I would like to mention that "out of high season" there is absolutely no need to worry about booking three months in advance.

Just the other day I booked a round trip from Paris to Zurich for 3 weeks from now for 49€ in each direction. Yes, I know that 3 months ahead of time those tickets would have cost only 39€ on certain trains, but I don't always like to plan my travel that far ahead of time unless it is for a specific event like the Avignon festival.

SNCF will happily arrange your handicapped services even if you bought your tickets from Capitainetrain.

kerouac and I have a slightly different take on the issue of how far in advance to purchase rail tickets. If my plans are firm and I know the date I need to travel, I see no reason not to purchase as soon as tickets for that date are available. The prices, in my experience, never go down after sales open, and sometimes rise substantially.

SNCF will notify you by email when sales open for your date of travel. Just fill out the form on this page with your departure city, arrival city, date of travel and your email address:
http://www.voyages-sncf.com/services...te-reservation

You will then be notified the day prior to ticket sales opening for both TGV and iDTGV trains (which can go on sale earlier than TGV and are sometimes somewhat less expensive).

You can then go to the SNCF site or to capitainetrain to purchase tickets when you are ready to do so.

St. Cirq, I was wondering about that and figured that must be true but when I emailed capitainetrain, they did not mention that possibility. I will try SNCF with Amex for trip in June, but if card does not work, I will use capitainetrain. When I used handicapped services in Oct., they just wanted to know the name of the traveler, the coach and seat number, and the ticket number. You don't think the ticket number, coming from Capitaine, would cause a problem?
I really don't understand the relationship between SNCF and Capitaine; I assume they are not competitors?

grandmere, I'm not sure I understand the relationship, either, although I do remember reading that Capitainetrain is in existence because of some lawsuit about competition in which they prevailed.

But I am almost positive SNCF will be happy to arrange your handicapped services no matter the origin of the ticket. After all, the ticket should have the exact same information on it that would be on it if you purchased it from SNCF - voiture number, seat number, time, number of the train, etc. Do you know how to access the handicapped services stuff on the SNCF site? I can show you if you don't (though I use it always in French - I can check how to do it in English if that's what you need). Even though the website says you should reserve the services 3 days in advance, I actually just got off my Air France flight in a wheelchair and went to the SNCF station an hour or so before my first train, and they arranged it all right there on the spot. The service was flawless! And there is no charge for it.

Yes, I reserved a week in advance online last Oct., printed out the confirmation at home, presented it at the handicapped office, and as you say, the service was flawless, seamless. My tiny concern is that the SNCF wanted to know the ticket number, in addition to the other info I had to provide. A Capitainetrain ticket may have a different numbering system?
Since I have lots of time between now and June, I might email the handicapped service dept. at the SNCF and ask if Capitainetrain ticket holders are eligible for handicapped services. I feel certain that they are, but I want to make sure since my husband really needs to be wheeled to the voiture, which you know can be a great distance. We are not going directly from CDG, but from Gare de Lyon a day later. Our destination is Nimes this time, and the trains from CDG were either too early or much later in the day, then we have to rent a car: not a good idea after a sleepless night on plane.
Thanks for your offer of help.

<<A Capitainetrain ticket may have a different numbering system?>>

I suppose it might, but I really don't know. I'd start by emailing Capitainetrain and asking that question.

<< <i>kerouac and I have a slightly different take on the issue of how far in advance to purchase rail tickets. If my plans are firm and I know the date I need to travel, I see no reason not to purchase as soon as tickets for that date are available.</i> >>

MaineGG, I understand your point of view, but lots of people like to leave room for improvization in their plans, especially if they are using one of these travel sites where new suggestions are made each and every day. I have been distressed more than once when I discovered something fabulous to do but was prevented from it by having made other plans too early.

Kerouac, I wish we still had the ability to be flexible and improvise when we come to France. We did that for years, but now our train travel mostly has to get us to a rental on a certain date by a certain time. It's always a relief to get that part of the itinerary in place, so I do it as soon as possible.

St. Cirq, I did write to Capitainetrain a few weeks ago to ask about handicapped services, and they said they could not provide them at this time. They did not say that I could still use these services from SNCF if I buy from them. I will email them again and ask the question in a different way.