European Rail Travel - SNCF & Railteam?

Does anyone know when SNCF will join Railteam ticketing? And when I can use a Railplus discount card on SNCF?

Does anyone know when SNCF will join Railteam ticketing?

I'm not sure what you mean by this - is there "Railteam ticketing" at the moment?

From their website: "we are working on expanding the possibilities of purchasing your ticket “from home” with all international travel included. Railteam is currently working on the system developments that shall enable this easy access by mid-2009".

I'm not sure how far they have got on this but I haven't seen any firm developments on pan-European ticketing yet. Does anyone have any more news on this?

What I meant I think was using my Railplus subscription on SNCF tickets. I can buy a ticket from the Netherlands to Germany or Belgium (or vice versa) for instance, and get 25% off with Railplus. But this doesn't count for anything going to or from France.

Hi Stimpy,

Actually, Railplus cards are already "valid" in France, just only for travellers under 26 or over 59 and not on any train with a global price such as TGV/Thalys/Eurostar. So if you're travelling on a crossborder ticket, are in one of the right age brackets and stick to Corail and TER, you'll get your discount :rolleyes:

The Belgian Railways website explains this quite well:
http://www.b-rail.be/int/E/offers/railplus/index.php

As far as the common booking engine being developed by Railteam, I believe that it is based on the Swiss Railways' IT platform. So just imagine how long it will take for voyages-sncf.com to make the switch... Of course if your travel originates in NL, there's a slightly better chance that ns.nl will get their act together in the foreseeable future.

This nonsense is why when I travel between Paris and Amsterdam, I usually stop in Brussels for lunch. I have no choice but to travel the expensive Thalys without any reduction card between Paris and Brussels. But once I reach Brussels I can switch to the normal Inter-City train and use both my NS Korting and the Railplus reduction for 65% off the normal price. The cost savings pays for a very fine lunch in Brussels. ;) However I would like someday to be able to use my Railplus on the Thalys and TGV.

I do successfully use my SNCF coupon frequence on one particular international trip. The regional train from Lyon or Bellegarde to Geneve is actually classified as a domestic trip since you go through immigration at the station in Geneve. Or perhaps SNCF will stop that loophole when Schengen goes away? :mad:

Yeah, for international tickets to/from France, Railplus discount is offered only for passengers under 26 or above 60 y.o.
Discounts only for trains without market fares ( no discount in Artesia trains etc)

I do successfully use my SNCF coupon frequence on one particular international trip. The regional train from Lyon or Bellegarde to Geneve is actually classified as a domestic trip since you go through immigration at the station in Geneve. Or perhaps SNCF will stop that loophole when Schengen goes away? :mad:

Well, Schengen is certainly not going away, even Switzerland is joining the club. And I, for one, will certainly not miss the sometimes huge immigration lines when arriving in Geneva by TGV.

If SNCF does reclassify trains on local/regional routes to Geneva as international, you'll be able to use your Railplus card on them just as soon as you hit 60 ;)

This nonsense is why when I travel between Paris and Amsterdam, I usually stop in Brussels for lunch.

Good move! Although nothing beats a Thalys Croque-Monsieur ;)

Well, Schengen is certainly not going away, even Switzerland is joining the club. And I, for one, will certainly not miss the sometimes huge immigration lines when arriving in Geneva by TGV.

Sorry, I meant when Shengen arrives at the station in Geneve (if it hasn't already). I haven't had a problem with long lines at immigration, because for some reason they just wave the people with blue passports through without even looking at them. :cool: