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Inspiration and great deals for your next low-carbon trips
Have you decided to take the train more often? Great—it’s a mode of transportation eco-friendly, practical, and comfortable ! Problem: Contrary to your desire for eco-friendly travel, Your wallet, on the other hand, isn't stretchy… Don't lose hope—it's entirely possible to take a train trip without breaking the bank. Here are all the Our Best Tips for Paying Less your train ticket!
Saving money goes hand in hand with anticipate ! It's not always easy, but if you want to find cheap tickets, planning ahead is your best bet.
Most tickets can be booked several months in advance (for TGV Inoui and INTERCITÉS trains, SNCF Voyageurs generally makes tickets available for purchase 4 months in advance). For trains low-cost, it’s possible to book even earlier! And for trips during school breaks, SNCF Voyageurs has announced when tickets will go on sale. To find out when to book your tickets, go to in our dedicated article !
Summary table from our book "Traveling by Train with HOURRAIL!" (page 258)
Article
Travel by train with HOURRAIL: our travel book
And to make sure you don't miss any sales, don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter (great deals and low-carbon travel inspiration, every other Thursday, delivered to your inbox for free):
Our best train deals, straight to your inbox
Via our tool for booking all-inclusive vacations, created in partnership with Verytrain, you can save money on your trip! Specifically, you can enjoy:
As you might expect, if you want to save money, it's best not to travel at the same time as everyone else. So we recommend that you Avoid, as much as possible, times when it's very crowded (Friday and Sunday evenings, school vacation periods, etc.). For example, trains on Saturday mornings (excluding school holidays) are often cheaper than those on Friday evenings. If your situation allows it, it might be worth a try!
The widespread adoption of the telework encourages this flexibility: it’s now possible to work on TGV trains, virtually all of which are equipped with Wi-Fi and an electrical outlet (for a few euros extra on low-cost trains). Instead of leaving on Friday night at 1:30 a.m., why not take the 3:00 p.m. train instead?
Please note: Early-morning trains to major cities aren't always the cheapest; many commuters take them to get to work.
We assume no responsibility for remote workers who might find other things to do on the train!
Pro tip: Some airlines even offer special deals for travelers who can be flexible with their dates. This is the case with Eurostar and its offer last minute Eurostar Snap. How does it work? You choose a date and a time slot (morning or afternoon), You can get tickets at up to 50% off, and Eurostar picks your train: you'll receive your schedule no later than 48 hours before departure. Please note that these tickets are neither exchangeable nor refundable. It's a great deal if you can be flexible!
You're probably already familiar with Ouigo, the low-cost service launched by the SNCF in 2013. Today, Ouigo serves more than 70 destinations in France at low prices. Now, more than 50 destinations are available for low-cost travel.
But also consider the OUIGO Train Classique option. It's certainly slower, but it lets you travel to 15 destinations, including Paris, Rennes, and Nantes, for tickets ranging from €10 to a maximum of €49 (and never more than €59 on the new Paris-Bordeaux route)!
These TER or Corail trains labeled “OUIGO” will take you to your destination for a very low price, though the travel time will be longer.
Another advantage: the price is capped, even at the last minute. Find out more all destinations served by this offer.
At this unbeatable price, the service offered is bound to be different from the TGV:
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New OUIGO Routes: Lyon–Bordeaux Direct in 2027 and a Wave of Low-Cost Train Lines
But if your main concern is saving money, then this offer is perfect for you!
Also keep in mind the TER or INTERCITÉS, which are generally less expensive than TGV trains because they are operated under a public service contract (that is, they are operated under a public service agreement).
And let's not forget the newcomer to Europe: GoVolta, also known as the “easyJet of rail”! What does that mean, exactly? A route from Amsterdam to Berlin starting in March 2026, and a Direct flights from Paris to Amsterdam starting December 14, 2026, with tickets starting at €19 (on sale now). These low-cost trains could very well be a game-changer for traveling in Europe without breaking the bank (or your carbon footprint). We’ll break it all down for you in this article:
Article
GoVolta: Europe's New Low-Cost Trains (Prices, Routes, Dates)
Don't forget about price comparison sites! If you only use SNCF Connect, you won't have access to offers from other carriers, which may sometimes provide better rates and different schedules.
On certain routes open to competition (such as Paris–Milan or Marseille–Barcelona), we recommend comparison sites like:
If the trains low-cost don't suit you, the Avantage Discount Cards The deals offered by the SNCF are a great way to save money. If you take the train more than three times a year, don't miss out—you'll quickly get your money's worth out of the card!
A discount card for every profile
The price of 49 € is the same for all cards (except the Liberté card). The concept is simple: a 30% discount is available on certain routes with price caps in second class, but the terms vary depending on the fare type.
Specifically, a maximum of €49 for a trip lasting less than 1 hour and 30 minutes, €69 for trips lasting between 1 hour and 30 minutes and 3 hours, and €89 for trips longer than that (TGV INOUI and INTERCITÉS in 2nd class)
In any case, SNCF believes that the card is pays for itself after just 3 trips. And with the Adult Advantage Card, The person accompanying you (over 12 years old) also gets the 30% discount, as well as up to 3 children ages 4 to 11, who receive a 60% discount.
The only downsides: the map isn't Not valid on OUIGO trains or on certain TER trains, and it is subject to certain conditions if you are between the ages of 27 and 59: the discount applies to round-trip tickets that include an overnight stay on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday; to one-way tickets on Saturdays and Sundays; and every day if you are traveling with a child.
Good to know: SNCF regularly offers the Avantage card at a discounted price, sometimes at half price, especially around the start of the school year. And to make sure you don't miss the next sale, subscribe to our Locomissive !
