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Seat reservations in France - on the SNFC app

C

Hi, I’m going to France this April.

I have got the App from SNFC, now I can buy ordinary tickets to most trains in France but...going by Interrail means you only have to buy reservations - and on certain trains.

On the app I miss the option to book ONLY seat reservations - anyone who has tried the app and actually booked a seat reservation on this app?

I know that I can book reservations through Interrail, well, sometimes it´s easier to buy through the rail company.

My actual problem is: Going by nighttrain from Paris to Capdenac and then from there going on to Lourdes. I have bougt reservervations the first part Paris/Caperdanac. In the morning I have to take at first a TER-train heading Toulouse and then lastly a Intercite from Toulouse to Lourdes. 

And then it would be nice to use this SNFC app and buy a seat for the last part - the Intercite train.

I know it is not always mandatory on the Intercite trains in France to have a seat reservation. But it might be nice not to rush to much (maybe it is not a problem at all…. nevertheless).

Regards from Denmark - Claus

Best answer by rvdborgt

SNCF don't offer pass reservations in their app or website anymore.

The best place to book them is on www.raileurope.com, or the Rail Europe Android app (the iPhone version doesn't have seat reservations yet). Interrail has an extra booking fee, so that's more expensive.

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  • rvdborgt
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  • March 4, 2025

SNCF don't offer pass reservations in their app or website anymore.

The best place to book them is on www.raileurope.com, or the Rail Europe Android app (the iPhone version doesn't have seat reservations yet). Interrail has an extra booking fee, so that's more expensive.

Please ask questions in the community and not via a private message. That's the quickest way to get a response. I don't work for Eurail/Interrail.
Angelo
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  • thibcabe
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  • March 4, 2025

SNCF doesn't offer passholder reservations themselves anymore, whether on the app or website. They claim it was due to too many fraudsters…

For France you should use Rail Europe (no fees) as interrail.eu adds 2€ fee per person per train.

Toulouse - Lourdes shouldn't be too busy but you can book a seat for 1.60€ if you'd like.

Btw there should be a daily direct night train to Toulouse but looks like it doesn't run on random days or terminates in Montauban. Ah SNCF…

(What's your travel date so we can double check if you really need to wake up before 5am...)

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  • Claus C
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  • March 4, 2025

Thanks for the answers.

I haven´t made Interrail since 1986 so things have changed a bit since then! Then it was just a “kick and rush” strategy - getting in the trains.

I am used to wake up early - my ticket says Paris Austerlitz 19:25 and then Capdenac 5:47.  On April 21. Train 3755.

I assume I can lay down and kind of sleep - it says on my reservation I have a berth lower in a mixed compartment. I have no idea what kind of bed/bunk it is or it just are seats drawn out (like in the old Interrail days)???

 

BrendanDB
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  • BrendanDB
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Yes, sounds like a couchette. A bunk bed, quite okay to sleep in.

Here you’ll find some pictures: https://www.seat61.com/trains-and-routes/intercites-de-nuit.htm

Probably the same carriages as in the eighties, although modernised now :)

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