Paris Metro tickets for sale on E*, TGV and AVE...

[coupwotcoup]

One presumes that there is no edict for the 'big three' to sell these but still find it all hit and miss.

In my experience, E* always have single/multiple tickets on sale in the bar but as far as I'm aware,
they never seem to announce this - I'm invariably on the first train out of Ebbsfleet so tiredness
might come into play.

When I returned from Spain last month, the 10.06 Girona- Paris train had none for sale, which was
a tad disappointing as I've always felt uncomfortable trying to work out the ticket machines, despite the English option and my French being more broken than the Brexit deal.

I went for the 'alternate option' and bought a ticket, as I have in the past, from one of the 'rogue'
sellers that lurk in said area. Never had problems before but this got me through the gates at GdL
okay but failed miserably at GdN.

Thankfully, with two cases and a bag in tow, I have a big smile and a Gallic shrug to a local commuter
and she kindly used to her card to let me through.

There must be plenty of people like myself who wish to cross Paris and I cannot think of any
logistical problems of selling said tickets on all trains arriving at the French capital.

 

[Starmill]

What is the difficulty with the ticket machines? Are the English translations missing, not actually translated (this one is a big problem with UK TVMs!), or just too difficult to understand? What's the price of the single from the machine and how much did you pay?

 

[cactustwirly]

If they're anything like the SNCF TVMs, then I don't blame you!

 

[CMS]

One presumes that there is no edict for the 'big three' to sell these but still find it all hit and miss.

In my experience, E* always have single/multiple tickets on sale in the bar but as far as I'm aware,
they never seem to announce this - I'm invariably on the first train out of Ebbsfleet so tiredness
might come into play.

When I returned from Spain last month, the 10.06 Girona- Paris train had none for sale, which was
a tad disappointing as I've always felt uncomfortable trying to work out the ticket machines, despite the English option and my French being more broken than the Brexit deal.

I went for the 'alternate option' and bought a ticket, as I have in the past, from one of the 'rogue'
sellers that lurk in said area. Never had problems before but this got me through the gates at GdL
okay but failed miserably at GdN.

Thankfully, with two cases and a bag in tow, I have a big smile and a Gallic shrug to a local commuter
and she kindly used to her card to let me through.

There must be plenty of people like myself who wish to cross Paris and I cannot think of any
logistical problems of selling said tickets on all trains arriving at the French capital.

As much as I can sympathise with your position as cross-Paris journeys can be a pain and the stations are among the least hospitable in Europe for sure, I cannot understand how the ticket machines, which all have an English option and are everywhere, are more difficult than having to engage in a discussion with a ticket tout? Then again, fare evasion is so rife in Paris, there must be an element if difficulty?!

As for the logistics of it, I imagine it’s quite inconvenient for TGVs given that stock utilisation means that sets often do journeys where there is no bar throughout, some where they avoid Paris etc. Also on almost all routes, the bar/buffet is actually a 3rd-party provider so would be at their discretion. Given that SNCF no longer allow the sale of paper tickets of even their own trains for non-on-the-day departures at some of their Parisian termini ticket offices now, I don’t think there would be an appetite to increase the accessibility of said tickets. Then again, I can see your point that it would offer a better “seamless” customer experience.

To put this thread to bed though, all paper tickets in Paris are being phased out from April and you will have to buy the equivalent of an Oyster (called Navigo Easy) for 2€ and load it with a fare. Unlike Oyster, you cannot sell it back at the end of your stay though if you are a tourist. http://m.leparisien.fr/info-paris-i...icket-de-metro-a-paris-10-07-2018-7814931.php

I’m unaware if E*/SNCF will sell these onboard their trains, but I would somewhat doubt it. E* does sell the Oyster though so there is hope.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

...all paper tickets in Paris are being phased out from April and you will have to buy the equivalent of an Oyster (called Navigo Easy) for 2€ and load it with a fare.

Eek!!! Does that carry an Oyster style time penalty if you exceed a stated time for a sector? Or does it work exactly like the paper tickets in terms of validity? That is, load it up to the zonal value ( e.g 5 zones / 5 days ) and that's it?

I ask, of course, because I'm often inside the barrier lines for hours at a time chasing haulages...

 

[Mutant Lemming]

What is the difficulty with the ticket machines? Are the English translations missing, not actually translated (this one is a big problem with UK TVMs!), or just too difficult to understand? What's the price of the single from the machine and how much did you pay?

Eurostar do rip you off if you pay in Euros for metro tickets but it is still preferable to buy before arriving instead of fumbling around for cash at a ticket machine in one of Europe's worse systems for pick pockets and organised gangs of thieves.

 

[CMS]

Eek!!! Does that carry an Oyster style time penalty if you exceed a stated time for a sector? Or does it work exactly like the paper tickets in terms of validity? That is, load it up to the zonal value ( e.g 5 zones / 5 days ) and that's it?

I ask, of course, because I'm often inside the barrier lines for hours at a time chasing haulages...

I’d imagine that like the current “ticket t+” there would be a 2hr time limit from entering to leaving the system per journey.

For the type of fares permissible, it is implied that the Navigo Easy will only allow non-season type tickets and zonal tickets/caps similar to the current Navigo e.g. “forfait Navigo jour”. Nothing seems finialised for now though.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I'm not familiar with any of the electronic tickets... If all the paper ones vanish, I'd be looking to simply load up a 5 zone 5 days ticket and travel at will without it costing any extra... Can that be done?

 

[gordonthemoron]

I'm going to Paris for 5/6 days at Christmas, what is the best ticket to get?

 

[AY1975]

I went for the 'alternate option' and bought a ticket, as I have in the past, from one of the 'rogue'
sellers that lurk in said area. Never had problems before but this got me through the gates at GdL
okay but failed miserably at GdN.

Personally I would advise very strongly against doing that under any circumstances.

If you buy a ticket from a ticket tout, they may try to make you think you are paying less when you are in fact paying more for it than if you had bought it from an authorised outlet (for example, they will often buy a "carnet" of ten tickets and then try to sell them each individually, thereby making a profit), and after you've bought it you may find that it doesn't work the gates (as you yourself found when you got to GdN) or if a ticket inspector sees you they may say it's not valid, and if they ask you where you bought it and you say you got it from someone hanging around in the station, you could be charged a penalty fare as if you didn't have a ticket.

Whatever you do, always buy your ticket from a ticket office or machine, or any other authorised outlet (some tobacco kiosks in Paris, with the famous red vertical cigar-shaped "Tabac" sign, also sell them, I think), but keep your valuables on your person, preferably out of sight, and be aware of your surroundings. If you can buy your metro tickets in advance on board your Eurostar or SNCF train or at St Pancras, so much the better - they are usually more expensive than when bought from an RATP ticket office or machine, but it saves you time and hassle - time is money!

If you do have to buy your ticket at the metro station, it is best to carry a few Euro coins loose in your pocket so you can keep your wallet hidden when you buy it. Better still, look on the RATP website (www.ratp.fr/titres-et-tarifs) before you travel and work out what type of ticket you need so you know how much money you will need to have ready.

 

[AY1975]

If they're anything like the SNCF TVMs, then I don't blame you!

I have generally found the RATP TVMs to be fairly user-friendly.

 

[swt class 450]

Its a shame to hear that they are phasing out paper tickets and introducing smartcards. It will make it more complicating and more expensive. RATP could at least make the smartcards free (like the majority of train and bus companies in the UK do). I hate when you have to pay for a smartcard.

When they switch to smartcards will the 2.00 Euro cash Single tickets still be available to purchase from bus drivers?

 

[calopez]

I wonder how long carnet tickets will remain valid? As is my usual practice, I bought a carnet on my way through Paris last summer, so I've always got a few in hand to ease future cross-Paris journeys. But maybe that wasn't such a good idea...

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Eurostar do rip you off if you pay in Euros for metro tickets but it is still preferable to buy before arriving instead of fumbling around for cash at a ticket machine in one of Europe's worse systems for pick pockets and organised gangs of thieves.

Far be it for me to defend overcharging, but a slight mark-up for convenience is hardly a "rip-off".

 

[Mutant Lemming]

Far be it for me to defend overcharging, but a slight mark-up for convenience is hardly a "rip-off".

It just seems odd that they charge more generally in Euros than in sterling (e.g £4.85 for a beer or E6.50) that is more the rip-off element than the paying extra for the convenience.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

It just seems odd that they charge more generally in Euros than in sterling (e.g £4.85 for a beer or E6.50) that is more the rip-off element than the paying extra for the convenience.

