Boulogne-Lille walk-in fares

[MK Tom]

I'm trying to plan a journey on SNCF from Boulogne to Lille and back on Sunday 10th of February, but with my limited French I can get times but not fares off the SNCF website (the English version doesn't do the journey at all). I also want to check if that ticket is valid changing at Calais and if a break of journey there is allowed.

Also if there's such a thing as a Boulogne-Valenciennes return I'd like to know the price of that too.

Lastly, are day returns and next day ones the same price?

Sorry for the volume and variety of questions. Many thanks to anyone who can answer any of them!

 

[khib70]

There's an 0811, arriving 1025, changing trains at Les Fontinettes. There's a 1635 back, arriving 1847, same connection. Return fare is 46.80 Euros. This seems to be an anytime fare, and there don't seem to be many cheaper ones.

If these times don't suit, there's a (roughly) hourly service, although the change stations vary, the fares don't (much). Both the above services are from Boulogne Ville to Lille Flandres (the more central station). Some of the others go to Lille Europe (the less central TGV/Eurostar station).

Hope this helps a bit. Probably someone with direct local knowledge will be along soon to provide more detailed information!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Oh, and Boulogne-Valenciennes requires two changes, the second one usually being at Lille Flandres. Fares for Sunday (off peak, presumably) travel are 28 to 36 Euros

 

[Oscar]

All fares are sold as singles (except occasional special offers). TER tickets are sold from origin to destination over a specific route. There are differences in price between période bleue (off-peak) and période blanche (peak) if you hold certain discount cards. There is no saving to be made by booking in advance and the price you see online is the price you pay at the station. TGV tickets are sold for a specific TGV train (reservations are compulsory). There is a large array of TGV prices and you can save money by booking in advance. If a journey is on TGV and TER then TGV fares are offered - you used to have to buy two tickets until very recently. The Nord-Pas de Calais region also has TERGV trains running for example between Calais / Boulogne and Lille. These trains use the high speed line but TER fares apply. You could travel:
Boulogne - Les Fontinettes (TER)
Les Fontinettes - Lille Flandres (TER)
Lille Flandres - Valenciennes (TER)
28.70€

Boulogne - Lille Europe (TERGV)
500m walk
Lille Flandres - Valenciennes (TER)
28.10€

Walk-on TGV fares are significantly higher than these TER fares but fares booked in advance do not seem to be. There does not appear to be any difference between période bleue and période blanche fares on this route.

TGV fares:

- TGV Pro 2nde and Plein Tarif Loisir appear to be available at any time.
Loisir Réduit and Prem's fares are only available in advance.

 

[MK Tom]

There's an 0811, arriving 1025, changing trains at Les Fontinettes. There's a 1635 back, arriving 1847, same connection. Return fare is 46.80 Euros. This seems to be an anytime fare, and there don't seem to be many cheaper ones.

If these times don't suit, there's a (roughly) hourly service, although the change stations vary, the fares don't (much). Both the above services are from Boulogne Ville to Lille Flandres (the more central station). Some of the others go to Lille Europe (the less central TGV/Eurostar station).

Hope this helps a bit. Probably someone with direct local knowledge will be along soon to provide more detailed information!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Oh, and Boulogne-Valenciennes requires two changes, the second one usually being at Lille Flandres. Fares for Sunday (off peak, presumably) travel are 28 to 36 Euros

So the longer journey costs less? That's a bit peculiar... The SNCF site seems to give different fares for every journey. I'm happy to use TER only. If that doesn't bring the cost down at all I'd like to know if Rouen is posdible/affordable too if possible. Many thanks for all your help!

 

[Oscar]

The longer journey I understand costs less because it is a shorter route. I understand TER fares are based on distance where as TGV fares are essentially market based.

Most French fares are eye-wateringly expensive compared to Off-Peak or Advance fares in Britain.

 

[MK Tom]

The longer journey I understand costs less because it is a longer route. I understand TER fares are based on distance where as TGV fares are essentially market based.

Most French fares are eye-wateringly expensive compared to Off-Peak or Advance fares in Britain.

Cheaper because it's longer?? If I went furthur would it get cheaper still???

I'm very curious to see what Rouen comes out as now.

 

[Oscar]

I apologise for the mistake - it was a typing error. As you would expect, the high speed route means fewer kilometres. There is a 3€ supplement for using the high speed line for a day though (Supplément Grande Vitesse - High Speed Supplement).

Tarif Normal TER/Intercités for Boulogne - Amiens - Rouen is 35.40€.

In between TER and TGV there is a category called Intercités (Intercity) - long-distance classic services. In summary, the fares system appears to be the following:
TER - période bleue (off-peak)/blanche (peak) Tarif Normal (walk-up) only. There is a 25% discount (Découverte 12-25) for 12-25 year olds, take ID.
Intercités - walk-up fares are the same as TER (période bleue/blanche Tarif Normal) and there are also advance-purchase Loisir Réduit (cheaper) and Prem's (even cheaper, limited numbers) fares.
TGV - trains categorised as période normal (off-peak)/de pointe (peak), walk-up fares are Plein Tarif Loisir / Pro 2nde, advance-purchase fares are Loisir Réduit and Prem's.

