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Useful information for travelers by train in France
Some Parisian train stations have multiple boarding platforms. It has happened to me to get distracted on the wrong platform, waiting for the display to show the boarding gate number for my train, and then having to run through the station's corridors, with luggage and bags, to get to the right platform.
This is the display board at Gare de Lyon. This station has two platforms: one called jaune (yellow) and the other bleu (blue). The boarding gates on the jaune platform are numbered from 5 to 23. The bleu gates are marked with letters A to N.
On the display, we find: the type of train (TGV or other), the train number, the time, and the destination, the specifics (first and second class, or only second class), and lastly, the boarding gate or voie. Before the gate number or letter is published, a yellow or blue square informs travelers which platform corresponds to each train.
Another detail: at each platform, there is a panel like the one above, indicating its color and the letters or numbers of the gates. The photo above indicates that we are on the blue platform, gates A to N. An arrow indicates the direction of the yellow platform where gates 5 to 23 are located.
When purchasing tickets through the SNCF website, you will need to choose between first and second class, seats on the lower or upper level (some trains have two levels), and on some routes, seats facing the direction of travel or not (backwards or forwards). All TGV trains offer one additional choice: four seats, with two facing the other two, with a small table in between. This is the best option for two couples or parents with two children. In the photo, the gentleman reading the newspaper occupies this seat.
Don't forget that it's best to have a small suitcase. The space reserved for luggage inside the carriage is small. The suitcases above are the size of a carry-on for an airplane. There are other compartments for larger bags, but they are sometimes located outside the area where the seats are. Additionally, it is the passenger who handles the luggage all the time: they take the suitcase to the carriage, lift it with them, and put it in the designated spots.
To purchase your tickets in France: www.voyages-sncf.com
Also read:
- Luggage storage at the train stations
- First class on French high-speed trains
- Discounts on train tickets for seniors over 60 and youth under 25
- Traveling by train? Check your luggage
Discounts and gifts for Conexão Paris readers
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