Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
railway
Train des Pignes
(Pine Cone Train;
www.trainprovence.com
)
links Nice with
Digne-les-Bains.
TER's website bookings are confusing; use
www.voyages-sncf.com
to more easily find
schedules and fares.
Reservations are not mandatory on most regional trains. In summer, buy tickets in ad-
vance to ensure transport.
Two summertime regional passes are available to travellers of all ages, valid July
through September.
Carte Bermuda
(€5)
is a one-day pass for weekends and holidays,
with unlimited 2nd-class travel between Marseille and Miramas. It can't be used on
TGVs.
Carte Isabelle
(individual/family of 4 €12/€35)
is a one-day pass for unlimited
travel along the coast between Fréjus and Ventimiglia, inland between Nice and Tende,
and Cannes to Grasse. It can't be used on TGVs, but permits 1st-class travel at no addi-
tional cost.
STAMP IT!
You must time-stamp your ticket in a
composteur
(freestanding yellow post at the entrance to train platforms) im-
mediately before boarding, or incur hefty fines. Smartphones displaying barcode boarding passes are exempt.
Passes & Costs
Passes are sold at student travel agencies, major train stations within Europe, and at
Rail
Europe
( in Canada 1 800 361 7245, in the UK 0844 848 5848, in the USA 1 800 622
8600;
www.raileurope.com
)
.
For extensive European travel, it may be worth buying a
Eurail
(
www.eurail.com
)
pass,
available to non-Europeans; or an
InterRail
(
www.interrailnet.com
)
pass available to
Europeans - both valid for unlimited international travel. See
The Man in Seat 61
(
www.seat61.com
)
for pros and cons of rail passes, and whether they make financial
sense.
Note: Most passes must be validated at the train station ticket window before your first
journey - leave extra time.
SNCF BOOKINGS, DISCOUNTS & PASSES
»Website
www.voyages-sncf.com
often has internet-only offers; also an excellent mobile
app for booking and electronic ticketing.
