senior card for rail and alternates to train for Giverny/Vernon

I was under the impression you had to live in the European Union to purchase those cards, but perhaps I'm incorrect.

When you write:

"...due to no United States (or other iteration of US) available on the pick list."

Does that include États-Unis d'Amérique? Or just États-Unis?

If abbreviated, keep in mind that the French abbreviation for the USA is EU, while the abbreviation for European Union is UE.

Might be a bit confusing.

Bob, I did look under etats but not EU--will check.
Thanks, Cynthia

you had to live in the European Union to purchase those cards,

Actually, you only need to be in France to obtain a senior card; available at any train station or SNCF boutique. Cost is 60€, valid for one year, attach a photo to identify you are the bearer. Without the card, your senior tickets are of little value.

Without the card, your senior tickets are of little value.

Not sure what this means. There is a senior card and there are senior fare tickets that are not the same thing. The senior card gives you discounts off of regular train fares. There are often special senior fares on French trains that are less than regular fare - if available on your train, these can be purchased without a senior card. A senior card does not give you additional discounts off of these one-time senior fares. At least that's how I understand it.

A senior card does not give you additional discounts off of these one-time senior fares.

There is no restriction in purchasing a senior fare at 25% off for 2nd class and 40% off on 1st class. You only need to indicate during the purchase process that you have the discount card and the fare discounts are automatically applied to the purchase price. However, when traveling on a senior fare, you must show the carte senior to the ticket inspector. If you do not have the card in your possession when traveling on a discounted fare, fine amounts are significant.

The carte enfant and the carte jeune work in the same way.

I traveled several times on French trains with a ticket purchased at the 'senior' fare rate. I was never asked for any senior card and I never purchased one. Just purchased the senior fare when buying the tickets online and I think I had to show my passport to show that I was old enough to qualify for the senior fare. If I was wrong, then I guess I just never got caught, but I'm still not sure I did wrong.

EDIT: Okay, I have it figured out. When selecting advance tickets on the SNCF website, if you put in >60 for your age you get a small discount on the regular fare (if senior fares are offered on that route and train), even if you have no 'senior card'. If you put in >60 AND you check that you have a 'senior card' then you get a much lower rate - but you have to show your senior card when you use that ticket or get the fine.

Senior fares are available on many routes and trains without cards. I have purchased them in person and no card was required. BUT these tickets do have restricted travel times. They black out times when commuters are traveling i.e. early morning and late afternoon early evening and very popular times like Sunday late afternoon and evening. We were given a flyer with those times clearly blacked out and shown so we could take appropriate trains. I think for long distance high speed trains, the fares may require the senior card.

Some of you are confusing fares for those over 60, available on certain TER or Intercité trains with fares purchased using the carte senior+. The TER discounts are train specific, not available on all trains, and do not require your purchasing a card.

Tickets purchased using the carte senior are not limited to any specific train. These discounts are available on any train but you absolutely must have the card in your possession when traveling. As the OP refers to senior rail cards, this reference can only be associated with carte senior usage.

Tocard, if you read my "Edit", that's exactly what I figured out. I was confused by your answer. Even though the OP was asking about the senior card, I wanted to make it clearer to anyone else who might be reading this thread and was also confused.

Thank you to all. I did check the website for an alternate "EU" for US--not there. Truly almost everywhere else in the world seems to be listed--not just European U. countries.

I will purchase the cards once in France as one poster noted they must be bought in France.

And I have come to the same conclusions as Nancy as to how these work.
I've not had any responses to the Giverny question and so am going to post as a separate issue.

Merci, Cynthia