 

[MK Tom]

I apologise for the mistake.

No but you're right!! Valenciennes is further but comes out €10 cheaper.

So will they accept British ID if I take my driving license as proof of age?

 

[Oscar]

Are you comparing a TGV Loisir ("Advance") fare and a TER fare? I am sure British ID will be fine.

 

[MK Tom]

Are you comparing a TGV Loisir ("Advance") fare and a TER fare? I am sure British ID will be fine.

Two TER fares I think... I'm not actually sure, on the SNCF site I put in a return search (checked retour not simple) but the results only show one way as €24 for Boulogne-Lille. I assumed the return fare was double that...

 

[Oscar]

TER Tarif Normal via high-speed line:
Boulogne - Valenciennes 28.10€ / 21.10€ aged 12-25
Boulogne - Lille 21.70€ / 16.30€ aged 12-25
(plus high speed supplement).
TER/Intercités Tarif Normal via Amiens:
Boulogne - Rouen 35.40€ / 26.60€ aged 12-25

The discount of 25% for 12-25 year olds is also available on certain TGV tickets. There are also cards for 12-17 and 18-27 year olds which give further discounts.

 

[MK Tom]

TER Tarif Normal via high-speed line:
Boulogne - Valenciennes 28.10€ / 21.10€ aged 12-25
Boulogne - Lille 21.70€ / 16.30€ aged 12-25
(plus high speed supplement).
TER/Intercités Tarif Normal via Amiens:
Boulogne - Rouen 35.40€ / 26.60€ aged 12-25

The discount of 25% for 12-25 year olds is also available on certain TGV tickets. There are also cards for 12-17 and 18-27 year olds which give further discounts.

Thank you!!! Are those single or return?

 

[Oscar]

All the fares are singles. To go via Calais you of course need to book a ticket via Calais. The TERGV trains which take around an hour from Boulogne Ville to Lille Europe call at Calais Fréthun, a few kilometres from Calais Ville station and the centre of town. Break of journey is permitted as long as you complete the journey within the time limit.

A single by train or bus between Calais Ville and Calais Fréthun costs 2.20€ for passengers not in possession of an SNCF ticket with an origin or destination as Calais Ville or Calais Fréthun.

Lille Europe - Calais Fréthun TERGV (ca. 30 minutes) 12.50€ aged 12-25 + high speed supplement / Lille Europe - Calais Ville TER (ca. 1h20) 13.50€ aged 12-25
Boulogne - Calais Fréthun TER 5.40€ (or bizarrely, given the rule above, 6.30€ Boulogne - Calais Ville) aged 12-25

Some of the Boulogne - Calais Fréthun TER trains continue to Calais Ville but you will need to change on the way to Lille if you want to use the high speed line.

 

[MK Tom]

So with a British passport showing I'm twenty three I could get a Boulogne-Lille return (essentially) for 36€.

Many thanks for all your help, you've been brilliant, just as you were last year when I was travelling around Nice.

One other point of confusion - the high speed supplement is available on the walk-in tickets, but TGV services must always be pre-booked? Do Intercites trains use the LGV?

 

[Oscar]

There are no Intercités trains on this route. You would only use Intercités if going to Rouen. Intercités are non-high speed (classic) long-distance trains, TER trains are local trains. Nord-Pas de Calais region has the pecularity of local high speed trains which are TER trains for ticketing purposes called TERGV (the "GV" from TGV). The supplement is only for these trains.

Reservations are compulsory on TGV trains. Reservations normally open 3 months in advance and close when the train leaves your origin station. If there are no spaces left you cannot buy a ticket. Loisir Réduit fares are available up to 10 days in advance unless you are making a return journey at the weekend and Prem's fares (no further reduction on these fares) have to be bought up to 14 days beforehand. Loisir and Pro 2nde / Pro 1ère do not have such a constraint however.

Correction - the TER off-peak/peak (bleu/blanc) distinction is now only relevant for discount card holders who receive a different level of discount at different times. Prices are now the same at any time.

 

[MK Tom]

Oh I see. It's really difficult to identify on the SNCF search results for Sunday 10th which services are TERGV ones which I could just walk in and buy. It seems like they're all either TER only taking the slow route or TGV ones. Perhaps that's because it's a Sunday though?

This is going to be a difficult and complicated ticket to work out the correct way to ask for in French!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Right I've revised my date to Tuesday February 5th which substantially improves my options. Where multiple trains have different fares, do they just sell you the ticket for the next departure when you go in? Otherwise will I have to learn how to specify TERGV services in French? Also I'm guessing I'll have to specifically ask for the 12-25 ticket too.

Again, many thanks for all this.

 

[starrymarkb]

Both the above services are from Boulogne Ville to Lille Flandres (the more central station). Some of the others go to Lille Europe (the less central TGV/Eurostar station).

