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Incredibly dumb question about trains tickets in France

Hi! Hopefully this would be one of my last questions here (Can't promise it though! hehe). Trip is getting closer and I'm getting more excited about it!!! :) :)

Ok, here is the thing. I'm from South America, and first time purchasing train tickets for Europe on my own. I checked the scfn site, since I read here that is the best one, better than rail europe. I been browsing for the best fares and found them, but here is my question wich proofs my ignorance, since it's probably a very silly one. I read that are some tickets that are printable (you can print them on your computer and be done with it) but my question is about the ones that aren't e tickets. How do i get them? Are they sent to me by mail?? Do I have to wait for them? Can I pick them on the stations when I get there? I'm worried that if they sent them by mail they won't get here on time. I don't know, it gets me a little confused. We dont have working train systems here, so this is new territory for me. I tried reading the FAQ on the rail site, but I havent found an answer specifically about this.

Thanks again!!!!!!!

Posted by
8889 posts

SNCF = Société nationale des chemins de Fer
This the main French railway company. Their website is the best place to buy tickets for France, but not for other countries!

There are 3 ways you can get your tickets if you buy them in advance on a website.

1) Print at home. You are e-mailed (or download) a PDF file which you print out, and take with you on the train. The ticket inspector on the train scans the barcode on the ticket. You usually need some other form of ID, such as the Credit Card with which you bought the tickets. Check the website to be sure. This is usually the easiest way to buy tickets.

2) Print at the station. You get a reference number. When you get to an SNCF station, type in your reference number (and possibly insert the credit card) and the tickets are printed out. In this case you do not get your tickets until you arrive in France.

3) Tickets sent by post. I doubt you can get this option if you live in South America. The website will refuse to send tickets by post if there is not enough time for them to reach you.

Depending which country you are in (and which website you buy the tickets) you will be offered one or more of these options. BE SURE YOU KNOW HOW YOU ARE GETTING YOUR TICKETS BEFORE YOU PUT IN YOUR CREDIT CARD DETAILS. After you have put in your credit card details it is too late, you have bought the tickets and cannot change what type of tickets you have.

Posted by
11613 posts

You can also choose to pick up tickets at a staffed train station office. The agent will print out all your tickets at once, so you don't need to repeat this process at every stop. Take the credit card you used to purchase the tickets, even if it's expired - it's a security identification measure.

Posted by
10 posts

Thanks!!!

All your answers were extremely helpfull. I feel so much better now, since I know how to the system works. You guys are awesome!

Posted by
4025 posts

Val: Note that e-mail tickets printed at home will contain time, date and seat reservation if on the fast inter-city trains. You can walk right aboard the train and find your seat; at some time the train attendant will scan your bar code. He might ask you for passport id but not always.

However, tickets printed at the station on a cardboard-like substance have to be validated in a stamping machine at the entrance to the train platform. It puts the date etc on the ticket so you can't use it on another train.
A useful site for train travel originating in Paris is www.parisbytrain.com. The encyclopedia for trains everywhere is www.seat61.com And many people recommend Rick Steves' train service.

Posted by
1021 posts

The site to buy French train tickets now being recommended on France Trip Advisor forums is www.capitainetrain.com I've done some dummy bookings and found it very simple to use.

Posted by
219 posts

I just want to add, as having just returned last night. If you don't have a chip and PIN card, you won't be able to pick up tickets in the machines in France.

I bought tickets from Paris to Lille through Capitainetrain.com and printed them at home. Worked just fine.