MorganB's French Rail SNCF Booking guide version 2
Feb 5th, 2007, 12:32 PM
#141
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I'm sure Morgan knows this best, but I've bought PREMs and printed them, and they don't have any barcodes on them. They have a picture of a woman's face on the ticket part, your name and birthdate at the top, and some numbers and things at the bottom. YOu can see that on the website, I guess.
The other ticket is called iDTGV (not igTGV). They don't have those tickets to Arras, so you didn't get one. They only have those to limited cities in the south or SW.
The other ticket is called iDTGV (not igTGV). They don't have those tickets to Arras, so you didn't get one. They only have those to limited cities in the south or SW.
Feb 5th, 2007, 01:10 PM
#142
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Good catch Sue. That FAQ is out of date and now both types of tickets resemble the iDTGV layout. However, only the iDTGV ticket has a barcode. Others do not. Christina describes the regular tickets well. The face can be of a man or a woman.
You are good to go.
You are good to go.
Feb 5th, 2007, 01:44 PM
#143
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Thanks to you both, Christine and MorganB, for the quick response.
I was almost certain we couldn't buy, and indeed hadn't bought, iDTGV tickets for that route, but I was confused since the sheet of paper that emerged from my printer has four rectangles, just like the example iDTGV ticket shown in the link. One of these rectangles shows the actual ticket details with a background showing, among other things, a person's face (a man in the instance of my tix.) You have to turn the sheet of paper 90 degrees to view the face and ticket details. (The fourth rectangle, at bottom left, isn't blank like in the sample iDTGV ticket, but has an advertisement - sigh.)
Anyway, on my tickets, the size of the ticket rectangle is half the <i> length </i> of the page, whereas in the first specimen ticket displayed in Section 2 in the Q and A link (or, for that matter, the ticket shown in the "Les Points a verifier" link) - the ticket spans the full <i> width </i> of the page, and the face is viewed without having to turn the page 90 degrees. Talk about confusing, a 'specimen ticket' that does not, in fact, correspond to what the user will print out!!
It's a great relief to hear that the barcodes aren't necessary. But how does the conductor check the ticket? Obviously not by scanning it...
I was almost certain we couldn't buy, and indeed hadn't bought, iDTGV tickets for that route, but I was confused since the sheet of paper that emerged from my printer has four rectangles, just like the example iDTGV ticket shown in the link. One of these rectangles shows the actual ticket details with a background showing, among other things, a person's face (a man in the instance of my tix.) You have to turn the sheet of paper 90 degrees to view the face and ticket details. (The fourth rectangle, at bottom left, isn't blank like in the sample iDTGV ticket, but has an advertisement - sigh.)
Anyway, on my tickets, the size of the ticket rectangle is half the <i> length </i> of the page, whereas in the first specimen ticket displayed in Section 2 in the Q and A link (or, for that matter, the ticket shown in the "Les Points a verifier" link) - the ticket spans the full <i> width </i> of the page, and the face is viewed without having to turn the page 90 degrees. Talk about confusing, a 'specimen ticket' that does not, in fact, correspond to what the user will print out!!
It's a great relief to hear that the barcodes aren't necessary. But how does the conductor check the ticket? Obviously not by scanning it...
Feb 5th, 2007, 02:03 PM
#144
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Hi again Sue,
He just reads the date of travel, train, car, seat to make sure you are on the right train. He then compares your name and birthdate on the ticket to that of the ID he will ask you to present.
He just reads the date of travel, train, car, seat to make sure you are on the right train. He then compares your name and birthdate on the ticket to that of the ID he will ask you to present.
Feb 11th, 2007, 11:10 PM
#146
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Just to update, I did not validate our printed-out Thalys tickets (they wouldn't have fit in any machine anyway). On the Cologne-Paris leg, the conductor punched the bottom of the paper, but didn't bother looking at our passports. On the Paris-Cologne leg, the conductor neither punched the paper nor looked at our passports. I think they reasonably assume that if no one else has claimed these seats on a full train, most likely the people sitting there who are holding these printed-out tickets are indeed the legitimate "owners" of the seats, but of course a passport check is always possible.
As a side note, Thalys second class was fine, but there is not a great deal of legroom, nor are the aisles particularly spacious. So I'd rate the experience as more comfortable than flying a budget flight, but not extremely so.
As a side note, Thalys second class was fine, but there is not a great deal of legroom, nor are the aisles particularly spacious. So I'd rate the experience as more comfortable than flying a budget flight, but not extremely so.
Feb 15th, 2007, 03:35 AM
#148
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WillTravel: Thanks for the update. Is good to hear back from fellow travelers. It adds to the usefulness of the thread. Glad your travels went smoothly.
RandyM. Thanks very much. Glad you find the thread helpful.
RandyM. Thanks very much. Glad you find the thread helpful.
Feb 15th, 2007, 04:34 PM
#149
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I don't know if this has been asked, but do we have to order the tickets ahead of time, or can we get them the day of travel at the station? Will be traveling from Paris to Avignon on May 13, 2007. Thanks--
Feb 15th, 2007, 10:53 PM
#150
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You can get them the day of travel assuming your dates dont fall on a french holiday. However, to get a much cheaper price is best to book ahead. 90 days for classic TGV or 6 months for iDTGV. Select Avignon TGV as your destination. You will then transfer via shuttle to down town. There are a few train that go straight to the historic center but they take MUCH longer than the TGV station.
I am seeing 39 to 59 euros for coach and 45 to 75 euros for first depending on your date of travel. Just depends on what train you select.
I am seeing 39 to 59 euros for coach and 45 to 75 euros for first depending on your date of travel. Just depends on what train you select.
Feb 16th, 2007, 02:38 PM
#151
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MorganB - I am trying to book train tickets from Rennes to Paris on 5-5-07. I know I can book them 90 days out and that is supposed to be the best price. However, they are quoting 82E for two tickets at the time we want to travel. (our rental car has to be turned in at 10 am, and I don't know what we'd do with our luggage if we traveled later in the day - unless there are lockers in the station?) Later in the day the tickets are 64E for two. Do you think these 82E will go any lower, or should I book them before they're gone?
Feb 16th, 2007, 04:44 PM
#152
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> Do you think these 82E will go any lower, or should I book them before they're gone?
They can't "go lower"- there is a certain number of seats for a certain fare, when these are sold next fare step applies... and so on until only the full-price tickets remain.
They can't "go lower"- there is a certain number of seats for a certain fare, when these are sold next fare step applies... and so on until only the full-price tickets remain.
Feb 17th, 2007, 05:00 AM
#154
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Today is the first day I can book a ticket on May 18. I'm trying to reserve a seat from Lille to Paris mid-day on the TGV. The SNCF site is telling me there is only one train running that day, at 6:30 in the evening. On all other days, they have them going almost every hour. Is there a chance they will add more trains to the booking site later? I can't see any reason for the curtailed schedule except that the day before, May 17 is Ascension Day.
Feb 17th, 2007, 10:56 PM
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Thanks MorganB for your fabulous advice. We managed to book and print tickets for our trip in April from Canada with no problem at all. One question, when you print on 8 1/2 x 11 paper, the ticket prints out a bit smaller than if you had used the European paper. The info is all there, and is legible. Just wondered if they have any trouble scanning it when it is printed at 95% full size.
Feb 17th, 2007, 11:31 PM
#160
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Hi westcoaster, glad you got your tickets purchased! Dont worry about the paper size, you can substitute letter size paper for A4 and the tickets still work fine. Have a great trip!
