Going to Paris May 11 for a week.

Can tickets for a departure at one train station be purchased at any other station? I would think so, but I'd like to know for sure.

Our last time in paris (2007), we took a day trip to Giverny. Because we were a little afraid of buying train tickets at the last minute during rush hour, we bought them the day before at Gare St-Lazare (the departure point to Vernon).

This trip we'll probably go back to Giverny (it was delightful in May), and we'll also take day-trip to Chartres (from Gare Montparnasse) -- our first time there.

Buying the tix at a different station might save us some time (depending on where we were sight-seeing the day before).

Side note: I suspect we can't use ticket machines, because we don't have the smart credit cards.

One other question - If we buy the tix (2nd class) in advance and we miss the train, can we use them on the next train?

Thanks for the info, and if anyone wants to chime in with tips/suggestions regarding these two day-trips, it will be welcomed.

Thanks.
SS

You can buy your tickets at any train station or any SNCF boutique.

Chartres is just a commuter train out of Montparnasse, so those tickets can be used on any train.

Hi ss,

You can buy any ticket at any train station or SNCF boutique.

If you buy a full-fare ticket it is good on any train on the route, EXCEPT for those where seat reservations are required. If you miss that, you have to purchase another seat reservation.

I don't think there is any national train system that exists where you have to go to the station you want to travel from to buy the ticket.

kerouac...

When you say you can buy them at an SNCF boutique, I assume that is a shop, not the kiosk that takes only the smart credit cards...right?

There seems to be one about half-km or so from our hotel (Hotel de Nice on Rue Rivoli in the Marais) -- near the corner of R. Rivoli and R. de Turenne.

SS

Here's a map of SNCF Boutiques. They are ticket offices with real people at ticket counters...

http://preview.tinyurl.com/darr8t

Thanks so much...I did get to see that map earlier, and there is a boutique a few blocks from our hotel.

SS

A SNCF boutique is my first choice. Several ticket agents I dealt with at large stations had attitude issues. The agents at smaller stations were quite helpful.

We have bought tickets on-line Paris/Bayeux return. When we purchased on the SNCF site, no seat assignment was given even when "choose my place" selected. Now, seat selection is being offered for same train/time/date. We will be picking up our tickets in Paris at a boutique several days before we travel. Question: for an additional fee, can we have obtain seat reservations when we pick up our tickets? We realize there will probably be enough seats available, but we are too old to take the chance we may have to stand or sit on the floor. We will leave that to the younger generation.Thank you

Is there a specific reason that you are grafting your question onto an old post from April?

No, just trying to keep posts limited and to the relatively same topic. I am new to this forum and not sure of the "rules" Should I start a new topic?

There's no 'rule' against appending a post onto an old thread if it's on topic, although some prospective respondents might initially be confused by the time differential between the starting of the thread and your post.

I'm not sure why the on-line system didn't assign you a seat: I've just checked and if one clicks on 'choose my place'/choisir ma place' before clicking on the green button labelled Valider cet allee/ validate this journey (or whatever it says on the English version), it then prompts you to specify a general type of seat (e.g, window/fenetre; or aisle/couloir, etc., the default is 'indifferent') - then, once you click on the green 'valider...' button, the system spits out a specific car and seat number in response.

Well, in any case, it seems you don't have an assigned seat but want one. I've never tried to do this. i.e specified a seat reservation 'after the fact' but surely someone has (kerouac?)

If you don't get any other responses in a day or so, try posting a new topic. But it might also be that nobody knows - not that it isn't possible, just that those on forum at this time don't know. Can't hurt to ask at the boutique when you pick up the tix.