Travel with TER

What are TER trains?

TERs, AKA "Regional Express Trains", are regional trains. They're great for commuting to and from work and are an easy way to visit a region. Some TERs are also famous 'tourist trains', with spectacular scenery and views.

TER on-board services

Seating

You can sit wherever you like on TER trains (excluding Normandy region trains where you have to reserve a seat), according to the ticket class that you purchased.

Travelling with children on a TER

Children under 4 can travel for free on TER trains if they sit on your lap. For children aged 4 to 12, prices vary from region to region.

Travelling with animals on a TER

You must buy a special ticket if you plan to travel with an animal:

• animals weighing less than 6kg must travel in a suitable carrier (45cm x 30cm x 25cm) that can be placed at your feet or on your lap. Ticket prices vary from region to region.
• animals weighing more than 6 kg must be muzzled and kept on a lead. The ticket price is 50% of the full 2nd class fare.
• A maximum of 2 animals or 2 carriers is allowed per passenger.

Travelling on TER trains with a bicycle

The great thing about most TER trains is that you can take your bike on board free of charge, whether it's foldable or not, subject to the number of seats available. TER trains have a dedicated area for bikes. You may need to reserve in advance for some TER trains, depending on the region.

Note that certain restrictions may apply during rush hours and at weekends: Monday to Friday, from 7am to 9 am and from 4.30 pm to 6.30 pm.

Low-cost travel with TER

TER discount cards and season tickets

Each region has specific TER discount cards and season tickets, so you get around for a cheaper price.

Valid for one year and costing between €20 and €30, these cards/tickets are available to everyone and offer reduced fares for all your TER journeys during the week and at weekends, to all destinations in a given region and, in some cases, to neighbouring regions. Choose the card that best suits your travel needs, age or professional requirements.

TER season tickets are perfect if you frequently take the same journey.

In most regions, you can use your discount card or season ticket to get affordable fares for your companions. As for your kids, they can often travel for free.

Discounts by region

For TER journeys in Normandy

With the Tempo card, you can travel around Normandy for a lower price throughout the year: 25% off your weekday tickets, 50% off at weekends and 75% off for children aged 4 to 11. Even without a card, travellers under 26 can take advantage of a 50% discount on journeys in Normandy and to Paris. Find out more about Nomad trains.

For TER journeys in Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur

The “Zou ! Malin card” means you get reduced fares across the entire Sud network. Whether you're travelling alone or with others for a day or so, and plan to visit one or two of the region's departments, then opt for one of the Tourist Passes, such as the Isabelle Family Pass or the Côte Bleue Pass. Learn more about TER Sud Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'azur.

For TER journeys in Nouvelle-Aquitaine

The + Card allows you to save between 25% and 50% on train fares for 1 year. Learn more about TER Nouvelle Aquitaine.

For TER journeys in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

The TER illico Liberté card entitles you to a discount of up to 50% on your TER tickets. Learn more about TER Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.

For TER journeys in Burgundy-Franche-Comté

The 26 years+ card offers discounts of up to 60%. Learn more about TER Bourgogne-Franche-Comté.

For your TER journeys in Brittany

There are a number of season ticket packages available from BreizhGO, perfect for regular, year-round travel in the region. If you're after a tourist pass, opt for the TER BreizhGo 2 or 7-day pass. Valid for 1 to 5 people, they provide unlimited low-cost fares on TER trains in Brittany.

For TER journeys in Centre-Val de Loire

If you are under 26, the Rémi Liberté card gives you up to 50% discount on train and coach travel in Centre-Val-de-Loire or to and from neighbouring regions. Learn more about TER Centre-Val de Loire Rémi.

For TER journeys in Occitanie

The Occitanie region's LibertiO' card offers between 30% and 50% off fares throughout the region. What's more, you can even find €1 fares on TER liO trains in the Occitanie region. Learn more about TER Occitanie liO.

For your TER journeys in Pays de la Loire

The Mezzo card gives you up to 50% off your fare. There's also a card for under-26s. Learn more about TER Pays de la Loire Aléop.

For TER journeys in the Grand Est region

Head to Alsace and around the Grand Est region with the Fluo card for 50% off fares every day of the year. If you're under 26, the fare will only cost 1 euro! Learn more about TER Grand Est Fluo .

