Ouigo is a low cost train travel offer offered by the SNCF. Ouigo serves more than forty destinations. The trips are made in high speed trains. Do you want to travel quickly and inexpensively? Follow the leader !
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The SNCF Ouigo made it possible to democratize TGV train travel. Thanks to this service launched on April 2, 2013, travelers have access to cheap train tickets, from 10 euros. The price of the Ouigo ticket is close to the price of a bus / coach trip, another solution for traveling inexpensively. But how to buy a low cost train ticket on Ouigo? What are the conditions, advantages and disadvantages of this service?
Ouigo: what is the low cost train offered by SNCF?
Ouigo TGV is a service of TGV low cost offered by SNCF, a French rail transport company. It is she who manages trains at national level (TER, Intercités, TGV) and certain trains at regional level, such as RERs in the Île-de-France region. By creating the Ouigo company, SNCF is offering low cost travel by train, to compete with coaches and carpooling. The Ouigo train ticket can be used both for To go on holiday and that for business trips.
The Ouigo train ticket is therefore very inexpensive. However, a reservation on this low cost train involves certain constraints. For example, as with a low cost airline, paid options must be added to the Ouigo basic reservation to take advantage of certain services.
How to pay less for your OUIGO train ticket?
On Ouigo, you can pay a train ticket at 10 € only. But sometimes the selling price is higher. To access truly reduced prices, you need book as soon as possible. Note that the sales for the year start in March and October. To benefit from very reduced prices, you can subscribe to the Ouigo newsletter, via the Ouigo website. Subscribers receive good deals that allow them to travel at a lower cost. Some online travel sites also offer reductions, sales, and sometimes even a code promo to pay less for the TGV Ouigo ticket. Also note that the prices vary greatly depending on the request and schedules.
What is the difference between an OUIGO and SNCF train ticket?
A classic TGV ticket (TGV Inoui) generally costs more than a TGV Ouigo ticket. But the SNCF ticket includes certain options, which must be paid in addition with the Ouigo ticket. A trip with the classic SNCF can only be booked on the site oui.sncf. This official site also gives access to Ouigo trips and TER trips. However, on the ouigo.com site, we only have access to Ouigo journeys. To buy an Ouigo train ticket, you can therefore go to ouigo.com or oui.sncf (formerly www.voyages-sncf.com) If you absolutely want to book an Ouigo train ticket and see the price of your ticket by reduced train, go directly to the Ouigo website or app.
Which cities are served by Ouigo trains in France?
In 2021, the low cost company Ouigo serves more than forty destinations in France. The most regular trains are those to and from Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux and Lille, but there are 41 destinations au total !
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Several Ouigo stations are located in Paris and in the Paris region (Marne-la-Vallée, Massy). To the north, Ouigo serves Lille, Tourcoing, Amiens, Reims. In the west and south-west, Ouigo passes through all the major cities: Rennes, Nantes, Laval, Le Mans, Angers, Saint-Pierre-des-Corps (in the suburb of Tours), Poitiers, Angoulême, Agen, Montauban, Bordeaux, Toulouse. In the south of France, you can travel with Ouigo to Montpellier, Nîmes, Marseille, Toulon, Draguignan, Saint-Raphaël, Cannes, Antibes, Nice, Aix en Provence, Avignon. Finally, going up to the east, Ouigo serves Lyon, Grenoble, Valence, Colmar, Nancy, Metz, Strasbourg.
Is it possible to travel by train abroad with Ouigo?
In 2021, from a city in France, it is not yet possible to go abroad with a TGV Ouigo. However, the company will soon be offering a Barcelona-Madrid train trip. The connections should begin in March 2021. Several Ouigo Spain trips will take place each day to reach Madrid, Zaragoza and Barcelona. The offer of Spanish destinations should then grow. Perfect offers to go on cheap holidays for a weekend in European capitals!
What luggage can I take for free with an Ouigo train ticket?
The Ouigo train ticket includes two pieces of luggage at no additional cost. The traveler chooses between:
- two hand luggage,
- or hand baggage + cabin baggage.
The dimensions of the luggage must comply with standards. To be transported free of charge, hand luggage will measure 36 cm high by 27 cm wide and 15 cm deep. Cabin baggage will measure 55 x 35 x 25 cm. Suitcases and bags must be placed under the seat of the traveler. Another piece of baggage that you can carry for free on Ouigo: your child’s stroller, provided you buy an Ouigo child ticket and within the limit of 2 strollers per reservation and per trip. The stroller must be left in the luggage space.
Can we travel with pets?
The Ouigo trip with a pet is generally authorized. Small dogs and cats travel free with Ouigo. If the animal weighs more than 6 kilos, it will be necessary to envisage a supplement of 15 euros per trip. Dogs over 6 kilos must be kept on a leash and muzzled. This rule applies to all category 2 dogs. However, certain pets are prohibited in the Ouigo TGVs. This is the case with dangerous dogs classified in category 1 and wild animals.
What are the OUIGO options?
To enjoy more comfort, the low cost railway company offers various paid options. The options are to be checked when booking the train. They can be added after booking, up to 1h30 before departure. Attention ! Once you have selected an option, you can no longer remove it or have it refunded.
Travelers who exceed the free baggage allowance, those traveling with bicycles, scooters and other bulky items should take theluggage option at 5 euros. To book a train ticket with a pet, you must pay an additional 15 euros per trip if the animal is large. You want to buy train tickets knowing that you have a quiet place ? You have to pay 5 euros. For a option taken, it takes 2 euros, and for theoption wifi it is between 3 and 5 euros. Finally, to receive information about the trip in real time, there is a SMS option which costs between 1 and 2 euros.
SEE ALSO: 14 great ideas to stop getting bored in the car
Do you have to download the mobile application to travel inexpensively with Ouigo?
You can book your trip on theOuigo mobile app. You can also book on the ouigo.com website. Via the Ouigo app, you will have direct access to tickets. By booking on the site, you will receive your tickets by e-mail, to download or print. You should know that no SNCF counter sells Ouigo tickets.
OUIGO boarding: why do I have to show up 30 minutes before the train leaves?
Also, be aware that you must arrive 30 minutes before the train leaves for Ouigo boarding. Are you wondering why you have to board the train so early? It’s well explained in the video below!
