Purchasing train tickets.
 

Is it possible to buy a train ticket for travel from Gare d'la Est to Baden Baden at the Gare Montparnasse train station a couple days prior to travel date? Or do I have to purchase the ticket at Gare d'la Est?

You can purchase any ticket at any SNCF rail station or boutique. There is no reason you have to go to the Garde de l'Est.

If by any chance you'll be in Paris 8 days before your trip, buy your ticket then - there are discounts for tickets purchased 8 or more days in advance.

Thanks so much, StCirq. Unfortunately, we arrive on Sat and leave the following Sat.

Sorry - that should have been Gare de l'Est, not Garde....

You can also purchase tickets online ahead of time, but you'll still have to go to a train station or boutique to pick them up.

I'm trying to follow any threads that discuss buying SNCF train tickets in advance and printing them out on your home pc.
Are there routes or times that you are not allowed this option? iow, is the itinerary irish is asking about not one that can be purchased online -and- printed on home pc?

Poor spelling on my part,too!! We want a one-way,point-to-point ticket which I am sure we can purchase once we get to Paris. Nice to know that can be done closer to our apartment in the 15th e.

Travelnut: I've never purchased train tickets from France to a foreign country on the SNCF site, so I can't answer your question.As far as I know, irish's route is one that can be purchased on line and picked up at a station in France, as with any other ticket.

Hi all,

You can purchase your tickets up to 60 days in advance on www.sncf.com for travel within France or travel originating in France or even for travel ending in France.

In the US, leave the place where you will pick up your tickets as France. You will be given a confirmation number. Being this number and the same credit card used for the booking to any train station or SNCF boutique and get your tickets.

Not all tickets can be printed on your home computer. If it can be printed at home, the computer will tell you.

OK... I think I 'tested' buying a Thalys ticket on the SNCF website, for travel from Amsterdam to Paris, and it had the 'print ticket' option.

Also, do you know if the Dutch and Belgian conductors who check the Thalys tickets will have no issue with home-printed tickets?

It just sounds too easy!

Hey trav,

It's the 21st century.

Ha ha..!! I am an 'old dog' but willing to try new tricks. Thanks!