What are trains in France like?

The country of high-speed trains, connecting all large cities nationally and internationally. Explore famous cultural and culinary cities like Paris, Bordeaux, Nice and Lyon, using the most comfortable and easiest way to travel. 

Read all about France's different types of trains, what they are like, how to book them, and everything else you need to know.

TGV High speed trains

TGV are France's famous flagship high-speed trains. They connect all large cities with each other, mostly on routes to/from Paris, as well as international destinations like Barcelona, Milan, Switzerland, Germany, and Luxembourg. Supremely comfortable, mostly double-decker trains with a lot of legroom, well-padded seats and large luggage storage spaces.

Reservations are mandatory; included as standard in tickets booked via Happyrail. Eurail passes are valid, all passes and mandatory seat reservations can be booked via Happyrail, as well as Rail Tour package holidays which include all neccessary tickets, reservations and hotels.

  • Second class features comfortable adjustable seats in a 2+2 configuration. Large luggage racks are present near the door vestibules. Wifi and plug sockets are available.

  • First class features extemele comfortable adjustable seats in a 2+1 configuration, with large amounts of legroom. Large luggage racks are present near the door vestibules. Wifi and plug sockets available, drinks and snacks can be ordered from your seat.

  • A bar/café car is available for drinks, snacks and simple meals. These can be ordered for take-away via the train's internet portal or bought at the counter.

Eurostar international high-speed trains

Eurostar high-speed trains run from Paris to London, Brussels, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, and destinations in Germany. The trains are modern, comfortable and look much like TGV trains. Three classes are available (Standard, Eurostar Plus, Eurostar Premier). 

Seat reservations are mandatory, and always included in tickets bought via the Happyrail planning service, in which all available passes and reservations are available as well. Tickets and reservations can be booked 6 months in advance. 

Please note that trains to London have an extended check in-time to allow for customs and luggage checks; see the check-in time as noted on your ticket.

  • Standard class features comfortable seats in a 2+2 configuration, all with luggage space above the seats and next to the doors, plug sockets and free wifi. Trains to London have a bar/café car, while trains to Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany only have vending machines for drinks and snacks.

  • Eurostar Plus (1st class) features wider seats with more legroom, a quieter atmosphere, and complimentary drinks and a light meal served at your seat. Plug sockets, free wifi and more than enough luggage space are available.

  • Eurostar Premier features the same seats as in Eurostar Plus but has a much shorter check-in time with a priority customs line, complimentary chmpagne, drinks, and a more luxurious hot meal served at your seat. 

Intercités long-distance trains

Intercités are France's conventional express trains on lines without high-speed services. 

The trains on the following lines use old-fashioned express cars with a simple but comfortable interior, a trolley service for snacks and drinks, air conditioning and plug sockets. Reservations are mandatory, and can be bought via the Happyrail rail planner service alongside tickets. Eurail passes plus reservations are also all available.

  • Paris - Orléans - Limoges - Toulouse
  • Paris - Clermont Ferrand
  • Bordeaux - Toulouse - Marseille

The trains on the following lines use more modern trains with all modern comforts like free wifi, air conditioning and plug sockets. Reservations are optional, catering service is usually not available. Eurail passes are valid, all tickets and passes can be booked via the Happyrail rail planner service.

  • Nantes - Bordeaux
  • Nantes - Lyon
  • Toulouse - Lourdes  - Pau - Hendaye

TER Regional trains

  • Regional trains in France are called TER and run from larger cities to regional destinations.
  • All regional trains are called TER, regardless of whether they are semi-express trains that skip stations, or stop at all stations
  • There are numerous types of trains, some of which are older trains with only second class, but most are now more modern trains with first class, wifi and plug sockets also available. 
  • Reservations are generally not possible, except on a few routes from Paris to larger cities like Le Havre, Cherbourg and Strasbourg, where they are mandatory. You can make thse reservations at the train stations.
  • All valid passes and tickets can be bought via the Happyrail rail planner service. Except for the few reserved trains, you can use a TER ticket on any connection.

RER Paris regional trains

RER are metro-style trains that run in Paris, connecting the city to it's suburbs as well as functioning as express-metro trains inside the city, connecting the major train stations with each other faster then regular metro trains.

Only Parisian metro tickets are valid. Normal train tickets or Eurail passes are not valid. If you have to transfer between train stations in Paris, you can buy regular metro tickets at a ticket office or ticket machine.

ICE high-speed trains to Germany

German ICE high-speed trains run on connections from Paris to Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Munich. Unlike ICE routes within Germany, reservations on these routes are mandatory. All tickets with reservations, passes and seperate (mandatory) seat reservations can be booked via the Happyrail planner service.

  • Second class features adjustable seats in a 2+2 layout, some with tables, others airplane-style. Free wifi, plug sockets, and luggage space are available in all cars. Each train has at least one designated quiet car and one designated car for families with children.
  • First class features adjustable leather seats in a 2+1 layout, some with tables, others airplane-style, with more legroom and wider seat pitch than in second class. Free wifi, plug sockets, and luggage space are available in all cars. Stewards will take your order at your seat for drinks or meals from the dining car.
  • A dining car is also available, with 16 to 24 seats in the dining car itself and a take-away option for all drinks and meals. Reservations are not possible for the dining car. It is open for passengers of both second and first class, although first-class passengers can also be served at their seat in first class.

Intercités de Nuit sleeper trains

France's internal sleeper trains from Paris to several destinations in the South are branded 'Intercités de Nuit'. These are comfortable sleeper trains with second class seating, second class 6-person sleeper berths and first class 4-person sleeper berths. All routes can be found on the page Night Train Routes in France.

Reservations, for either seats or beds, are mandatory. A private compartment can also be booked. Traditional European sleeper compartments for 2 persons, as well as Deluxe compartments with en-suite bathrooms, are not available, but the first-class 4-person compartments, which can be booked for private use, are very comfortable.

  • Second class seating is identical to daytime Intercités trains, and feature simple but comfortable seats with air conditioning and plug sockets.

  • Second class sleeping berths feature 6 beds in each berth and include bedding, water and a small toiletries kit. A berth can be booked for private use, the ticket for which is called Espace Privatif.
  • First class sleeping berths feature 4 beds in each berth and include bedding, water and a small toiletries kit. The beds are slightly softer and wider than in second class. Like in second class a berth can be booked for private use, called Espace Privatif.

Nightjet international sleeper trains

Austrian 'Nightjet' sleeper trains run on the routes Paris-Berlin and Paris-Salzburg-Vienna. These trains are the same as other Austrian Nightjet trains and feature second-class seating, hard sleeper couchette cars and soft sleeper (private) sleeper cars, with deluxe compartments available as well. 

All information about these trains can be found on the 'What are Nightjet sleeper trains like?' page. Bookings are open up to 6 months in advance. All tickets, reservations for seats and sleeper compartments, and passes can be booked via Happyrail and the Happyrail reservation service.

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