Hi there...just wondering if anyone has the contact number (for English if possible) for SNCF...my Timeout and Eyewitness don't seem to be getting through to them...
That, or perhaps someone could let me know this...I see a TGV on Fridays from Avignon to Paris for, say January, but it doesn't come up for July..is that because booking is only allowed three months in advance? Can I assume that same train will be operating? I'm thinking yes, but I want to be sure as I will be figuring out my car rental soon!

I can't help you with the phone number (couldn't see it on the SNCF site) but you're right in assuming that the reason you can't book your train yet is because you're trying to do so too far in advance. The SNCF allows you to book up to 60 days in advance. You can assume that from Paris to Avignon in July, there will be at least as many TGVs running as now, if not more over the summer season (it's a popular destination). I think it would be perfectly safe to go ahead and sort out your car rental. HTH

I know a few folks on here have posted that they called them, so maybe they will answer. I can't swear to it, but I think this is it:

08 92 35 35 39

That is a toll number, you pay something per minute (08 prefix). Most SNCF info numbers are like that, though. That is the phone number for Eurostar in Paris and I believe that is also what they give as the English-speaking SNCF number.

You can certainly assume that there will be several TGVs from Avignon to Paris every day and a lot in July, maybe one every couple hours. The exact same train may not operate at the exact same time, but close enough.

The one I have is 1-01-68 68, but I've never tried it so far. I do know someone who recently used what proved to the the correct number, and I've asked him to send it to me again.

Thanks Underhill..that would be great to have.

The number I copied down for the SNCF English contact number is:
33 8 36 35 35 39 - I am pretty sure the 33 is the country code, 8 is the "area code" and the rest is the phone number.
HTH,
Mara

The number I got from the friend who has used it successfully is

33 (country code) 8 92 35 35 39

and it is a toll number. Good luck! Let us know if it works and you get what you need.

The friend who retrieved the number for me says that you will need to push 2 to get the English-speaking operator. The person who answers may speak in French but can switch to English for you.

About the train...just punch in a fake date on the SNCF site, being sure to use the day of the week on which you'll be travelling, and the times that come up will very likely be what you will see when it's time to buy your tickets, especially for the TGV routes.

Thanks for your help Underhill. Once I got my head around doing it for any date in the next three months as opposed to July, I could see the trains I would need. I will hang on to the number for reference though.
Thank you!!
CC