have no knowledge of the train schedules on my travel dates.

Thanks.

The normal schedules are available 3 months before any given travel date, not 90 days and there can be a difference. Sometimes the 3 month period varies. iDTGV and Eurostar tickets are available 6 months before any given travel date. You can save money booking iDTGV trains as tickets are first available at 19€ and increase as seats are sold. iDTGV trains do not serve all markets however.

www.idtgv.com

The SNCF will send you notification when tickets go on sale for any city pair that may interest you. Just fill out this simple form and the SNCF will send you either a SMS or email. Using this service, called alerte résa, you will not miss the date tickets become first available.

http://www.voyages-sncf.com/services...te-reservation

Generally, you should use this website to purchase tickets and refer to schedules:

www.capitainetrain.com

There are summer and winter schedules but the differences are usually small. Besides, if you are concerned about booking a hotel, a difference of a half hour or so in the arrival of a train is surely of little importance. Worst case, you arrive early and the hotel holds your bags.

I don't mind a schedule change of 30 mins or so. As far as possible I'm trying to take direct trains. I was worried that a train schedule change might result in a completely different departure time that would impact my sightseeing schedule.

Does Capitaine Train's website accept foreign credit cards and how to I get the actual tickets? Are they send to my email and I need to print them or do I need to pick up the tickets from the station?

Capitaine takes US credit cards, if that is your concern. Not sure about other country's cards.

This site is the bible for train travel. http://www.seat61.com

Tickets sent to email and print the tickets at home for most trains. There may be mobile app too.

There are also trains called "ouigo" and they are available 9 months in advance and are 10€ a ticket. Very limited, not always "downtown" / central station.

Note that some tickets are not refundable and other restrictions in case your plans change.

Ouigo are seats, not separate trains.

<i>Ouigo are seats, not separate trains.</i>

You might be thinking about iDTGV trains which sometimes are attached to regular TGVs but Ouigo are indeed separate trains with special staff and rolling stock adorned in the pink and turquoise Ouigo logos. Most, if not all of the Ouigo trains originate or terminate at Marne la Vallée/Chessy. There are special procedures when checking in and boarding trains, the baggage one carries is strictly limited with a 5€ charge for the second and each subsequent bag.

Ouigo can be a good option for those traveling on a budget.

http://ventes.ouigo.com/search.aspx?culture=en-GB

Oui Oui Ouigo is cheap! But getting to Marne-la-Vallee by RER takes quite a while from most places in Paris.

For lots of good stuff on French trains check www.seat61.com - great info on discounted train tickets; and for general info www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.

and yes with discounted tickets check restrictions on changing or refunding - could be none - dicey if arranging trains upon landing and wanting to take off on the train straight away from CDG Airport.