In checking the train schedules I find that some are marked IC, rather than TGV or TER. I assume that this means Intercity.
What I have been unable to determine is whether a a french rail-pass is valid on an Intercity train. Any experience?
Posted by
Corvallis OR
7034 posts
No personal experience but according to the France Pass website (http://www.francerailpass.com/index.php/0ur-passes/regular-france-rail-pass/the-france-rail-pass), they are good on intercities trains.
Posted by
OP
Dallas, Tx
107 posts
Outstanding!
Quick response too :)
Thank you.
Posted by
Corvallis OR
7034 posts
You're welcome.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23268 posts
But do make sure a pass is cost effective. These days with surcharges on railpasses, limited seating availability combined with discounts for advance sales, it makes most passes more expensive than point to point.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
A France Rail Pass is valid on most trains in France, with only a few exceptions, plus some international coverage; see more at https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation/trains/france-rail-passes. The DB link at How to Look Up Train Schedules and Routes Online should be accurate in reflecting which departures are subject to compulsory reservation.
Posted by
OP
Dallas, Tx
107 posts
Thanx guys.
This is not our first experience with French trains in general, we've just never used one of the Intercity trains.
I've already done the cost comparison. For our extensive TER trips where reservations are not available and with no definite train times selected in advance, a rail-pass is slightly higher.
But a whole lot less trouble since we can't select the exact departure times in advance and would be paying the walk up price. Plus it's been my experience that some of the smaller stations have no ticket seller available either very early or very late.
As it turns out, we're probably not going to do the trip requiring the Intercity train anyway, so according to the rail sites the whole trip will be on TER.
Posted by
San Francisco
14509 posts
Hi,
No problem doing the entire trip on TER trains, provided you're not rushed for time. On a TGV you go Paris to Metz in a bit over one hour, ie, less than 1.5 hrs. On the TER that route takes 3hrs or so, ie the whole morning. That was the way I did that route in the late '80s.
On the TGV Paris Est to Frankfurt Hbf takes 4 hours, direct; (0700 hrs to 1100); do that on the TER plus train changes add 2.5 to 3 hrs on top of that. The TER is fine if you have the time, just hop on, since no reservations are accepted, no need for mandatory reservations, (as required on a TGV), dealing with Pass holder quotas, and others when you have a train pass.