Buying an SNCF Senior + card in the UK

I think what the website means is that you must buy the senior card at least 7 days ahead of time.

Last year I flew into Nice and simply bought the card at the train station before taking my first trip. I had not bought any train tickets before arrival. Some I bought at staffed counters; others, at vending machines. I think I did pull out the card and hand it to the ticket agents when I purchased my tickets, but I don't remember whether they ever looked at it. I'm nearly certain the vending machines didn't ask for the number after I indicated I had the card. The card-verification is done by the ticket-checker on the train itself.

I'd test this out by doing a dummy ticket purchase on the SNCF website, stopping before you enter a credit card number for payment. If you've gotten that far and not been asked for your Senior+ card number, that should mean you can buy all your tickets at the senior rate before you leave home and buy the card upon arrival--if you will have time to do so before taking your first train. Be sure you have the card in hand before using a senior ticket.

I assume you are right that you're qualified at age 63, but I was over 65 when I bought my card.

I would certainly not make a special trip to France to buy the senior card.

It can be ordered on the internet. Savings start at age 60. It costs €60 a year. I've just done a dummy run. France is automatically highlighted in the country field. Just click that and then you get a country list. USA is not listed, nor the French spelling, that I saw but "Other Countries" is an option. For Just a Temp Home who has a British address the UK is shown under "Great Britain".

I stopped before paying for it so I don't know what it says after that, but I see no reason that you can't book tickets with the discount and then get the card (with the correct starting date, or even get it now if you like to plan ahead) and make sure that you have something to show the train manager.

Thanks to you both for your replies. It's always interesting to read of the experiences of others. Thing is, the question I was asking was not answered. The question was - How do i get the Senior + card to me in the UK to be able to use it to book tickets in advance.

So I've revisited en.oui.sncf to see if I missed anything and while I was looking deep into the site, a "Chat with us - talk with an agent" prompt appeared. Right on cue. So I had a quick chat and 3 minutes later, i had the answer to the question. The answer is - I can book all the journeys I want to make online, on the basis that I already own a Senior + railcard! Then when I get to France, I buy one there. That's it.

This confirms the assumption of Nigel. Glad i checked it out, you can't book stuff on an assumption.

A special trip to France just for the card? Hey, what can say, I could use it as a practice trip on Eurostar to Paris (never been), so come the main event I know how it works in terms of times, tickets, etc.

Just a bit more to say. I had spent a long time comparing times of travel, different routes, prices without/with the Senior + card, 1stclass/2ndclass, different websites, even direction of travel. It was on the back of all the research that I realised there were some seriously deep-cut prices to be had if you knew when to look, where to look and you were flexible with destinations. The icing on the cake was supercheap options for 1st class. By including either a flight to the start (or from the end) of a long train journey - in my case BHX to Perpignan for under £20, I have found the price for the whole journey can be amazingly cheap.

Have to confess, I got a lot of inspiration, ideas and knowledge from the man in seat61 to get me to this point.

Thanks everyone for the input.

Sorry I wasn't clear. That's what I was trying to say when I suggested doing a test-booking online to see whether you could get through the process without having to enter the Senior+ card number you don't yet have.

Since you're interested in transportation bargains: Perpignan is a bus and rail hub. When I was in that area last summer, there were some 1-euro fares to local destinations on both buses and trains.

In addition, not right in that area but possibly close enough for an out-and-back day-trip is the SNCF Yellow Train. This is an old narrow-gauge rail line through the Pyrenees, running from Villefranche-de-Conflent (very touristy but very picturesque fortified town) to La Tour de Carol. As I recall, the most scenic part of the route is the section between Villefrance-de-Conflent and Font Romeu--the segment on which the schedule shows extra trains. You can find some photos and video via Google.

I'm sorry i wasn't clearer about you receiving it at your British address. I got as far as the last step....

Perhaps getting it in France would be easier, but the logic stands. Buying tickets on the understanding that you had to have the card before its first use is the way it is done in the UK too, with our Senior Railcard.

Paris to Perpignan TGV...I did that ride in 2011, it was 5 hrs, the grandson, still ten at the time , was with us. About a week later we did the return back to Paris, this time on 1st class.