SNCF operates the trains in France, correction: at one time SNCF thought a subsidiary operated the Virginia Railway Express - the commuter trains here in northern Virginia. On the recent trip, I booked six trains, we rode five of them.
SNCF has an easy to use website that has an excellent English version. You can search for trains, book and pay online, download the boarding passes as a pdf - and either fight with them on your phone or print them at home. It is the easiest to use train website I have used. I have given up on a couple of them, and booked the wrong date on one of them and had to deal with customer non-service to rebook. The German system was good back in 2015, I think this was even more user friendly. Booking trains in trains Britain has gotten harder and more confusing over the past 20 years.
All of the trains were on time and comfortable. As an American I am always surprised by the speed and smoothness of passenger trains in Europe. 100 miles an hour is not unusual for a normal train in Europe, rare here in the USA.
I booked a French train from Barcelona in Spain, to Narbonne in France. I was pleased to book this on SNCF. The train stopped near the border and the police came through checking passports (surprising as both countries are in the EU.)
We then took a local train to Carcassonne. Then a local from Carcassonne to Nimes. Then at the end of the trip a TGV, the original French high speed train from Nimes to the airport in Paris.
Now I booked six trains, and we rode five? I had booked local from Nimes to the TGV station that is about 15 miles away in the countryside (an 8 minute train ride.) We had a taxi take us to the train station in Nimes, and he took us directly to the TGV station. I realized when he went left instead of right, what he was doing, and thought this is a comfortable ride and one less train to lug bags on and off of. It was an extra $25, remember you can't take it with you.
There were two challenges. We were on the road for five weeks and had large heavy bags, several of the older stations didn't have elevators (lifts) to the platforms, and carrying the bags up and down stairs was a bit of a job. In one station a very kind young lady carried one of the big bags up for us. The second issue was seat numbering, SNCF uses electronic seat numbers on digital displays. The seat numbers change as one passenger exits and the next one booked in the same reserved seat boards. As a result the seat numbers are not in order. One one train we were in seats 11 and 12, and the next row in front of us was 36 and 37. This caused confusion for those not accustomed to the system.
From Nimes to Paris is about 350 miles, and took about three and half hours on the train. Flying it would take about an hour, and by the time you get to the airport 2 hours before flight time, it is about a wash on time. And the train ride is so comfortable (and I had booked first class.)
It is a nice way to travel.
I love train travel here, and you’re right about the amount of time it ends up taking as compared to flying. That seat numbering sure would be confusing.
ReplyDeleteAnd the displays are not in the same place from train to train.
DeleteElectronic seat numbering in England is great, and if you are an unreserved passenger, you can see which seats will be available between which stations. But I don't get why SNCF would change the seat numbers.
ReplyDeleteYes, even though you are in Schengen Zone, at times there are checks.
I am very surprised that the SNCF operates Virginian trains. Further research needed.
In Ireland the display showed the name of the person who had reserved the seat.
DeleteI seriously wish we had highspeed rail in this country because I'd prefer it over flying.
ReplyDeleteOutside of the northeast corridor, it is often faster to drive than take the train in this country. DC to Chicago is a 12 hour drive, or an 18 hour train ride.
DeleteThose out-of-order seat numbers sound like a nightmare, especially if it's a big train.
ReplyDeleteThere are like 80 seats in the car.
DeleteI'm always impressed by the trains in Europe. I truly wish we had them here. At least you have some good trains in your area but we have none. There should be an high speed train between Phoenix and Tucson and one between Phoenix and Los Angeles. They would have lots of customers.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised that Phoenix has no train service. From there to LA with a stop in Palm Springs would be a winner.
DeleteI love train travel. Love my Orient Express trip. I bet train travel is gonna more popular again.
ReplyDeleteI was riding along on an electric train, looking out a fields of solar farms and windmills, thinking I am riding a wind powered train.
DeleteIt is sad that the trains in the USA are not up to speed (pardon the pun) with trains in Europe and Asia. I just was in Italy and rode their high speed train from Rome to Venice. It was amazing.
ReplyDeleteThat is a great ride.
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