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Ouigo from Nice to Paris?

Apologies if this is a dense question but I'm seeing somewhat conflicting info online.

Is it possible to take a Ouigo train directly from Nice into Paris? I can put Nice in the search engine on Ouigo's website but from what I've read online, as well as looking at some maps, Nice doesn't show as one of their stations. The train info on the website says "direct" but I'm wondering if you're connecting in Marseilles or something like that.

Also, The Man in Seat 61 mentioned that Ouigo would be operating out of the Montparnasse station in Paris beginning in December of 2017. Anyone know if that's the case, if you're coming from Nice? We actually want to end up at Montparnasse so would much prefer that over arriving at Gare de Lyon.

Many thanks!

Posted by
8166 posts

It goes direct to Paris Gare de Lyon. There is no listing in the results showing it going to Gare de Montparnasse or requiring a change of trains.

I got this result searching the Ouigo website where you can buy tickets
https://www.ouigo.com/destinations

Posted by
10210 posts

Ouigo is a subset of SNCF trains (SNCG trains now confusingly being rebranded as OuI) that are low-cost.

When SNCF started with the OuiGo concept, the trains operated only from out-of-the-way stations, not the regular Paris stations. The thought was that you could pay less by going to the trouble of getting yourself to an outlying suburban Paris station.

Now there are some OuiGo trains in the regular Paris train stations. They go the same places but have more restrictions.

It was this to which the Man in Seat 61 was referring -- that OuiGo trains would start operating from regular Paris stations.

However, trains from Nice will always come into the Gare de Lyon. They won't ever come to/depart from Montparnasse. Other OuiGo trains for other destinations will depart from/arrive to Montparnasse.

Posted by
4088 posts

The fast trains aren't so fast from Nice towards Marseille because the track roadbeds won't support high speeds. But the same train will hit a dizzying pace once it heads up the Rhone valley.

Posted by
12314 posts

To Nice from Paris, I'd personally take an Air France flight. Much faster and convenient. When I flew it, the total cost was a little under 50 euros, just over $50, so cheaper than a train by quite a bit also.

Think of Ouigo as a low cost basic fare option to SCNF high speed trains. The trains are fine but they offer fewer services.