How can I buy regular rail (TER) ticket ? oui.sncf shows only TGV routes

Walk up to ticket machine. Select train. Pay. Receive ticket.

You have an error in your hyperlink. It's SNCF, not SNFC.

I'm not sure why you're using the oui version of the website. When I use https://www.sncf.com/fr I see several options for getting from Part-Dieu to Embrun that don't involve a TGV leg. However, due to railway work during July and August part of most of these itineraries would entail a bus (called a car) ride between Gap and Embrun.

Randomly picking a day (in my case, 11 July), I see the following suggested itineraries:

Leave 11:36 arrive 17:15 : TGV - bus - bus

Leave 15:36 arrive 19:53 : TGV - TER (the only one shown without a bus leg, not that there's anything wrong with SNCF regional buses)

Leave 12:14 arrive 17:30 : TER - TER - bus

Leave 18:20 arrive 23:40 : TER - TER - bus

You might want to try https://www.sncf.com/fr and see if that returns a better itinerary for you.

We used trainline to book all our tickets on our last trip -- easy and tickets are all print at home.

I use the app to book all of SNCF tickets with no problem. I just did it an hour ago.

I used a dummy date in July and tried it on both the OUI site and the site Bob linked. Both gave me the same trains - TER for both segments with a change in Valence, there was no TGV segment and total cost for ticket was €45. Maybe something you're choosing on the site when you input your info, or on the particular date you're selecting is doing it.

Thank you, Bob. I fixed the URL in my post. It was a typo. I started from https://www.sncf.com/fr but as soon as I click on "Reserver votre billet" button, it jumps to the oui site.

There must is a itinerary in that uses a TER train leaving 15:20, instead of 15:36 on TGV, joining the same TER train at Valence but this is shown only when I search for the schedule. It is not shown when I try to buy a ticket. Did you see this when you try ? (Our plane arrives at Lyon airport at 1:30pm. We'll take Express Tram or something to Part-Dieu; no TGV stops at the airport for our journey.)

Jannet & Alexander, thank you. I'll try both methods also.

Nancy, yes, this method works when I look for itineraries, but there is no "book now" link for them. If I do the search from the buy ticket link, the TER-only itineraries are not shown. Do you see them? To be exact, I'm looking for a train on July 5th after 3pm.

Kuro, you are correct. For that date and time it only brings up TGV for Lyon to Valence segment. The total cost of the trip is €53.80, no separate €75 for the TGV segment, at least as far as I can see. https://en.oui.sncf/en/reservation/basket

Thank you again, Nancy. At least this proves I'm not doing anything stupid :-)
I wonder how you have found out the €53.80 fare. I changed the travel time in the buy-ticket search, and I do see the TER+bus itinerary earlier and later hours but they show €78.60 (12:40 dept) and €90 (18:20).

and €90 (18:20).

I see that departure at €45. Are you asking for 2 tickets? Is that why you're seeing €90?

Kuro,
I just tried to book your ticket for July 5, 2018 on this website:en.oui.sncf/en/

Once you select your departure and arrival stations and date;

1. Click on "search"

2. Once you see the schedule of available times, click on the price of the ticket you want (the price will become highlighted-in orange or green)

3. Select a seat if you want, or if the system tells you that the seat is not available, then click "Select this outbound Journey at ___(price)"

4. Select the ticket you want (you may be given different options depending on seats available) by deleting the ones you don't want.

5. Click on, "Confirm and pay"

6. Set up on account if you want. (I did when I booked my tickets before)

7. follow the rest of the steps and print your E-ticket or get it on your smartphone via their app. (or both)

Hope this helps!

Bon Voyage!

Edited to add...
I took too long writing this "tutorial", and I see that you may have already received your answer from Nancy.
BTW, I did find a ticket for €53.80pp, departing Lyon at 15:36 with a change in Valence, and arriving to Embrun at 19:53

Enjoy the view! We took a train from Annecy to Avignon, via Valence, a few years ago ;-)

Nancy, sorry, 90 Euro is for two.

Priscilla, thank you for writing up the detailed steps. But that is what I've done and I only get the route that involves TGV. And the price shown is only for the TGV segment.
The funny thing is, the itinerary search no longer shows the TER-only route either. Maybe they cut the local service in preparation for the strike?

I could chat with the customer support at OUI and he told me I should be able to buy ticket at the Lyon station and it would be 50 euro pp. I guess I'll hold on to the pricier TGV tickets until the last minutes and cancel it when I know the TER train is running between Lyon and Valence that day.

Kuro,

But that is what I've done and I only get the route that involves TGV. And the price shown is only for the TGV segment.

I don’t understand why you say that the price shown is only for the TGV segment.

When I check en.oui.sncf for your date, July 5, 2018, there’s a TGV (6837) train departing Lyon Part Dieu at 15:36, arriving to Valence TGV station @ 16:09, then you transfer to a TER (17359) train which departs at 16:31 and arrives at Embrun at 19:53 for the total price of €53.80.

You need to click on, “journey details” to see the complete journey.

The €53.80 price includes the TGV plus the TER train from Lyon to Embrun (with a change in Valence)

You can also buy separate tickets: Lyon ( departing at 15:20) to Valence-Ville station, then Valence-Ville to Embrun. Both of these journey segments are on TER trains but the total cost is €50.70 ( €18.80 + €31.90)

Bon Voyage!

Priscilla,
So, the price I paid was much more expensive than the initially quoted price, and I was under impression that the first price was for TGV segment, which was shown in the search result, and they were charing the TER segment separately.
After getting the sense of the normal fare, I found out why. It is very embarrassing but I bought a pair of tickets twice, first time in the first class on TGV, and the second time in the second class. I guess I didn't cancel the first class purchase and remained in the basket.
So you are right, the price difference between using TGV and TER for Lyon - Valence segment is minor and I will take TGV. (I have paid 60.8 EUR pp for this, higher than 53.80 EUR price you got; maybe because I bought the refundable tickets?)
Anyway, thank you for you and everyone who responded to this post. It was only through this conversation that I realized that I've made a duplicate purchase. I've already cancelled one. I'm good now :-)

Kuro,

Thanks for the update!

Yes, it looks like you’ve paid for the flexible ticket which is refundable (€60.80).
This is actually a good thing in case you experience unforeseen delays with your flight, or whatever.
Just make sure you read the details in the

Terms of exchange and refund:

LYON > VALENCE
TGV 6837 | TGV PRO 2nde
Ticket can be exchanged and refunded free of charge before and up to two hours after departure at the departure station. For mobility, can be exchanged free of charge up to one hour after departure via the TGV Pro application or by telephone on 3635.

VALENCE > EMBRUN TER 17359 | Pro 2nde Ticket can be exchanged and
refunded free of charge before and up to two hours after departure at
the departure station. For mobility, can be exchanged free of charge
up to one hour after departure via the TGV Pro application or by
telephone on 3635.

It’s also good to hear that you were able to cancel the duplicate tickets! 😉

I’d not heard of Embrun before your post.
Just wondering... How did you know about this beautiful place?

Enjoy your trip!😊