SEVEN additional routes are now available to be booked via French National Railways’ (SNCF) Train + Air scheme under which a connecting TGV can be reserved at the same time as an Air France ticket.
Train + Air rail services operate from Paris Charles de Gaulle airport (CDG), where there is a TGV station, to Aix-en Provence, Bordeaux, Marseille and Montpellier stations, and from Paris Orly airport (via Massy TGV station, with a free bus or taxi transfer) to Valence, Avignon and Marseille.
The addition of these seven routes follows the decision by the French government to ban certain short-haul air routes where there is an alternative TGV high-speed train that can complete the journey in 2hr 30min or less, with the aim of reducing emissions.
The Train + Air offer was introduced 25 years ago and is used each year by 160,000 passengers. The recent additions increases the number of TGV stations included in the offer to 18.
In the case of a delay causing a broken connection, the operators guarantee a seat on the next train or plane departure without a surcharge. Passengers can receive “miles” on the train journey if they are part of the Flying Blue loyalty scheme. Air France and SNCF are currently testing “fully digital” booking on train connections between CDG or Orly and Lille or Strasbourg. Internet bookings on the Air France website mean that passengers no longer need to pick up their rail tickets on the day of departure. If conclusive, this service will be introduced for all Train + Air routes in 2022.