Our best train deals, straight to your inbox
Are you between 16 and 27 years old? Do you take the train at least 2 to 3 times a month, and are you flexible about your travel plans? For frequent train travelers, SNCF also offers a plan that lets you travel without breaking the bank OR increasing your carbon footprint for 79 €/month.
MAX JEUNE Subscription
How does it work? 30% off guaranteed all year round in 7th and 8th grade, and tickets for 0 € in second class on select trains (TGV INOUI, INTERCITÉS with mandatory reservations, and OUIGO Grande Vitesse). Seats for €0 can be reserved anywhere from 30 days before departure up to the last minute, except during peak travel periods. The subscription can be canceled three months after enrollment.
Find all the details about the MAX JEUNE offer here.
You've probably already heard of the Interrail pass, which is very useful if you're planning to travel by train in Europe. There are multi-country passes and passes that are valid only in one country.
What's the benefit of this pass? Flexibility! You can change your itinerary at any time, depending on what you feel like doing. However, reservations are required for some trains: in that case, you’ll need to pay an additional fee to confirm your reservation. For more information, visit the Interrail website.
But there are other, lesser-known passes that offer unlimited—or nearly unlimited—travel throughout Europe! These include the German D-Ticket, the Trenitalia Pass, and more… For more information, check out our An article about the different travel passes for traveling in Europe.
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Train Passes in Europe: Which Rail Pass Should You Choose?
And because even we sometimes have trouble figuring it all out, we've included a summary table in our book Travel by train with HOURRAIL!. It's a gift:
The Different Rail Passes in Europe - "Practical Guide" section of our book "Traveling by Train with HOURRAIL!" published by Hachette
Although not widely known, this program allows employees, public servants, self-employed individuals, job seekers, retirees, and several other groups to take advantage of once a year 25% off a round-trip ticket (calculated based on the full leisure fare in second class)." Then, "To take advantage of this offer, download the form (here) to submit your request. on the SNCF Voyageurs website, then submit it along with your supporting documentation following the instructions provided. Requirement: Your round-trip ticket must be for at least 200 km.
Good to know: The discount applies to the full price, so be sure to compare it with any lower prices available before submitting your request.
The best deals often sell out within a few hours. To get notified in time, subscribe to our newsletter (every other Thursday) and to the newsletters from the airlines you fly most often. We've compiled a list of all the channels to follow (newsletters, social media accounts, and alerts) in a dedicated article:
Article
Special offers and cheap train tickets: the accounts you should definitely follow
Of course, all these tips are useless if your train is sold out! And that’s happening more and more often on high-demand routes (Paris–Nice, Paris–Biarritz…), sometimes just a few days after tickets go on sale.
The good news is that a “sold-out” train is almost never actually sold out for good. Between cancellations, expired reservations, and ticket exchanges, seats become available all the time—you just have to be there at the right moment to snag them.
Here are two options depending on your situation:
- The free solution: Enable the "train full" alert on SNCF Connect. You'll receive a notification as soon as a seat becomes available, but you'll need to book it very quickly—within a few minutes.
- The automated solution: Full Train monitors available seats for you (cancellations, exchanges, etc.) and reserves a ticket for you as soon as one becomes available, without you having to refresh the page every 5 minutes. We’ll walk you through the solution in this article.
Just so you know, we're being honest with you: this isn't a trick to pay less. The price remains the one set by SNCF Connect when the seat becomes available, plus a service fee (€14.99 for a basic option, up to €24.99 for a turnkey reservation). There is one exception, however: if a train is fully booked in second class but there are still seats available in first class, the “class selection” option (+€5) lets you force the search to second class only—and thus, in this specific case, save money compared to the first-class fare. In all other cases, think of it more as a way to guarantee your seat!
What about payment? The amount is simply pre-authorized on your card during the search. It is released if nothing is found, or if you cancel before a ticket is found. Once a ticket is found, however, the request can no longer be canceled.
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Train Listed as Full: Our Solutions for Finding a Ticket
In case you missed it: we've launched our app. What's it all about? It's the ultimate low-carbon travel app. (yes, just that). In practical terms? HOORAY! and Railee are teaming up to make your trips—without a plane or a car—easier with:
The HOURRAIL! app
The HOURRAIL Club!, is our community of low-carbon travelers. By joining, you'll enjoy Exclusive discounts negotiated with our partners To travel on a budget: overnight trains (European Sleeper, Caledonian Sleeper…), daytime trains (Eurostar, Trenitalia…), sailboat crossings (Sailcoop…), and accommodations. These benefits may change as partnerships evolve; some are offered for a limited time.
Membership also gives you access to the Premium version of the application HOORAY! : a planner to help you find all your train and ferry routes in Europe, plus reviews from other travelers...
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The HOURRAIL Club: the community for low-carbon travel and slow travel
With all that, there are no more excuses not to take the train! So, when are you leaving?
Issue du monde de la communication et des médias, Sophie est Responsable éditoriale chez HOURRAIL ! depuis août 2024. Elle est notamment derrière le contenu éditorial du site ainsi que La Locomissive (de l'inspiration voyage bas carbone et des bons plans, un jeudi sur deux, gratuitement dans ta boîte mail !).
Convaincue que les changements d’habitude passent par la transformation de nos imaginaires, elle s’attache à montrer qu’il est possible de voyager autrement, de manière plus consciente, plus lente et plus joyeuse. Son objectif : rendre le slow travel accessible à toutes et tous, à travers des astuces, des décryptages et surtout, de nouveaux récits.
