I printed the names wrong on my friend's TGV train ticket; using the last name twice with no first name. The reply from the company was too bad, buy another one. Do you think it would be possible to use the ticket and explain the problem to the conductor or shouold I just buy the cheapest fare to be safe? It is for the 14th May from Paris to Avignon. Thank you for all your help Fodorites in my trip planning!

By "company" do you mean SNCF or some agency? I suggest you try calling SNCF directly. I've seen two English-speaking numbers listed: (08) 92 35 35 39 and (0)8 92 35 35 37. In either case, dial your country's international access code + 33 (country code for France) + the number. Omit the inital zero which is only used for calls originating in France.

Just curious: why would it matter what name is on the ticket? I can't recall ever being asked for ID on a TGV or any other train unless travelling on a pass. Thanks for any illumination.

I have routinely been asked for a picture ID when traveling with a preprinted PREM ticket.

I'm thinking, though, that explaining it to the conductor will probably suffice, but just to be safe I'd call the SNCF number.

Smarty, Prem's heavily discounted self-printed tickets have the name of the passenger (like airline tkt) and his birthdate. I agree with St.Cirq. The conductor would mostly likely understand. It's not like the ticket has the name of a completely different person. Also the conductor can check with the birthdate. I would do that myself if I were you. But sorry to say this is no 100% garantee.

I wasn't clear,Smarty. Only the person whose name and his birthdate are on it, can use the ticket. Prem's tickets are personal.

Thanks for all the input so far! I e-mailed scnf and it was their reply. It does have the birthdate and i printed it out.

Hi V,

As long as John Brown has his passport and the ticket in the name of Brown Brown, it is highly unlikely that the conductor will require him to purchase another ticket.

Thanks, Kappa, for explanation about why the name would matter.

I recently purchased my TGV tickets for Dijon and it was specific about having the correct name and birth date on it.

Monica

I can't fathom having any problem with that - i guess the worst would be if the conductor made you pay full fare for not having a valid ticket. If a conductor actually would do that to me, i'm afraid what i may do and would probably end up in jail.

You could take your misprinted ticket to a ticket window before the train and explain the situation and see what they say. or a boutique SNCF.

They would probably amend it and stamp it. Or, if you see the wrong person on the wrong day, say "This is void! You have to buy another one!"

Seriously, French people are just as bad at spelling, making typos or following instructions as most other cultures. The SNCF is a slick commercial operation, and they know that it is better to make people happy. They would refuse a ticket marked "John Brown" if your passport says "Osama Bin Laden". If "John Brown" presents a ticket marked "Brown Brown," I would think that they would easily give you the benefit of the doubt.

We travelled Paris to Avignon to Paris with printed prem tickets and the conductor never asked for any identification at all so perhaps you will have the same situation.We did have our passports out but he didn't look at them.

We just returned from France and our first experience using a PREM ticket. I did not realize that the terms of use included showing a picture ID - ooopps~! and we did not have one on us going from Paris to Angers for a daytrip. Our passports were back at the hotel as I had never been asked to show them unless on a train crossing the boarder. Since it had been about 2 months I guess since printing them off I did not remember that unlike any other European rail ticket they do have names on them. Anyway the conductor seemed a bit peeved but did not fine us, thank heavens. Just when I thought I knew the ins and outs of traveling by train in Europe I goofed up again! at least this conductor was not as irate as the Italian agent that got us when we forgot to validate our ticket in the machine - I thought he was going to call the train police on us but he just took awaqy our tickets and we had to purchase another return ticket.

you were lucky. You should always have a picture ID on you when traveling (I"d say anywhere, any time), even if not a passport. I would never ever go anywhere without one myself. If you don't want to carry your passport, why aren't you at leat carrying a photocopy in your wallet of the front page? I always have that on me, even at home. I think this is more than an issue of train travel, but travel in general, and I personally think you should not be traveling around without any ID, and see no reason at all for that, actually. It sounds like you don't intend to change your habits, but you might want to think about that.