The fluctuations in the exchange rate over the last 18 months have taken some getting used to. I was on the continent a couple of weeks ago, with the exchange rate at around €1.10/£1:- this took some getting used to, as I was so familiar with thinking of prices in € as being significantly lower than in £. I had to keep reminding myself that the exchange rate was basically 1:1.
Generally if you're on board Eurostar you'll have both Euros and Sterling in your possession. I use the journey time to transfer from one currency to the other, filling my wallet with the correct currency for the destination. During the journey I'll consider whether I'm better off using sterling or euros on board (including for things like coffees at the buffet), but for things like metro tickets you're generally better off using the "native" currency.

Most travellers will have both currencies on them, so it's up to them to decide which works out best.

 

[Billy A]

I wonder how long carnet tickets will remain valid? As is my usual practice, I bought a carnet on my way through Paris last summer, so I've always got a few in hand to ease future cross-Paris journeys. But maybe that wasn't such a good idea...

Quite some time. As per the Smart Navigo site "there will be time for travellers to use their paper tickets after they are no longer being sold". Payment by contactless cards or phone is not expected to be rolled out to the entire public transport system until 2021. I haven't been able to find a date for the cessation of paper ticket sales and I suspect that there isn't one yet. The plan is that paper tickets will be sold until the new system is available throughout the network which may not be until 2021.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

The plan is that paper tickets will be sold until the new system is available throughout the network which may not be until 2021.

Just a thought... how would the Paris Visite ticket be dealt with under the new system given that it is used to gain discounts on entry to a number of museums and other attractions within Paris?

 

[AY1975]

I'm going to Paris for 5/6 days at Christmas, what is the best ticket to get?

That depends how much you plan to travel on the RATP network (buses, trams, metro and RER) while you are there. If you will be doing a lot of travelling each day, it is worth getting a Paris Visite pass which is valid for unlimited travel for 1, 2, 3 or 5 days.

If you think you will only do, say, two or three journeys per day and explore the city on foot most of the time, then a "carnet" (pronounced "carnay") of ten single journey tickets may be better value (which is what I tend to do when I go to Paris).

For details see www.ratp.fr/en/titres-et-tarifs and click on "t+ tickets" for single journey tickets and carnets, or scroll down to travel passes and then click on Paris Visite.

If you are using a single journey ticket or carnet, each ticket is valid for one journey of any distance on the metro, buses or trams and within Zone 1 on the RER. Simply validate your ticket using one of the on-board validators on the bus or tram, and on the metro and RER you just have to insert it into the ticket gate at the entrance. The RER also has barriers at the exit, whereas the metro just has exit doors - you don't need your ticket to open these but you must still keep it until you have left the station as inspectors do occasionally man the exits and do spot checks.

 

[Billy A]

Just a thought... how would the Paris Visite ticket be dealt with under the new system given that it is used to gain discounts on entry to a number of museums and other attractions within Paris?

I suppose they'll include it in the new contactless card which you'll then present at the museums etc.

 

[coupwotcoup]

@Starmill

The translation was fine but when attempting to pay it kept coming up with ‘error’.
A local girl tried to help but she came up against the same problem.

Queues were about half a dozen deep at each machine and other ‘tourists’
I shall say Japanese for convenience, were having similar problems judging by
the time they were spending - presuming they [the ticket machines] translate
into their required language?

The regular price I think is 1.80 and that’s what my ‘tout’ asked for but gave
him 2.00 as I couldn’t be ar$ed sorting out change and as previously stated,
I’ve used said option before without any trouble.



@CMS

re ‘seamless customer experience’...


For me it’s just comforting to know that I don’t have to mess about at machines or
worse still the ticket offices at GdN and GdL, which from past experience have just
the one person working.

Plus, I usually cut it fine with just 50 minutes between cross town connections
- my choice - but, touch wood, I’ve always managed to get through, despite a
few minor hiccoughs.



@AY1975

re ticket inspectors...


I’ve crossed Paris via RER D at least twice a year for the past 30 and cannot recall
anyone being at the gates - as opposed to London - let alone seen an inspector.

A couple of final points...firstly, which I am sure most of you seasoned travellers are
aware, they have gates at the TGV entrances, which caused a massive pile up GdL on
my way to Spain.



and secondly

I’d give my high teeth to go vial Lille but at present that route to Girona adds
an extra two hours to my journey, so despite not be Paris’ biggest fan, will still
rough it until a more favourable option arises.

