TGV
- All of France within your reach
- Enjoy seeing the French country side pass you by while you travel
- Change trains in Brussels or Paris
- No extra costs for luggage
Schedule TGV
With TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse, the French high-speed train) you can travel quickly to your favourite destinations in France. Sit back in your comfortable chair while you travel at 320 kilometres an hour! Another plus: you do not need to check-in your luggage or be at the station hours in advance.
- Route Paris - West France (dir. Lille and Nantes)
- Route Paris - Southwest France (dir. Bordeaux and Toulouse)
- Route Paris - East France (dir. Dijon and Straatsburg)
- Route Paris - Northeast France (dir. Geneva and Chambéry)
- Route Brussels - North and Southeast France (dir. Lyon, Disneyland and Marseille)
Changing trains Brussels or Paris
For cities in the southeast of France, like Marseille and Montpellier, you can travel to Brussels South/Midi with Eurostar or with Eurocity Direct. In Brussels you can catch a connecting TGV train so that you don’t have to pass through, but around, Paris. To travel with TGV to other destinations in France, like Bordeaux, Toulouse and Straatsburg, you’ll first need to travel to Paris Nord with Eurostar. Read more about changing trains in Paris Nord and Brussels-South/Midi
Rates TGV
TGV has different rates. Prices depend on the time of booking (early booking is cheaper!) and the flexibility of the ticket relating to changing and cancelling. TGV can be booked three months in advance. SNCF sometimes extends this for 4-5 months, you can see this in the booking module.
Tickets TGV
You can book tickets online to almost all TGV destinations. Online booking is simple, making it very easy to discover la douce France in a pleasant way!
Seat reservations
You TGV ticket always includes a seat reservation. So you book a ticket for a specific train. The carriage and seat number is indicated on your ticket. The carriage numbers are printed on the side of TGV trains. That way you'll know the best place to board the train.
The price depends on
- The moment of booking - Early booking means lowest prices
- Travel class - 1st or 2nd class
- Flexibility - Regarding changing or cancelling bookings
Book in advance and save money!
Do you want to and can you book far in advance? Choose a Non-flex ticket for the lowest fare. If you want more flexibility, choose another rate.
General tips for getting the cheapest tickets
- Book as early as possibly to have the most chance of getting the cheapest tickets
- Tickets for Eurostar and TGV can be booked 122 days in advance
- For a weekend getaway, travel Sat-Sun-Mon instead of Fri-Sat-Sun.
- Book online to avoid booking fee
TGV classes
TGV has 2 classes: Comfort 1 (1st class) and Comfort 2 (2nd class). In Comfort 1 you will benefit from additional advantages such as ample seating and complimentary lounge access.
2nd class
- Comfortable seating (92 cm legroom)
- Communication and family areas
- Extra luggage area
- Bar carriage where you can order snacks, meals and hot and cold drinks
1st class
- Maximum comfort
- Spacious and adjustable seats (as much as 95 cm legroom!)
- Outlets for your electrical equiment
- Bar carriage where you can order snacks, meals and hot and cold drinks
- More flexibility when cancelling or changing tickets
- Access to the NS International Lounges at Amsterdam Centraal, Schiphol and Rotterdam Centraal
On board TGV
From within the light, cheerful compartments, designed by French designer Christain Lacroix, you will see the French country side fly past while you enjoy the optimal comfort of the spacious seats with headrest, folding table, footrest, adjustable backrest and personal nightlight!
Luggage
Conditions
- Each passenger is allowed to bring 2 pieces of regular luggage and 1 piece of hand luggage, or 1 piece of bulky luggage and 1 piece of regular luggage.
- There are no fixed dimensions, but regular luggage must not exceed 32 kg in weight or 85 cm in length.
- If you are travelling with a low-cost TGV ticket purchased via the OuiGo website (not bookable via NS International), stricter luggage rules apply.
- Luggage and identity checks are carried out at some stations.
What may I bring
Regular luggage
- Travel bags
- Backpacks
- Suitcases
Oversized baggage (permitted as 1 piece)
- Folded pushchairs
- Folding bicycles (folded)
- Bicycles without front and rear wheels, packed and max. 1.20 × 0.90 m
- Skis
- Surfboards (packed, max. 1.20 × 0.90 m)
- Golf bags
- Musical instruments in hard cases
- Folded (electric) wheelchairs
What may I not bring
Customs and TGV regulations
- Weapons, replicas and toy weapons
- Ammunition and fireworks
- Dangerous sports equipment (such as javelins, crossbows, fencing sabres, starting pistols)
- Dangerous tools (such as pruning shears, large knives)
- Products intended for trade
- Items that cause nuisance, for example due to strong odours
- Tandems and other bulky items that do not comply with packaging regulations
Regional trains in France
Conditions
There is limited luggage space on regional French trains, and there are no fixed rules regarding weight or dimensions. Large luggage racks, like those found on TGVs, are not available; instead, you will mainly find small racks above or below the seats. Large or bulky luggage may be refused if there is insufficient space.
What may I bring
In general, you are allowed to bring 2 pieces of luggage and 1 piece of hand luggage, or 1 piece of non-standard luggage (such as a folded pushchair, musical instrument or packaged bicycle), plus 1 regular suitcase and 1 piece of hand luggage. Unpacked bicycles are permitted on many Intercités and TER trains, but a reservation may be required. This does not apply to TGVs.
What may I not bring
Prohibited items include replica weapons, ammunition and fireworks, as defined by customs regulations. Very large items may also be refused if they cannot be stored safely.
Family areas
Travelling with TGV is comfortable and practical for families. Tip! Book a place in the area especially reserved for families: your children have access to a table which they can use to play and you can easily heat up a meal for them or change a diaper. In this case, you can not book tickets online but you can book tickets by calling our Service Centre (030-2300023).
Food and drink
Do you want something to eat or drink? TGV offers a wide variety of meals that are available in the Bar TGV, the kiosk or one of the vending machines. At the same time, you can discover our selection of DVDs, magazines, games and cards!
