France has an excellent rail systemcovering much of the country. The French high speed rail network or TGV (Trains Grand Vitesse)is among the world's best.

The Eurostar travels between London St Pancras Station and Paris Gare du Nord Station several times a day. This high speed train that travels under the English Channel has replaced many flights between the two cities. 

TER (Transport Express Regionale) trains are used on regional lines. They are not high speed, but are very modern and comfortable.

RailEurope (right) is an excellent booking site for train travel throughout Europe that works in much the same way as an airline booking site.  

The pros of train travel

• Ideal for city to city trips of less than 500km
• More flexible and hassle free than flying
• Extensive rail network including high speed trains
• High degree of safety and more comfortable than flying
• You get to see the countryside
• You go from city centre to city centre as stations are generally central
• Greater luggage capacity and less rules  

Cons of train travel

• Slower than flying over longer distances
• French railways are prone to industrial action
• Not as flexible as self driving   

Railway stations or Gares

Click here for real time informatio on more than 100 railway stations in France.

Paris Gares

Paris is very much the transport hub of France. It has a number of intercity railway stations that each serve specific regions of France:

Gare d’Austerlitz: Central and south-west France and Spain

Gare de l’Est: Alsace: Champagne and southern Germany

Gare de Lyon: Burgundy, the Alps, Provence and Italy

Gare Montparnasse: West France, Brittany, Bordeaux, the south-west

Gare du Nord: Eurostar, Channel ports, north-east France, Belgium and Holland.