Thanks for your response.

 

[dutchflyer]

Singles for whithin Paris-central (or in fact for any bus/tram trip anywhere in transilien area) are 1,90/single or a carnet of 10 is about 14€-check ratp.fr. What these poor dudes as re-sellers do is buy carnets and re-sell them for mostly 2€ each-as they wont have the 10ct change. Their profit is thus 50/60 ct/ticket and its also illegal. (plus that those tourists without knowledge can easily be cheated into getting already used and found tickets). The RATP-machines take some habit to get used to-you have to roll a bar to get the wished for ticket-then press a button for accept, and thats all. They are quite slow-also with the payment by card-just have a 2eur coin at hand for speed. Most of the main rail-terminals still have staffed offices too. BUt then in fact €* and Thls do exactly the same as re-sellers! IF they stock up at all it will of course be at the Paris end-thus on the return (like from BCN-when demand obviously would be higher) they are often already out of stock.
@mugridge-AFAIK there are No 5 day-5-zone tickets, there is the weekly all-zones (as they are ''dezoned'' for commuters) loaded on NaviGo-but thats only from mo-till sun and just about 22 eur. or there is the choice between Paris-visite or daily passes (NOT valid at airport stations)-not dezoned and thus f.e. for 1-5 around 15/16 eur quite expensive in comparison.
@Gordon; depends on how far out of centre zone you wish to travel and also-see above-exactly on which days and how much trouble you want to take to get a personal NaVigo (with foto and all that).. Also there are very often generous discounts and/or free travel on the last days of the year, or at evenings or so.
BTW-many French urban systems have already completely gone over to all tickets on chips-they ALL also have paper such tickets, which cost 20 or 30 cts and can even be reloaded a few times-but only with exactly the same ticket (thus f.e. not a dayticket for day 1 and just a single for day 2). These are always (a lot) cheaper as the RATP-fares. I myself have for years wondered at how long RATP will stick to this old-style system, so there is the answer here now! And-uh-you brits keep a leap ahead with just allowing direct payment with cred-cd-whereas FR is often very advanced in such payment methods.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

@mugridge-AFAIK there are No 5 day-5-zone tickets, there is the weekly all-zones (as they are ''dezoned'' for commuters) loaded on NaviGo-but thats only from mo-till sun and just about 22 eur. or there is the choice between Paris-visite

Yes, it's usually the Visite which I use, which is 5 days / 5 zones - so you're saying there is no direct equivalent on the electronic / smartcard tickets?

Assuming I have to switch to the Navigo, is the 2 hours mentioned above the limit before I'll have no choice but to tap out and tap back in again? Which leads to a supplementary question - how long would I have to leave it to avoid it treating a quick out and back in as an error and therefore counting the time as a continuous block?

 

[BahrainLad]

I always buy metro tickets from Eurostar normally because the queues for ticket machines are so long, and invariably filled with tourists (especially in the summer) who have absolutely no idea what they are doing. Far quicker just to get them from the cafe/bar in advance.

They used to sell them at the information desk in the departure lounge at St Pancras, but on my last visit a couple of weeks ago they told me they have stopped doing so.

 

[AY1975]

@Starmill
re ticket inspectors...

I’ve crossed Paris via RER D at least twice a year for the past 30 and cannot recall
anyone being at the gates - as opposed to London - let alone seen an inspector.

When I went to Paris in 2009 I saw ticket inspectors manning the exit doors at a Metro station at least once. At this particular station, you would often see fare dodgers trying to sneak in through the exit doors past the disembarking passengers, so the inspectors were presumably there partly to deter such activity. I always made sure that I shut the exit door immediately after going through it, but I would expect that at some stations in "rough" areas, the fare dodgers might get nasty if you do that.

Passengers often drop their used tickets on the ground as they pass through the exit doors, and I suspect that fare dodgers often pick up used tickets off the floor and try to get in through the exit doors holding one of these, hoping that if challenged they can get away with presenting it.

The entrance barriers normally stamp your ticket on the back to show that it has been used, but sometimes the stamp is very faint, so I suppose ticket touts might even try to sell used tickets with only a very faint mark on the back to unsuspecting passengers who will then find that the ticket won't work the gates so they will have wasted their money.