French national railway company SNCF opened ticket sales on Wednesday for the upcoming Christmas holiday season, putting tens of thousands of train seats on sale.
The state-owned rail operator released tickets on Wednesday 30 September, exactly three months ahead of the end-of-year festive celebrations. High demand is expected across the network, and passengers are advised to get up early to attempt to secure the lowest available fares, although SNCF did not announce a specific opening time for the digital ticket counter.
For domestic travel within France, tickets are now available for journeys on TGV INOUI, TER, and Intercités services scheduled between 13 December 2026 and 6 January 2027. Passengers planning further into the future can purchase tickets for OUIGO, the low-cost rail service run by SNCF, for travel dates extending as far ahead as 2 July 2027.
European routes and seasonal schedules
International train routes connecting France to destination cities across Europe have also opened for winter reservations. Passengers can book travel on TGV Lyria and TGV INOUI trains heading to Brussels, Luxembourg, Freiburg, as well as destinations in Italy, Spain, and Switzerland, covering travel dates from 13 December 2026 through to 28 March 2027.
SNCF Connect stated on its website that customers would be able to book travel for journeys between 13 December 2026 and 2 July 2027, depending on the destination and operator. SNCF, short for Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français, is France's state-owned national railway operator, managing high-speed rail lines, regional transport, and international express services.
Service options and booking advice
The range of services included in the release reflects the structure of French passenger rail. TGV INOUI operates premium high-speed services across France, while TER handles regional express connections and Intercités operates traditional intercity routes. OUIGO serves as SNCF budget alternative, offering low fares on high-speed routes, while TGV Lyria handles cross-border routes between France and Switzerland.
The annual opening of festive train bookings triggers high demand in France, where millions of people travel by train to join family for Christmas and New Year. Because rail ticket prices increase as seat capacity fills, securing tickets on launch day remains the principal recommendation for passengers seeking affordable travel.
