Travel with TGV INOUI

The history of the TGV

Once an SNCF trademark, the TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse) was born in 1981, when the Paris-Lyon line, the first high-speed line in France, was inaugurated. In the 1990s, it moved into other European capitals. Nowadays, it refers to a type of equipment, i.e., a train that can reach a speed of 320km/h on France's high-speed lines. On SNCF Connect, there are two types of TGV trains: the TGV INOUI, which offers a superior category of travel, and the low-cost TGV OUIGO.

TGV trains can take you to over 200 French cities, anywhere in France, departing from the following Parisian stations: Paris Gare du Nord, Paris Gare de Lyon, Paris Montparnasse, and Paris Gare de l'Est stations. You can also leave from Massy, Marne-la-Vallée, or Roissy stations with OUIGO. From Paris, travellers can thus reach Lyon, Nantes or Bordeaux in about 2 hours, and Marseille in just over 3 hours.

To travel on the TGV is to be environmentally friendly

Transport is the activity that generates the most greenhouse gas emissions in France. Out of all means of transport, the train is undoubtedly the most environmentally friendly. Travelling by train is an everyday eco-gesture, just like turning off your water or consuming local produce.

INOUI TGV or OUIGO train: how to choose your TGV

On SNCF Connect, you can book two types of TGVs: INOUI or OUIGO TGV. TGV INOUI is a premium, more comfortable TGV offer, while OUIGO offers a single travel class and low prices. Find out more about these two offers below.

The TGV INOUI offer

With TGV INOUI, you will travel on high-speed trains offering spacious seats with power sockets, on-board WiFi, a buffet car serving ready-made meals from renowned chefs, and two distinct travel classes: second class and first class. TGV INOUI tickets are exchangeable and refundable up to 7 days before departure.

The TGV OUIGO offer

With OUIGO, SNCF Connect's 100% digital low-cost offer, travel at low prices in a standard travel class. Additional services, such as seat selection, extra luggage, or onboard Wi-Fi, are available as add-ons during the booking process.  OUIGO fares start from 10€ for an adult and 5€ for a child. OUIGO tickets are non-refundable and can be exchanged for 10€ per person, up to 1 hour before departure.

Different types of TGV tickets

INOUI TGV tickets

For high-speed trains, TGV INOUI offers 4 types of tickets: TGV Prem's fare ticket, TGV Second-class ticket, TGV First class ticket and TGV INOUI OPTIMUM ticket. 

You can also book Pro fare tickets on SNCF Connect, provided you are travelling for work and need more flexibility on your ticket booking.

When travelling on TGV trains, ticket prices vary depending on the chosen travel class (2nd or 1st), whether you have a discount or loyalty card, how close you are to your departure date, and the growing demand for the selected train.

OUIGO tickets

OUIGO TGVs offer low prices from 10€ for adults and 5€ for children. With OUIGO, you can decide to travel with one piece of hand luggage and one overhead piece of luggage free of charge with the OUIGO ESSENTIEL package, or add extra options to your journey, either à la carte or as a package, with the OUIGO PLUS offer, for an additional 9€. Please note that OUIGO trains do not have a buffet car.

Discount cards for all your train journeys with TGV INOUI

Travelling by TGV with the Carte Avantage card

The carte Avantage, available in Adulte, Senior or Jeune versions, is sold for 49€ on SNCF Connect. It entitles you to a 30% discount on all your tickets and journeys on the INOUI TGV, in Second and First class, as well as price caps for last-minute booking and significant departure periods in Second class (39€ for trips lasting less than 1 hour 30 minutes, 59€ for trips lasting between 1 hour 30 minutes and 3 hours and 79€ for over 3 hours) and a 60% discount for 3 accompanying children’s tickets. The Carte Avantage Jeune card is exclusively for 12-27 year-olds, the Carte Adulte card for 27-49 year-olds and the Carte Senior card for over 60 year-olds.

Travelling by TGV with the carte Liberté card

Dedicated to regular travellers who make more than four return trips annually by train, either for work or leisure, the carte Liberté card offers discounted and flexible tickets on all TGV INOUI (and also INTERCITÉS and TER) trips. For 399€ per year, it allows you to benefit from reduced fares on all your destinations in second and first class (60% off and 40% off*), tickets that can be exchanged and reimbursed free of charge up to 30 minutes after the departure of the train, as well as 50% off children's tickets (up to 3 children between 4 and 11 years old per travel companion, on the discounted fare paid by the cardholder), and other advantages such as 20% off car rental with Ma Location AVIS.

