Skip to main content
Solved

Seat reservations on TGV

  • January 28, 2025
  • 3 replies
  • 204 views

This will be my fourth time using a global interrail pass and thought I’d learnt all the lessons but I’m stressing out about an upcoming trip to Switzerland and hoping someone can help me out.

I used the b-Europe website to reserve seats on the Eurostar from London to Paris return. The trip is at the end of May so sorting the Eurostar seats was the priority. We need to be in Paris for lunchtime on Sat 31 May to catch our Eurostar.
 

But now I’m struggling to book the 09:34 TGV service from Basel to Paris on 31 May. There doesn’t seem to be any option for Interrail pass holders to reserve seats and I don’t know whether it’s because they’ve sold out or have just not been released. I’ve looked on various sites, including the TGV Lyria website - I couldn’t find anything conclusive as to when the tickets will be released. 

I’m looking at alternative routes, but also struggling to find anything for Sat 31 May to get us back to Paris from Switzerland.

Appreciate any advice, or info on whether the seats are gone or just not released! 
 

Thanks.

 

Best answer by BrendanDB

SNCF sales just haven’t opened yet for the TGV Lyria for the end of may (& others), don’t worry.

Check this page:https://www.sncf-connect.com/aide/l-ouverture-des-ventes

You can use www.raileurope.com to reserve seats, select Interrail/Eurail as a discount. No booking fee charged!

You can avoid the rather pricey reservation fee for TGV Lyria by taking the ordinary TGV Inoui from  Mulhouse or Strasbourg to Paris (10 or 20 EUR), you can get there by reservation free TER train from Basel. About every half hour a train. Shouldn’t be more than half an hour longer than the direct one and you’ll have a lot more connections from Paris that way.

Getting to Paris by lunchtime, shouldn’t be any problem.

View original
Did this topic help you find an answer to your question?

3 replies

BrendanDB
Full steam ahead
Forum|alt.badge.img+7
  • Full steam ahead
  • 1649 replies
  • Answer
  • January 28, 2025

SNCF sales just haven’t opened yet for the TGV Lyria for the end of may (& others), don’t worry.

Check this page:https://www.sncf-connect.com/aide/l-ouverture-des-ventes

You can use www.raileurope.com to reserve seats, select Interrail/Eurail as a discount. No booking fee charged!

You can avoid the rather pricey reservation fee for TGV Lyria by taking the ordinary TGV Inoui from  Mulhouse or Strasbourg to Paris (10 or 20 EUR), you can get there by reservation free TER train from Basel. About every half hour a train. Shouldn’t be more than half an hour longer than the direct one and you’ll have a lot more connections from Paris that way.

Getting to Paris by lunchtime, shouldn’t be any problem.


Forum|alt.badge.img+5
  • Full steam ahead
  • 4898 replies
  • January 28, 2025

As Brendan said, it will take a while until tickets/reservations open. You don't need to check every day either, they won't sell out until departure.

There are works between Zurich and Basel that weekend as well so it could lead to further delay in releasing TGV Lyria tickets.

Another pro of the Strasbourg-Paris route: you arrive in Gare de l'Est, which is a 8-10 min walk to Gare du Nord.

Be patient. :)


  • Author
  • Rail rookie
  • 1 reply
  • January 29, 2025

Thanks very much both! 🙏


Reply