Overview, French rail discounts

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French rail discounts

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Overview12-25 CardSenior CardChild Plus CardEscapades Card

Get up to 60% off French rail travel

An SNCF card could save you a bundle on train tickets

Discounts in France

If you plan on taking full advantage of France’s huge rail network, it’s a good idea to order an SNCF card. Each card offers big discounts on unlimited train journeys for a year. And that includes up to 60% on trains like the high speed TGV and Teoz, local TER, and Lunea sleeper trains.

There are 4 cards to choose from, including options for youths, seniors and children. Find out more about each below:

12-25 Card

More details

Senior

More details

Child Plus Card

More details

Escapades Card

More details

How do I order a card?

For advice and to order an SNCF card, phone our call centre or visit the Rail Europe Travel Centre in London. Booking fees apply.

From:

To:

Journey:

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Depart:

Return:

Passenger age requirements

Rail Tickets

When you fill in the Rail Tickets or Rail Passes search form, you’ll need to indicate the ages of the passengers travelling.

Adults: 26-59 years

Seniors*: 60+ years

Youths*: 25 years and under

Children*:The age at which a child qualifies for a ‘child’ fare varies across Europe. The table below provides a breakdown by country:

Age ranges classed as children	Countries
4-11	France, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia, Greece, Italy, Macedonia, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain.
4-12	Czech Republic
4-16	Norway
6-11	Belgium, Bulgaria, Luxembourg, Slovakia, Slovenia.
6-13	Hungary.
6-14	Germany, Sweden
6-15	Austria, Denmark, Switzerland.
6-16	Finland.

Infants: Under 4 or 6 years. Infants travel for free when they share a seat/sleeping berth with a paying passenger.

If you are travelling on a train that crosses international borders, child fares generally apply to those aged between 4 and 11 years. Check exact fare conditions at time of booking.

*If there are no Senior, Youth or Child fares available for your journey, you’ll be offered an Adult fare.

Access

Cycles

Dietary

Useful travel information

Train travel for disabled passengers

When planning your trip, bear in mind that the standard of disabled facilities on trains and at stations around Europe varies. Special equipment can sometimes be reserved in advance. Read up on what to expect in the Destinations & stations and European routes and trains sections of this site.

What about disabled seating?

Some of Europe's more modern trains have special onboard areas for disabled passengers.
To travel in these spaces you'll need to book a ticket in advance. For advice and to book tickets, phone the Rail Europe call centre or visit our London Travel Centre.

Useful travel information

Taking your bike

Almost all European trains allow bikes folded in a bike bag with the saddle, handlebars and wheels removed. And, as long as it's no bigger than a normal suitcase, it'll be covered as part of your luggage allowance. But if you can't fit your bike into a bike bag, some trains also have bicycle spaces which you will need to pre-book when you book your ticket. To make your booking, phone the Rail Europe call centre or visit our London Travel Centre as bike spaces can't be booked online.

Alternatively, why not simply rent a bike when you arrive in the cities you plan to explore? Major cities have bike rental schemes and you can often pick bikes up and drop them off at points across the city.

Useful travel information

Special dietary requirements

If you're travelling in Business Premier or Leisure Select on Eurostar there's a choice of meals including options for those with special dietary requirements. Simply make your selection when you book your tickets online more than 36 hours in advance. You can find out more about the food served on trains in the European routes and trains sections of this site.

For further advice on the above and to book tickets, phone the Rail Europe call centre or visit our London Travel Centre.

Type:

Class:

Period:

Start date:

Total:

Children aged 6 - 15 years go free when travelling with at least one parent holding a Swiss Travel System product. To claim free child travel and complete your booking, please call us on 08448 484 064 (Mon to Fri 9am-7pm, Sat 9am-6pm).

Continue Booking

Access

Cycles

Dietary

Useful travel information

Train travel for disabled passengers

What about disabled seating?

Useful travel information

Taking your bike

Useful travel information

Special dietary requirements

For further advice on the above and to book tickets, phone the Rail Europe call centre or visit our London Travel Centre.

Passenger age requirements

Rail Passes

When you fill in the rail passes search form, you’ll need to indicate the ages of the passengers travelling.

InterRail Passes

Global Pass:

Below are the different types of InterRail Global Pass.
To work out which one you qualify for, take your age on the first day you’ll use your pass.

Youth pass: 12-25 years
Adult pass: 26-59 years
Child pass: 4-11 years
Senior pass: 60+ years
Children under 4 travel free.

If you’re thinking of travelling on a Youth pass, please note that there’s no first class option. If you want to travel first class you should choose an Adult pass.

One Country Pass:

Below are the different types of InterRail One Country Pass. When working out which one you qualify for, take your age on the first day you’ll travel with your pass.

Youth pass: 12-25 years
Adult pass: 26+ years
Child pass: 4-11 years
Children under 4 travel free.

Please note that there is no Senior option when booking an InterRail One Country Pass.
Plus there’s no first class InterRail pass for travel in Norway.

Swiss Travel System

Swiss Pass & Swiss Flexi Pass:

When working out which pass you qualify for, take your age on the first day you’ll travel with your pass.

Youth pass: 16-25 years
Adult pass: 26+ years
Children: Children under 6 travel free while children aged 6-15 travel free with a parent or guardian holding a Swiss Travel System product. To complete your booking including free travel for your children, please call us on 08448 484 064 (Mon to Fri 9am-7pm, Sat 9am-6pm).

Swiss Card / Swiss Transfer Ticket:

Available for adults and children only, in first or standard class.
Important: Children under 6 travel free while children aged 6-15 travel free with a parent or guardian holding a Swiss Travel System product. To complete your booking including free travel for your children, please call us on 08448 484 064 (Mon to Fri 9am-7pm, Sat 9am-6pm).

Rail Europe – your European rail experts

We’re the UK’s leading specialist in tickets and passes for European rail travel. As the UK representative of the French National Railways (the SNCF) we’ve helped millions of travellers book train travel for the best part of a century. Great news if you’re planning a trip to - or around - the Continent by rail. Trust us to give you expert advice and provide the best ticket or pass options for your travel needs.

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