Recent train travel in France

We used to use rail passes for more than 3 or 4 days of train travel. Train choices and fares are easily available on line so research can tell you whether a pass worth the price. We had 5 days of rail travel. The combined fares were half the price of a 5 day rail pass. Using the French rail website, we looked for trains that had no connections, at times that allowed decent departure and arrival times ( most hotel rooms are not available until 3 pm although storing baggage in the hotel was never a problem) and offered lower local fare "TER" trains. I booked tickets on-line giving France as my country, charged the tickets and printed out the tickets at home with seats assured, sort of. The Intercity trains are faster and require advanced booking and offer seat selection. You can print tickets with your car and seat number before arriving in France. I indicated seat in direction of travel, but that never happened.
In a few cases, we bought tickets in the station just before departure knowing the train numbers and times from advanced research at home which made the booking conversation very straight forward. The fare quoted on-line for seniors of 60+ was exact to the penny. Most trains were almost on time.
In many stations, there was a sign indicating where on the platform your car is expected to stop. In most cases that did not happen as trains were in reverse order. First Class cars have a large 1 on the side or 2 for second class (still nice cars and quite comfortable). The actual car number is a small number set into the window on the door at either end of the car. TIP: Stand in the middle of the platform so you can scoot in either direction. Watch for the pattern of car numbers as the train rolls into the station and figure out which is, say, Car 4. Unfortunately, in many cases, the car number was hidden once the car door was open. Moving between cars with baggage can be a trial so try to get on your assigned car.
Keep all baggage either with you or right overhead. There are "passengers" who hop on a train and steal baggage just before hopping off at the next station. We saw attendants aggressively chasing off potential thieves at several stations. We never actually had any of our tickets checked by any of the attendants on any trains.

There might be people sitting in your assigned seats when you board the train. Toss them off to other seats. Use your assigned seats as empty seats might be booked by passengers joining the train at the next stop and you then need to move yourselves and your baggage, usually as the train is starting off. Some passengers get on the train, pay no fare, do not make eye contact trying to look quite official while pretending to read a newspaper but have the system of free travel down pat. Do not be intimidated, take your seat, look at the view, look over your head as you enter a stop and watch your baggage and the settling in process then ride on.

TIP: before you leave home, make a list of your train trips and from the website. List the train number TER 3452, departure place and time, arrival place and time for your stop and LIST ALL THE STOPS so can follow the progress of the train and be ready to get your baggage down and jump when you know you are near your stop.. Announcements can be very rapid and unintelligible. As well, stops in smaller centres can be quite brief.
This may all seem quite stressful and potentially confusing but it is all fairly obvious after a train or two. On every trip, although I don't think we look befuddled, others offered assistance, eye contact offers of support and pleasure to see our CANADA baggage straps around our small carry-bags.
DRIVING: Try to avoid driving as the driver, misses the scenery. Local drivers are fast, can be intolerant and in most cases they have no idea you are a visitor. Then there is the issue of parking. While wandering a town, village or city, look for where you might park and the answer becomes clear.