It's not that far to walk from Europe. Or you could hop on the metro to Flandres for €0.70

 

[Oscar]

Oh I see. It's really difficult to identify on the SNCF search results for Sunday 10th which services are TERGV ones which I could just walk in and buy. It seems like they're all either TER only taking the slow route or TGV ones. Perhaps that's because it's a Sunday though?

This is going to be a difficult and complicated ticket to work out the correct way to ask for in French!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Right I've revised my date to Tuesday February 5th which substantially improves my options. Where multiple trains have different fares, do they just sell you the ticket for the next departure when you go in? Otherwise will I have to learn how to specify TERGV services in French? Also I'm guessing I'll have to specifically ask for the 12-25 ticket too.

Again, many thanks for all this.

The TERGV trains are marked as "TER" on the SNCF online journey planner. The TERGV trains take around an hour whereas the classic TER services via Calais Ville or Les Fontinettes take at least around two hours.
I would imagine that there will be a ticket machine at Boulogne Ville with a similar interface to the SNCF online journey planner if you don't want to buy the ticket in person. In my experience French ticket clerks will have a conversation with you to help you buy the right ticket and the queues can therefore be long.

 

[reb0118]

Re: Language skills. I have found no major problems with being understood with my poor franglais (avec un accent eccossais ausi!) in the booking offices at Lille (both), Calais Frethun, Amiems, & Haute Picardie (aka the beetroot field station).

I always start in french and apologise in advance for my lack of it - very soon a mixture of french & english is used - if you have time (hopefully no queue behind you!) ask the clerk to tell you how to put your query into french. Also writing it down a few times can help - you can even show that to the clerk if you get stuck.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[MK Tom]

Yeah it was much the same for me in Nice last year. Thanks!

So using a TVM I'd only need to show my ID to the on-train guard for the 12-25 ticket I'm guessing?

 

[Oscar]

You would of course have to choose your age group "12-25" on the TVM.

 

[MK Tom]

Yeah that's cool, I don't mean to ask daft things, I'm just rather paranoid about it! Many thanks.

 

[MK Tom]

OK I've got the whole thing planned now (travelling on Tuesday) but there's just one oddity - getting the 08:07 from Boulogne Tintelleries towards Lille (which I'm guessing originates at Boulogne Ville, so can't I just get it from there?) the SNCF website advises me to change at Calais Ville. However planning the same journey from Wimille, it advises me to catch the same two services, but changing at Les Fontinettes. Is there a reason for this difference?

 

[Oscar]

I don't know why there is this difference. The service from Boulogne and the train to Lille both call at (Calais) Les Fontinettes around 3-4 minutes before Calais Ville on their way into Calais but you have ample time with this connection to go in and out of Calais Ville if you so wish.

 

[MK Tom]

I don't know why there is this difference. The service from Boulogne and the train to Lille both call at (Calais) Les Fontinettes around 3-4 minutes before Calais Ville on their way into Calais but you have ample time with this connection to go in and out of Calais Ville if you so wish.

Thanks. Just as long as the route via Calais Ville isn't supposed to cost more?

 

[Oscar]

The train which leaves Boulogne Tintilleries at 08:07 leaves Boulogne Ville at 08:04. Boulogne Ville - Calais Ville - Lille Flandres costs 24.10€. Boulogne - (Calais) Les Fontinettes - Lille Flandres costs 23.40€.

 

[MK Tom]

The train which leaves Boulogne Tintilleries at 08:07 leaves Boulogne Ville at 08:04. Boulogne Ville - Calais Ville - Lille Flandres costs 24.10€. Boulogne - (Calais) Les Fontinettes - Lille Flandres costs 23.40€.

Those being adult fares. That's cool, thanks a lot!! Bizarre that it sends me via Fontinettes from Wimille but via Ville from Boulogne when it's the same train. Hopefully I'll be able to specify that at the station. EDIT specifying Boulogne Ville over Boulogne-Sur-Mer seems to fix this problem.

 

[Flandrian]

New here and late to this thread, but thought it might be useful to let you know of a couple of good deals available in the Calais / Boulogne / Lille area.

First up, the Pass Régional Grand'TER costs €7 and is valid for a year. It can be issued at any manned station and you'll need a passport photo. The deal is that, for day return journeys on Saturdays, Sundays, Bank Hols and throughout school hols, you get a 50% discount on the adult fare. One person accompanying you can also travel with a 50% discount, and passengers 3, 4 and 5 pay only €0.10 return.


Less relevant for you, but a 'heads up' for people visiting the region, is the City Pass Lille Métropole 72h (€45) which, besides giving free entry to loads of museums in Lille and the wider region (N-PDC), and free access to Lille's trams, buses and metro, also gives unlimited access to the N-PDC TER network for the 3 days of the pass.

With these tickets you would need to pay the TER-GV supplement (€3 per day) to use those services.

Cheers,

F

 

[MK Tom]

Ah right, useful for future trips!

I thought I'd let you all know that everything was a complete success. Every single train was on time, the right price, I had no trouble talking to staff or anything like that. 100% success.

Specifically to Oscar, I'd like to say...