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
If tickets aren't on sale yet for your travel date, you can sign up to the ticket availability notification service on Oui.SNCF.
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 these trains.
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If you want to specifically target these trains, when looking for tickets on Oui.SNCF tick the 'direct trains' box, on Trainline tick the 'fastest journeys' box.
Our step-by-step guide to booking train tickets on the Oui.SNCF (official French railways) website is available HERE.
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Though if you are happy to travel via Paris and make the connection* between the Gare De Lyon and the Gare Montparnasse, you can usually save money by taking that route.
So if you want to see those alternative options - leave the 'Direct Trains' box un-ticked.
*Take Metro Line 14 (direction Olympiades) to Bercy and change for Metro line 6 (direction Charles de Gaulle Etoile).
There are several options for making the awkward transfer from Gare De Lyon to Montparnasse, but this option has 3 advantages:
(i) Line 14 has step free access at Gare De Lyon;
(ii) the interchange at Bercy is comparatively straightforward;
(iii) Line 6 at Montparnasse is located closest to the exit from the Metro station.
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If you're new to booking tickets for train journeys in France, we also recommend taking a look at our guide to French train tickets - it should help you save time and money and confusion.
Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
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Trainline | * | |
Oui.SNCF | * |
These direct trains avoid the need to make an awkward transfer between stations in Paris - though it can often be cheaper to travel via the capital.
Final Destination: Nantes
These trains will also call at: Angers
The train will spend 90% of the journey on high speed lines - the only significant part of the journey that isn't high speed is the comparatively slow passage through the suburbs to the south of Paris.
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Most of the trains heading to Nantes will be joined to another train heading to Rennes for the journey between Lyon and Le Mans.
Check the coach number on your ticket, your seat will be located in a coach that's heading to Nantes
You may also see on the departure screens a train heading to Rennes leaving at the same time and departing from the same voie/track as this train heading for Nantes.
Two of these daily trains also commence their journeys at Lyon Perrache station before going on to call at Lyon Part-Dieu station.
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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.
These direct trains avoid the need to make an awkward transfer between stations in Paris - though it can often be cheaper to travel via the capital.
Final Destination: Nantes
These trains will also call at: Angers
The train will spend 90% of the journey on high speed lines - the only significant part of the journey that isn't high speed is the comparatively slow passage through the suburbs to the south of Paris.
---------------------------------------------------------
Most of the trains heading to Nantes will be joined to another train heading to Rennes for the journey between Lyon and Le Mans.
Check the coach number on your ticket, your seat will be located in a coach that's heading to Nantes
You may also see on the departure screens a train heading to Rennes leaving at the same time and departing from the same voie/track as this train heading for Nantes.
Two of these daily trains also commence their journeys at Lyon Perrache station before going on to call at Lyon Part-Dieu station.
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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.
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This is one of more than 1000 journey guides available on ShowMeTheJourney, which will make it easier to take the train journeys you want or need to make. As always, all images were captured on trips taken by ShowMeTheJourney.