Page 382 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Paris

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Using SNCF Trains

The French state railway, Société Nationale des
Chemins de Fer (SNCF), has two services in Paris: the
Banlieue suburban service and the Grandes Lignes,
or long-distance service. The suburban services all
operate within the five-zone network (see p374).
The long-distance services operate throughout
France. These services allow visitors to travel to
parts of France close to Paris in a day round trip.
The TGV high-speed service is particularly useful
for such journeys, as it is capable of travelling about
twice as fast as standard trains (see pp370–71).
Gare de l’Est railway station in 1920
Railway Stations Tickets
SNCF sells several travel cards
France has always been known Tickets to suburban destinations that give fare reductions of
for the punctuality of its trains, can be purchased at automatic around 50 per cent, including
and has maintained a high level machines located inside station the Carte 12–27 for young
of investment in the state- halls (the machines give change; people, Carte Senior for people
owned rail system, SNCF. most also take credit cards). You over 60 years of age, Carte
As the railway hub of France, can also buy tickets at the ticket Escapades for frequent travellers
Paris boasts six major internat- counters. These are marked with and Carte Enfant + for parents
ional railway stations operated panels indicating the kind of with small children. Further
by the SNCF: the Gare du Nord, tickets (billets) sold: Banlieue details of fares are available on
Gare de l’Est, Gare de Lyon, Gare for suburban tickets, Grandes the SNCF website (see p371).
d’Austerlitz, Gare St-Lazare and Lignes for mainline tickets and Before boarding a train,
Gare Montparnasse (see p370). Internationale for international travellers must remember to
All the main train stations tickets. Fare rates vary according time-punch (composter) their
have long-distance and to the type of train. tickets and reservations in a
suburban destinations. Some of For all trains that can be composteur machine. Beware
the main suburban locations, booked online through the that inspectors do check
such as Versailles and Chantilly, SNCF or Rail Europe websites, travellers’ tickets and anyone
are served by both long- there are two or three basic who fails to time-punch their
distance and suburban trains. fare rates for each class. The ticket can be fined.
Stations have departures and cheapest tickets are called
arrivals boards showing the PREMs, which are advance-
train number, departure and purchase fares that cannot be
arrival times, delay, platform altered after payment; weekend
number, place of departure and and last-minute specials are
main stops en route. For those also offered as PREMs. On some
with heavy luggage, there are trains, fares are cheaper at off-
trolleys, requiring a €1 coin peak times (périodes bleus).
(refunded when the trolley Peak times (périodes blanches)
is returned). See the SNCF are from 5am until 10am on A double-decker Banlieue train
website for further information Monday and from 3pm until Suburban Trains
(see p371). 8pm on Friday and Sunday.
Suburban lines are found at
all main Paris train stations and
Composteur Machine are clearly marked Banlieue.
The composteur machines Tickets for city transport
are located in station halls and at cannot be used on Banlieue
the head of each platform. Tickets trains, with the exception of
and reservations must be inserted some RER tickets to stations
face up. with both SNCF and RER lines.
Several tourist destinations
are served by Banlieue trains,
including Chantilly, Chartres,
Giverny and Versailles (see
pp250–55). For further
destinations, look at the
A time-punched ticket SNCF website (see p371).

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