parisinspring

Could someone please tell me the difference between the TGV and the Train? When I look at fare schedules on Rail Europe some say TGV and some say Train. Do these trains leave from different stations?
We would like to go to Reims from Paris.

I apologize for sounding so ignorant.

StCirq

TGV stands for train à grande vitesse (high-speed train). The others are regular trains. There are RGV routes from all the Paris stations, I believe, as well as regular train routes, so depending on where's you're going you may be able to get there on the TGV or not, or you may need to use a combination of TGV and regular train.

ira

Hi
The TGV is a high-speed express train for which you must have a reserved seat.

Rail Europe is not the best place to find schedules, as they do not list all trains. They are also more expensive than other ways of booking tickets.

http://www.sncf.com/indexe.htm is the site for the French national rail system. You can purchase tickets on this site - RT 1st class is 60E.

However, you will probably find that you can purchase your tickets in France the day before for less money and more flexibility.

GeoffHamer

The TGVs run on high speed lines between cities but use the same stations as normal trains in Paris, Marseille or wherever. TGVs travel at up to 300 km/hr (186 mph). On a journey like Paris-Marseille, TGVs take three hours while ordinary trains used to take twice as long, so there are no ordinary trains. On a route where you have a choice, there is usually a small supplement for using a TGV and you have to reserve a seat. When you buy a train ticket, you will normally be booked on a TGV if it's quicker, but TGVs are just another type of train.

indytravel

Actually there are very, very few TGV routes in comparison to regular train lines. You won't use a TGV except to a limited number of destinations. Below is a link with a map showing the TGV lines. The one to Reims is not slated to open until 2006. You'll have no choice other than a regular train.

mercurio.iet.unipi.it/tgv/jpg/tgvgeomap.jpg

Ira is right that tickets are cheaper in France than through rail europe. However if you know you'll be traveling on a particular day you might qualify for a J30 fare on sncf.com which is half off the full price 30 days in advance. The next best fare a J8 is 25% off the full fare 8 days in advance. J30 & J8 fares can be booked 60 days in advance and usually go pretty quickly.

Andre

Parisinspring,

Your question is actually moot, as high speed TGV trains do not serve the Reims to Paris route.

You can check the full schedules on the link which Ira mentions or on
http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en
(more user-friendly web site of the German railways - does not display fare information however)

Some connections involve taking a slower regional train (TER) to Epernay, then changing to a "normal" train. I would try to go direct.

You can simply purchase the ticket locally in Reims at the train station or a "boutique SNCF". It makes NO sense to purchase far in advance as there are no special discounts for this route.

Cost is EUR 19.70 in 2nd class one way (including an optional seat reservation). If you're between 12 and 25 or over 60, the fare goes down to EUR 14.80 ("découverte 12-25" and "découverte sénior" fares), younger kids pay even less.

Hope this helps,
Andre

GregPCM

Hi Parisinspring,

Paris to Reims is just the regular train. It leaves Paris-Est station every 2 hours or less and arrives in Reims 1 1/2 hours later. I use the Swiss timetalbe Website(SBB)to check schedules because it is very user friendly. It is located at http://mercurio.iet.unipi.it/misc/timetabl.html. Have a good trip.

Greg