Lyon to Rennes by train

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Routes

From Lyon Part-Dieu to Rennes

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

If tickets aren't on sale yet for your travel date, you can sign up to the ticket availability notification service on Oui.SNCF.

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Our step-by-step guide to booking train tickets on the Oui.SNCF (official French railways) website is available HERE.

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.

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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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.

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.

Where to book
Ticket Provider Approximate Cost
Trainline *

Trainline Guide

Oui.SNCF *

Oui.SNCF Guide

SNCF is the national rail operator in France and not so long ago it recently simplified both the range of tickets and the term and conditions of using them.
Therefore the cheapest tickets also become more flexible too.

Other improvements included a simple integration of travelling with bicycles and rail pass users being able to book reservations for national journeys, without paying booking fees.

Though a legacy of when SNCF sold international tickets under the Rail Europe branding is that OuiSNCF is available in multiple translations with the offerings on the site then tailored to international visitors to France.
However, some of the site's features, including the integration of mobility assistance into the booking path, are only available on the French language version.

Something else to look out for is that simplest way of travelling with tickets is to use the SNCF 'My Travel' phone app, so it's therefore often a good idea to book on the OuiSNCF mobile service.

On this journey

Journey Features

High Speed (partial)

Good to Know

These direct trains avoid the need to make an awkward transfer between stations in Paris - though it can often be cheaper to travel via Paris

Final Destination: Nantes

These trains will also call at: Le Mans

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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These trains heading to Rennes will be joined to another train heading to Nantes for the part of 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 Nantes leaving at the same time and departing from the same voie/track as this train heading for Rennes.

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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 Paris

Final Destination: Nantes

These trains will also call at: Le Mans

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.

---------------------------------------------------------

These trains heading to Rennes will be joined to another train heading to Nantes for the part of 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 Nantes leaving at the same time and departing from the same voie/track as this train heading for Rennes.

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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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