Paris to Nantes by train

Note that these trains depart from Gare Montparnasse in Paris.

Final Destination: Nantes or Le Croisic (or Les Sables-d'Olonne)

Most trains also call at: Angers

Some trains also call at: Le Mans

The trains are faster than ever before, thanks to to the opening of the LGV Bretagne-Pays de la Loire high speed line extension

The slower trains divert off of this new direct route in order to call at Le Mans.

All trains come off the high speed line just before Angers and the part of the journey on from there to Nantes is the prettiest section of this train ride, the river Loire is over to the left of the railway line.

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.

If you can depart Paris in the early evening and are happy to put up with a more basic on-board experience, you can also save money by taking the Ouigo services.

When looking for tickets on Oui.SNCF tick the 'direct trains' box - on Trainline tick the 'fastest journeys' box.

The price is dictated by demand per departure, so book ahead and try and be flexible re: your departure and arrival times, as trains leaving earlier or later can be cheaper.
The Oui.SNCF (French national railways website) will indicate the cheapest price per day, click on this and you will be shown the departures on which this price is available.

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 TGV trains.

Final Destination: Nantes

• If the departure times suits,
• you are happy to put up with a more basic on board experience,
• happy to travel 2nd/standard class,
• willing to be at the Gare-Montparnasse 30 mins before the departure time...

you can save money by taking these Ouigo services from Paris to Nantes instead of the much more frequent, standard TGV InOui services

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.

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 that:

(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.