Things You'll Need:
- French train ticket
- Good eyesight
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Step 1
The departure is marked in orange; the destination in blue.Check the departure and arrival stations. Do one or both of your cities have a suffix such as "Centre" or "TGV"? This distinguishes your station from others in the same city.
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Step 2
Departure and arrival times are marked in orange.Find the departure and arrival times. France uses the European dating system: Christmas is 25/12. Train schedules use the 24 hour clock. The train in the picture departs on June 14 at 2:06pm. It arrives at 2:25pm.
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Step 3
At the station, Match your train number to one on the display board.Train numbers are one of traveling' s best kept secrets. They cut through language barriers. They are used internationally. To board the right train every time, match the one on your ticket to a number on a display board.
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Step 4
Avoid awkward moments! Review your seating arrangements prior to boarding.Where do you sit? If you have reserved a seat on a train, the ticket will tell you where to sit. Trains have two classes. Voiture = Carriage Car. Place Assise = Seat Number. Fenêtre = Window seat. Couloir = Aisle Seat. Some major routes have duplex trains, which have two levels: En Haut = Upper Level; and En Bas = Lower Level.
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Step 5
Validation stamp. Remember to validate your ticket before boarding the train.Before boarding, composter votre billet...in English, that means "validate your ticket." Near the tracks, you should see 3 foot high yellow stands. Insert your ticket (printed side up) into the machine. It will stamp the station name, date, and time.
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Step 6
Rail Pass users should bring their passes as well as passports on every train journey."Valable avec Pass Eurail" (Valid with Eurail Pass) will appear on reservations for Rail Pass users. Bring your validated rail pass with travel dates already filled in AND your passport.
This text will not appear for those who have purchased a standard ticket.