*The price is based on the OPTIMUM fare.

SNCF season tickets for trips with TGV INOUI

If you travel frequently for work or leisure, save even more on your SNCF TGV tickets by using an SNCF TGV season ticket and by booking your trips on the SNCF Connect app or website.

Buying TGV tickets on SNCF Connect: how does it work?

Book your TGV INOUI and OUIGO train tickets on the SNCF Connect website or app, to travel at the best prices.

How do I book a TGV INOUI or TGV OUIGO train ticket online?

To buy your TGV train ticket online, log onto our website www.sncf-connect.com or directly on our SNCF Connect app. To complete your booking, enter your departure and arrival stations using the intuitive search engine, and select your desired travel dates and travel preferences. The SNCF Connect website and app will then present you with all the available itineraries on TGV INOUI or OUIGO trains. On TGV INOUI, in second class, you can choose to sit on the aisle or by the window, upstairs or downstairs, facing the direction of travel, in a Family-friendly area... With OUIGO, you will be able to purchase add-ons at the time of booking, and on the day of your departure, remember to arrive 30 minutes before the train's departure time and bring your ID. On INOUI TGV trains, boarding is possible up to 5 minutes before departure time. Welcome aboard!

When should I buy a TGV train ticket?

On the SNCF Connect website and app, all the offers available in real time for the journey of your choice are available for sale. OUIGO Grande Vitesse train tickets go on sale on SNCF Connect between 2 and 9 months before the trains' departure dates. For the Christmas and summer holidays, the sales opening date is set for journeys within the next 9 months.

For TGV INOUI, train tickets are available 4 months in advance, except for significant holiday periods such as Christmas, and spring, winter, and summer school breaks, when sales opening dates are set.

Travelling by TGV with children

If your child is under 4 years old, they can travel on your lap for free on the TGV. However, be sure to add their ticket to your order. Children under 12 years old benefit from a reduced Children’s rate. If you are travelling with your baby, don’t hesitate to select your seats in the family-friendly area near the nursery equipped with a changing table when booking your tickets.

If your children need to travel alone (for example, to visit their grandparents), the Junior & Co. service makes this possible: children aged 4 to 14 are accompanied by a professional coordinator throughout the journey (at additional cost, depending on the trip). The Junior & Co service is available for over 130 destinations during school holidays and over 20 destinations at weekends, starting from 35€ in addition to the train fare.

Please note: if you have a carte Avantage adulte card, your children will benefit from a 60% discount for up to 3 children per journey (from 4 to 11 years old), and you will benefit from a 15% discount on the Junior&Cie service.

Travelling with your pet on TGV INOUI and OUIGO

On TGV INOUI

You must always book a ticket for your pet at the same time as your own and have all the necessary identification documents with you. If your pet weighs less than 6 kg, it should travel in a bag or basket (45 cm x 30 cm x 25 cm max.) and be placed on your lap or at your feet. If your pet weighs more than 6 kg, it must be muzzled throughout the journey and travel at your feet. The ticket is sold at a fixed price of 7€ regardless of the animal's weight.

On OUIGO

On OUIGO trains, you can travel with your pet (dog, cat...) within the limit of one pet per adult and per booking. The fixed fare is 15€ per journey, regardless of the animal’s weight. If your pet weighs less than 6 kg, it should preferably be transported in a container that does not exceed the dimensions of hand luggage (55 cm x 35 cm x 25 cm). If your pet weighs more than 6 kg, it must be kept on a lead and be muzzled. The fixed fare is 10€ per journey regardless of the animal’s weight. Please note: Disabled travellers with a disability level of at least 80% can travel with their guide dog free of charge.

How to travel in Europe by TGV

With TGV INOUI, you can travel across Europe to London, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Brussels, Geneva, Cologne, or Stuttgart... These train journeys are made in partnership with other European railway companies such as Eurostar, Deutsche-Bahn, TGV Lyria et Thalys.

With OUIGO, you can also access France's major airports at low prices. Specifically, Charles de Gaulle Airport, or even Lyon Saint-Exupéry, Nice, Marseille, and Toulouse airports... With your affordable OUIGO TGV ticket at the ready, you will lower your journey's total cost, allowing you to travel even further without breaking the bank. And if you have extra luggage to bring along, simply choose the luggage option for only 5€ more.