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Train exists on Trainline but not on TOC site - is it legit?

Posted by on

Hello all, I am a longtime user of Rick Steves' books and forum, but a first-time poster.

I am trying to book a train from Luxembourg to Paris this coming July. There is an SNCF train listed on the Trainline website that is the perfect timing for my itinerary (leaves Luxembourg 1:15 pm, arrives Paris 4:52 pm). I went to the TOC (train operating company) website, as I always prefer to book straight from the source and not use a third party, and the 1:15 pm train does not exist on the SNCF website. The SNCF website only has one train approximately three hours before the time I found on Trainline, and another train approximately three hours after the time I found on Trainline. Neither of these train times are ideal.

Everything I have read online says that Trainline is a reputable company, but I am wary of booking a ticket through a third party for a train that doesn't seem to exist on the TOC website. However, if I can be assured that the 1:15 pm train does exist and my Trainline ticket will be a valid ticket for an actual train, then I would prefer to book the 1:15 pm train.

Can anyone explain why an SNCF train would be listed on Trainline but not on SNCF? Has anyone experienced anything like this who may have some insight? Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you so much!

Posted by
4194 posts

Are you sure the train is operated by SCNF? Perhaps it is operated by CFL.

Posted by
22251 posts

What is the exact date you are looking at? I am seeing most departures as train replacement buses from Luxembourg on the particular date I looked at in July.

Posted by
845 posts

It appears that the first leg of your itinerary is actually a bus (from Luxembourg to Saarbrucken),
assuming I have it right. I don't know your actual date of travel, but the times on Tuesday July 8th
from Trainline line up.

My guess is that the bus out of Luxembourg does not have a reciprocal type of agreement with
SNCF, so SNCF cannot book it as part of an itinerary.

I can see the train that leaves Saarbrucken at 15:00 on the SNCF site, so I have a decent amount
of confidence that is the issue. You might have to book the two legs separately.

Posted by
9543 posts

I agree the first train is a bus, and a bus operated by a company independent of the railways.
So if the bus is late for any reason meaning you mid your 25 minute connection you are buying a new train ticket at walk up prices assuming room and however long the wait is. Neither Train line or SNCF (or the bus company) have any responsibility in that situation.

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