For your TER journeys in Hauts-de-France

TER Hauts-de-France discount cards offer a 50% discount on fares for the holder and 3 companions. This card is half price for travellers under 26. Learn more about TER Hauts-de-France .

Are the Avantage and Liberté cards valid for travel on TERs?

The Liberté card and the Avantage card, whether for Young, Adult or Senior travellers, are not accepted on all the region's TER services.

TER (Regional Express Trains) timetables

Are you taking a TER and want to consult the timetable or know whether it's running on time? Thanks to SNCF Connect, you can check your TER train's timetable in real time. If you purchased your train ticket on SNCF Connect, you'll be able to track your journey on our website and app. Alternatively, you can search by train number on our app.

The most stunning TER journeys around France

Why not start your fun trip on the train? Some TERs follow spectacular routes, whether along the coast or in the heart of the mountains. The Train des Merveilles, the Train Jaune, the Côte Bleue train... These are just some of the TER routes that you should take at least once in your life. They're an amazing way to travel through exceptional landscapes, unspoilt villages and forests as far as the eye can see...

Get up close to Mont Blanc

Board the Mont Blanc Express on the border between France and Switzerland, which crosses the entire Chamonix Mont Blanc valley from Saint Gervais in France to Martigny in Switzerland. The Montenvers cog-wheel TER train will take you from the town of Chamonix to the Mer de Glace or Aiguille du Midi.

Then there's the Train des Merveilles, one of the most beautiful railway journeys in Europe

Running from Nice to the fortified medieval town of Tende, you'll cross the grandiose landscape of the Mercantour National Park, passing hilltop villages and an impressive succession of engineering feats: viaducts overlooking canyons, tunnels carved into the mountains... On arrival in Tende, you can explore one of Europe's most famous rock art sites during the course of a hike: the Vallée des Merveilles.

The Côte Bleue train, in the heart of the Calanques massif

Don't miss out on a trip on the famous Côte Bleue line, which has been in service since 1882 and runs along the Mediterranean coast! It's a unique experience with a track that clings to the limestone massif of Estaque and at times appears to plunge into the sea. The train runs along the coast from Marseille to Martigues and boasts spectacular views. You can stop off at the port of Estaque to enjoy a stroll around and sample a chichi, a sweet doughnut and local Marseille speciality, dig into a seaside lunch at Niolon or go for a dip in the superb Eaux-Salées cove before arriving in Martigues.

The Train Jaune (Yellow Train) for a trip through the Catalan countryside

The Train Jaune is the pride of the Occitanie region and has been travelling at 30 km/h across the heights of the Pyrénées-Orientales for a century, following a route that has a vertical drop of over 1,000 m. Nicknamed the Canary, this tourist train runs between Latour-de-Carol and Villefranche-de-Conflent. When the weather's good, you can sit back in the open carriage and enjoy superb views of the valleys and mountains. Highlights include Bolquère railway station, the highest in France at 1,593 m, views of the Pic du Canigou, and the Gisclard Bridge, the last suspension railway bridge in France.

Head to Quiberon with the Tire-Bouchon

This emblematic summertime-only TER is nicknamed the Tire-Bouchon (corkscrew) and will take you to and from Auray and the Quiberon peninsula in just under 1 hour. This route boasts beautiful country and seaside views and means you can avoid the Quiberon peninsula's summer holiday traffic jams. If you're after a car-free getaway, take the TGV to Auray and then hop on the TER to Quiberon or even Belle-Ile, Houat and Hoedic!

The TER InterLoire, from Orléans to Saumur

Head to the Centre-Val-de-Loire region and travel from Orléans to Saumur following a trail of France's architectural heritage. Orléans, in the footsteps of Joan of Arc; Blois-Chambord to visit the châteaux of Chambord, Amboise and Clos Lucé; Tours, for its historic centre; and Candes-Saint-Martin and Saumur on the banks of the Loire. You can then continue on to Angers, Nantes and Le Croisic.

The Hirondelles line, in the Jura mountains

Cross the Jura from north to south on board the Hirondelles train, a TER that follows a picturesque route from Dole to Saint-Claude. Admire 123 km of Jura countryside, with no fewer than 36 tunnels and 18 viaducts, during a total journey time of 2.30 hours. Good to know: several guided tours are available from local tourist offices.