Looking to book tickets from Paris Gare de Lyon to the city of Lyon in May. I am on the train line website. We will each have a suitcase and small back pack or purse. Our suitcases are a little larger than a carry-on size and would not fit under a seat. Looking at the website it states you need to pay 5 euros during booking more if luggage is larger than carryon but yet each train carriage shows luggage storage. Anyone with experience using the OUIGO train? Do they actually limit size of bags? I think I read somewhere that you could be charged 20 euros on the train if you don't pre pay for the larger bag. Should I suck it up and add the 5 euros?
And is there anyway to tell direction of train in picking out your seat? I cannot ride backwards!
Thanks!!
Posted by
Uppsala, Sweden
6974 posts
Avoid trainline, use the official SNCF website, https://www.sncf-connect.com
Ouigo is a low cost option, think Ryanair or Easyjet. Stick to the rules religiously or you might be in for a shock. Or book a proper TGV. https://www.seat61.com/trains-and-routes/ouigo.htm
Posted by
Paris
7303 posts
Also have a look at the Trenitalia website for tickets from Paris to Lyon. They run a couple of trains every day on that route.
Posted by
Minneapolis
1261 posts
Hi Karen. I can't ride backwards either, but my wife is fine with it. Generally, no, there is no way to tell direction of train. If possible, we book seats facing each other. Otherwise, if needed, just ask somebody to switch seats, it is a common situation, and I have always found somebody willing to switch. Also a good way to start a conversation. Enjoy your trip!
Posted by
OP
175 posts
Thanks for the quick replies! I had no idea there were different train companies to choose from. I will go with TGV.
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Posted by
Ontario, Canada
5431 posts
I had no idea there were different train companies to choose from. I
will go with TGV.
Just to be clear. Trainline is not a train company. It is a 3rd party company (like an expedia for trains)l Nor is TGV a train company. It is the name of the high speed train. The French train company is sncf. Their website: https://www.sncf.com/en. OUIGO is their discount branch, as previously described.
Trenitalia is the Italian train company. I was surprised to see you could buy tickets on a trip within France from them.
At any rate, do spend some time on the man in seat 61 website. Anything you need to know about how to use the European trains is there. It's hugely informative.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10625 posts
Half the people in the train are riding backwards. It's nobody's first choice but I've never seen anyone ask strangers to change seats in fifty years riding SNCF.
If you have a medical problem, your doctor can give you medication. I usually ride backwards when we sit in a duo across from each other, but with my husband it's a preference, not a need and I don't care.
Posted by
Paris
10201 posts
Trenitalia is the Italian train company. I was surprised to see you could buy tickets on a trip within France from them.
Trenitalia opened trains a few months ago on the Paris-Lyon-Turin-Milan route, and has since added a few extra Paris-Lyon.
This is the first foreign competition within French rail space, so it makes sense it would come as a surprise (unless you live here or take Paris-Turin trains every once in a while, and I do both!). I am so glad for the new offering and the competition on this route.
Posted by
81 posts
Just thought I'd point out that if you book 1st class, you can choose your exact seat, whereas in 2nd class you can express a preference for lower or upper level, and window/aisle, but not for direction of travel. My husband normally hates riding backwards but doesn't seem to find it a problem on the TGV. I've done Lyon-Paris round trip the last two weekends, and for three of the four trips, the trains were packed. (Saturday eve. was less popular.)