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Lille to Avignon by train
How to take the train from Lille to Avignon by travelling on the more comfortable TGV InOui services
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Routes
From Lille Europe to Avignon TGV
Journey Summary
4hr 15min (approx)
Daily
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings usually open: 4 months ahead of the travel date - but bookings can open sooner when SNCF is running a promotion.
This is a route on which the most heavilly discounted 'Prems' tickets tend to sell out relatively quickly.
When looking for tickets on Oui.SNCF tick the 'direct trains' box, on Trainline tick the 'fastest journeys' box.
These TGV (inOui) trains from Lille to Avignon are usually scheduled to depart from Lille Europe station at:
05:38/05:48 on Mon-Sat
09:03 on Saturdays
13:58/14:01 daily
17:01/17:03 on Saturdays
18:25 on Mon-Fri and Sunday
Our step by step guide to booking tickets on the PC version on Oui.SNCF (French national railways) website is available HERE.
If you're new to booking tickets for train journeys in France, we recommend taking a look at our guide to French train tickets - it should help you save time and money and confusion.
There's also a guide to booking with an independent ticket agent.
Seat reservations:
Seats will automatically be assigned when booking tickets for this journey, but rail pass users will need to be pay a reservation fee prior to boarding.
Though rail pass reservations can be hard to track down on these direct trains, Oui.SNCF will usually offer Eurail and InterRail pass users seats on trains, which involve travelling via Paris.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Oui.SNCF | from €49 | |
| Download the Oui.SNCF app | from €49 | |
| SaveATrain | from €49 | |
| Happyrail | from €49 | |
| Trainline | from €49 |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
Final Destination: Marseille
These trains also call at: Lyon and all but the final train of the day also calls at Valence-TGV station.
Avignon TGV station is 6km from the city centre.
It now linked to Avignon Centre station by up to 2 x TER trains per hour, but if you have to wait more than 30 mins for one of these trains - it's worth checking out the times of the buses from Avignon TGV
If you do opt to take the train you will need to purchase a ticket for it on arrival at Avignon TGV.
Or look up Lille Europe to Avignon Centre journeys by train and book in one transaction - but check the connecting time between trains at Avignon TGV before you commit to a booking.
Alternative trains:
You can also now opt to travel from Lille to Avignon by Ouigo trains.
They're (much) cheaper than taking these standard InOui trains, but the on-board experience is more basic.
You also need to be at the station 30 mins prior to departure of Ouigo trains, so that you'll have time to pass through Ouigo reception.
Though those Ouigo TGV trains take the same high speed lines as these TGV InOui trains.
The journey:
Aside from the detour to serve Lyon station, these trains spend the entire journey on a high speed line, but it is primarily the speed that gives this journey its wow factor.
It's not a particularly scenic train ride, so having something to watch or read with you is recommended.
If you are new to travelling by train in France, our French Train Travel Guide is packed with info and useful links to help ensure you’ll have a stress-free trip.
Aside from the 30 min detour to serve Lyon station, these trains spend the entire journey on a high speed line, but it is primarily the speed that gives this journey its wow factor.
It's not a particularly scenic train ride, so having something to watch or read with you is recommended.
From Lille Flandres to Avignon TGV
Journey Summary
3hr 55min - 4hr 25min (approx)
Daily
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: 6 months ahead* of the travel date - usually
*Tickets for the alternative service of TGV InOui trains are usually made available 4 months ahead, so if you look up this journey more than 4 months ahead on Oui.SNCF, you will only see these Ouigo services - but they are not the only option on this route.
As explained on our guide to booking French train tickets, how tickets can be booked and used for a journey by a Ouigo train, differs from booking tickets on a TGV (InOui) service.
What is particularly worth being aware of when booking tickets for journeys by Ouigo train services is:
(1) 1st class/Premiere tickets are not available.
(2) Reservations are included when booking, as they are on TGV InOui trains, but you can opt to pay a surcharge to select a specific seat (more info is available on the Ouigo 'Train Guide').
(3) You cannot book or collect tickets for Ouigo trains at stations.
(4) Additional fees apply if you want access to a power socket, or to travel with additional luggage; click the Ouigo 'Train Guide' to access more info on the luggage allowances on Ouigo trains; they're more restrictive than on TGV InOui trains.
Though these factors, and more, are why you can make big savings by opting to travel by these Ouigo trains and not on the standard TGV InOui trains.
Eurail and InterRail Pass Users:
Rail passes cannot be used on Ouigo trains, but if you will be travelling with a 2nd class pass, our guide to using rail passes in France, explains why taking a Ouigo train can be worth considering.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Oui.SNCF | from €16 | |
| Ouigo | from £16 |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
Final Destination: Marseille
When making a train journey from Lille to Avignon, you now have a choice of travelling on standard TGV InOui trains or on these Ougio trains.
So you can opt to save money and have a much more basic on board experience and travel on a Ouigo.
Though something not particularly obvious, is that these Ouigo trains are faster than the TGV InOui trains on this Lille to Avignon route (they actually skip more stations) - HOWEVER, this journey time saving will be negated by the need to be at the station 30 mins before the Ouigo train departs.
And that's because you need to pass through 'reception' before boarding a Ouigo train - staff need to verify that all passengers are abiding by the 'rules' of travelling on a Ouigo train, no additional un-booked luggage, no bikes etc.
Though a plus of taking a Ouigo for Lille to Avignon train journey can be that these Ouigo trains depart from the main city centre station - Lille Flandres.
While most of the alternative TGV InOui services depart from Lille Europe station.
Final Destination: Marseille
When making a train journey from Lille to Avignon, you now have a choice of travelling on standard TGV InOui trains or on these Ougio trains.
So you can opt to save money and have a much more basic on board experience and travel on a Ouigo.
Though something not particularly obvious, is that these Ouigo trains are faster than the TGV InOui trains on this Lille to Avignon route (they actually skip more stations) - HOWEVER, this journey time saving will be negated by the need to be at the station 30 mins before the Ouigo train departs.
And that's because you need to pass through 'reception' before boarding a Ouigo train - staff need to verify that all passengers are abiding by the 'rules' of travelling on a Ouigo train, no additional un-booked luggage, no bikes etc.
Though a plus of taking a Ouigo for Lille to Avignon train journey can be that these Ouigo trains depart from the main city centre station - Lille Flandres.
While most of the alternative TGV InOui services depart from Lille Europe station.
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