Trains in France: TGV, Intercités and TER

Choose the product before comparing price

TGV INOUI provides high-speed travel with broader services and fares; OUIGO uses a low-cost model; Intercités covers conventional routes, sometimes overnight; TER is regionally managed. One journey can combine products. Compare time, station, baggage, flexibility and connection for each segment, not just the logo or first price.

For a winter extension, compare Christmas markets in France before booking trains: an opening announcement does not establish every operating day or hour.

OUIGO Grande Vitesse or Train Classique

OUIGO Grande Vitesse uses the high-speed network; Train Classique runs on conventional lines and can take much longer while serving different stations. The brand colour is not enough: open the train details, time, exact station and duration before buying. Paris-Brussels and some domestic routes may use Train Classique.

Calculate the real ticket total

Add baggage, seat choice, PLUS or FLEX, pets, travel to the station and the last kilometre to the displayed fare. An OUIGO to an outlying station or without changes can cost more than a better-located INOUI. Compare the final basket and door-to-door time before calling a fare cheaper.

OUIGO baggage: the dimensions that trigger a charge

OUIGO includes one 55 × 35 × 25cm cabin bag and one 40 × 30 × 15cm hand item. An extra or large bag costs €5 online; the large-item limit is 130 × 90 × 50cm and 30kg. Without advance booking, the station charge is €20. A maximum of two extra or large items is accepted.

INOUI and Intercités use different baggage rules

SNCF Connect lists up to two 70 × 90 × 50cm suitcases plus one 40 × 30 × 15cm hand item for TGV INOUI and Intercités, or one suitcase, one special item and one hand item. You must carry and label everything. Never transfer these limits to OUIGO by analogy: the exact product sets the rule.

OUIGO PLUS and FLEX are not substitutes

On Grande Vitesse, PLUS costs €9 and includes an extra or large bag, seat choice and the advertised Wi-Fi or entertainment. FLEX costs €9 and allows unlimited exchanges until thirty minutes before departure, with any fare difference payable. FLEX must be added at purchase and no later than seven days before; tickets remain non-refundable.

Travelling as a family

The advertised child fare is €8 on OUIGO Grande Vitesse and €5 on Train Classique. Children aged 0–3 travel free on a lap with Toupti; a separate seat needs a ticket. PLUS and FLEX are free for under-12s when an accompanying adult buys the option. Compare the full family basket, including adjacent seats and baggage.

Book the correct station

Paris has several termini and many cities have multiple stations: Lyon Part-Dieu or Perrache, Aix centre or Aix TGV, Avignon Centre or TGV. A cheaper outlying station can add a bus, taxi and an hour. Verify the address, concourse and arrival before payment; between Paris termini, calculate a real city transfer.

Changes, delays and separate connections

The fare determines the conditions. Without FLEX, an OUIGO exchange can cost up to €19 per traveller per journey plus any fare difference; tickets and options are non-refundable. After a delay, keep the ticket and notifications and follow the official guarantee route. A separately booked flight or train is normally unprotected, so allow a real buffer.

On travel day

SNCF Connect and Gares & Connexions show live times, platforms and disruption. OUIGO recommends arriving thirty minutes early and closes train access five minutes before departure. Stay in the correct concourse, check the train number and keep ticket and ID ready. With children, baggage or reduced mobility, add the needed time rather than aiming for the limit.