One of France’s trademarks is TGV, the high speed train network. It’s fast, reliable, affordable and safe.
What is TGV?
TGV stands for train à grande vitesse, which is French for “high speed train”. The inaugural TGV service was in 1981, between Paris and Lyon. Today, the high speed train network has expanded across the French cities and even in the adjacent countries. TGV is operated by SNFC (French National rail operator).
TGV holds the record for the fastest wheeled train having reached 574.8 km/h (357mph) on April 3, 2007.
Within France, the TGV network is being expanded so more and more cities will be linked by this fast mode of transport. You can easily get between Paris and Lyon, Bordeaux, Marseille, Renne, Strasbourg and Lille via the TGV network.
The success of the French TGV has lead to similar networks in other European Countries. High speed trains link Switzerland through the French network. Belgium, Netherlands and Germany are linked through the Thalys network, while Eurostar links France to the United Kingdom and Belgium.
TGV vs planes
High speed trains have largely replaced air travel between connected cities because of several reasons:
- Shorter travel times
- Reduced check-in formalities
- Reduced security formalities
- Reduced boarding formalities
- Convenient locations of stations right in the heart of the cities
- Safe mode of transport
Some might say that low-cost airlines offer better prices than TGV tickets. However, if you consider that you need to travel to the airport and from the airport to the city, you will soon realize that the train ticket might cost you less (or the same) as the plane ticket.
What about the tickets and prices?
It is possible to book a ticket up to 60 days ahead of travel and TGV official website makes it a very easy task. You just need to type the cities, choose the date when you want to leave and the site will offer you several alternatives, highlighting the best one.
For the example in the photo (Paris to Lyon on March 17 and Lyon to Paris on March 19), the total price is €122 for 2nd class seat.
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