SNCF looks smarter
 

The French train system SNCF seems to be streamlining its much-unloved Internet operation. Here is a recent promotional letter indicating the new approach:
http://www.voyages-sncf.com/promotio...IX_-1937001677

Click on the French flag to change to English. It details the integration of the former Rail Europe UK operation under the Voyages-sncf.com brand. The instructions for printing tickets at home are clearer. And there is a useful map of its major rail systems including Eurorail partners, which I have never been able to find before. http://uk.voyages-sncf.com/en/train-...in-network-map
Also interesting, it offers to sell tickets on-line for some of those partners, for instance point-to-point on Italo in Italy, a company whose own on-line operation has been famously baulky. The pricing is in English pounds but still could be handy for North American customers.

Competition, it seems, is a good thing.

Oops, I apologize for confusing Italo, the newer Italian train company, with Trenitalia, which has indeed drawn it share of complaints over the years. But it remains interesting that SNCF and Italo are co-operating this closely.

Well, does this mean they have also decided they can accept North American credit cards now without all the "rigamarole" we have been instructed about?

Thanks a lot for posting - marking for future reference.

>>>Also interesting, it offers to sell tickets on-line for some of those partners, for instance point-to-point on Italo in Italy, a company whose own on-line operation has been famously baulky.<<<

Italo has never been baulky and I don't see the point of buying Italo tickets from another company instead of Italo. Italo also lets you purchase 6 months in advance.

Just for reference, the SNCF site has always sold tickets for all of the companies in which it participates -- notably Eurostar, Thalys and Lyria.

Be careful, be very careful.

Rail Europe UK has been re-branded as Voyages-sncf and their website uk.voyages-sncf.con LOOKS identical to the 'proper' one at en.voyages-sncf.com - but it isn't!

In fact, the booking engine at uk.voyages-sncf.com is the old Raileurope.co.uk one re-branded. So it still won't sell Forfait Bambin, iDTGV, Espace Privatif, won't offer any seat options or a choice of upper or lower deck on a TGV Duplex. For that, you need to select 'Other Countries (EUR)' top right which switches it to en.voyages-sncf.com

Here's a comparison table of all the main websites selling French train tickets, and their features, fees, pros & cons: http://www.seat61.com/France-trains....tickets_online

None of those so-called improvements seem like much to me. I never thought it was that difficult to figure out how to print something. And the instructions to click on English clearly are intended for some specific audience, as I never do that, nor do French people. And if it is really a Raileurope website, I would presume the prices are not the same as SNCF.

So this really is only of interest to people who didn't know how or couldn't use the real SNCF website.

I've never had a single problem with SNCF's website in terms of feeling it wasn't streamlined enough nor figuring out how to print. My only issue is that sometimes I've had problems with them accepting my US credit card, which other people have, also. In fact, the only place where I could never use it was in person at a SNCF boutique in Paris. That was a Mastercard. And it was the same card I had used to buy a ticket online, earlier, I was just there to pick one up and needed another one. She could een see in the system that I had used that card, but it would not accept it in-person. I have always been able to use one online as long as I told my issuer to allow it. I was able to use an AMEX card in person as luckily I have one and knew that seems to work better, as some people have said on-line, also.

Thanks for pointing out what isn't obvious but, as the Man in Seat 61 say, requires care. I've wrangled my way through SNCF in both English and French and usually ended up happy (especially since my Canadian credit card has been accepted without a blink) but others have not, as this forum's archives show. www.capitainetrain.com seemed like an easy alternative but for the last few days I cannot open any link to its pages.
The tracks may be smooth but train retailing seems to hit its share of bumps.

I'm still using the regular old French www.voyages-sncf.com site and don't plan to change. If people have trouble using that site in French, it's much easier to use capitainetrain.com.

Obviously anybody who speaks French should use www.voyages-sncf.com but even if you don't speak French, just open "Google Translate" in another window and check the meaning of anything you don't understand.