📅 Christmas vacation bookings open: get your tickets now!🚄

The Christmas vacations are approaching, and with them, the kick-off of SNCF train ticket sales! For those wishing to travel at advantageous rates, it’s crucial to get in early. Prices rise rapidly as trains fill up. Ticketing opens this **Wednesday at 6am**.

Booking dates by line:

– TGV and Intercités: travel from December 15, 2024 to January 8, 2025.
– Ouigo Grande Vitesse: travel from December 15, 2024 to July 4, 2025.
– Ouigo Train Classique: sales open 45 days before departure.
– TGV Internationaux: until March 30, 2025.
– Eurostar: until March 29, 2025.

New for the end of the year 🎉

SNCF has planned a few surprises and new features for end-of-year journeys, particularly for **Ouigo** and **Intercités** services:

– 🛤 **New TGV Paris-Berlin** daytime service, operational from **December 16** (tickets available from October 16).
– 🚞 **Return of the Ouigo Grande Vitesse Paris-Bourg Saint-Maurice line**: one daily round trip from **December 19, 2024 to March 30, 2025**.
– 🚆 **First renovated Ouigo trainset**: a more modern and comfortable travel experience.
– 🌆 **New Intercités offer** between **Nancy and Lyon Perrache** from **December 15, 2024**.
– 🌙 **Paris-Tarbes night train**: two new stops at **Facture-Biganos** and **Saint-Vincent-de-Tyrosse** from **December 15**.

⚠️ **Book early to avoid missing the boat** 🕒

The key word this season is **anticipation**. Trains, especially on popular routes, fill up quickly as soon as sales open. According to the **Trainline** platform, **25% of trains to Perpignan** and **20% to Nice** were already fully booked just three days after the launch of reservations.

💡 **The importance of anticipation: save up to 38%** 💸

Booking in advance is the key to getting the best rates. The principle of **dynamic pricing** (or **yield management**) adjusts prices according to demand and train occupancy. For example, a seat on a popular route, booked late, can cost up to **three times more** than the same ticket purchased several weeks in advance.

**Tip**: According to Trainline, booking **11 weeks** in advance (when sales open) can save up to **38%** on certain routes. From the 10th week before departure, fares increase, and discounts become rarer.

🔄 **Take advantage of the competition** 🔍

On certain routes, it can be useful to compare with competing operators. For example, **Trenitalia** offers connections **Paris-Lyon**, while **Renfe** serves routes **Lyon-Barcelona** and **Marseille-Madrid**. These companies are not available on SNCF Connect; you’ll need to visit their respective websites or use alternative platforms such as **Trainline**, **Kombo**, **Omio** or **1,2Train**.

✨ **In short: be responsive, compare, and enjoy!** ✨

Don’t delay in booking your tickets, as the start of this booking period marks the rush of travelers looking for the best prices to spend the festive season in complete peace of mind. Whether you’re meeting up with loved ones or heading off on an adventure, anticipation is your best ally. Bon voyage!