Intercités and reserved seating

[DeverseSam]

On the Bordeaux to Nantes route it is not obligatory to have reservations.

However SNCF nevertheless often shows “Complet” on this route.

Using an Interrail then I can presumably still board a “Complet” train without any seat reservation.

However there are no seat reservations shown at all aboard these trains, is there an online source of which seats will become available at which station? Thank you

 

[rvdborgt]

You can still board. You can also try to find a reservation for part of the journey.
The SNCF website doesn't offer a seat map to pick your seat from, so I'm afraid it's quite cumbersome to find free seats. SNCF (and Rail Europe) do show a carriage/seat number before you pay, so you can see at least 1 free seat if you find a journey with availability.

 

[DeverseSam]

Thank you.

Would it be correct to say that a normal Flexi ticket carries a seat reservation and has to be amended before boarding, like on TGV?

 

[rvdborgt]

Would it be correct to say that a normal Flexi ticket carries a seat reservation and has to be amended before boarding, like on TGV?

It will have a seat reservation indeed. There seem to be 3 types of regular tickets for these trains: flexible (can be used on any train on the same day, without guaranteed seat), semi-flexible (can be changed to another train) and non-flexible (can't be changed).

 

[DeverseSam]

Thank you, so a mix of TGV-type and TER-type rules.

Seems to be reservation-obligatory in practice for most passengers

 

[biko]

I used this service last summer travelling with an Interrail when all services showed ‘complet’. When I asked ticket office staff they didn’t know the rules themselves. First they tried to say reservations were mandatory but only after showing them the SNCF webpage which says it’s not, they started saying the conductor can refuse you. Not sure if that’s true or they made it up at that moment. Eventually, I was able to use a TER and then change to the Intercités train from the station where there was availability of reservations, so I didn’t try.

 

[rvdborgt]

I used this service last summer travelling with an Interrail when all services showed ‘complet’. When I asked ticket office staff they didn’t know the rules themselves. First they tried to say reservations were mandatory but only after showing them the SNCF webpage which says it’s not, they started saying the conductor can refuse you.

They can refuse you if they deem the train to be too overcrowded. I don't recall if there were any fold-down seats.

 

[DeverseSam]

If the last train of the day is complet, I guess an Interrail user has an advantage over a normal passenger in that it’s impossible to buy a normal ticket!

 

[DeverseSam]

Rail Europe now says “Seat reservation is required” for Bordeaux - Nantes.

Is this definitely the case?

 

[rvdborgt]

Rail Europe now says “Seat reservation is required” for Bordeaux - Nantes.

Is this definitely the case?

DB doesn't show mandatory reservations, so it looks like SNCF doesn't mention that in the timetable data they send to the rest of the world (MERITS).
There should be a page somewhere on the SNCF website that says which intercité services have mandatory reservations, but I can't find it.

 

[biko]

It's on this page under the Q&A part: https://www.sncf-connect.com/intercites

Les INTERCITÉS sont-ils des trains à réservation obligatoire ?​

La réservation est obligatoire à bord de certains trains INTERCITÉS afin de réguler le trafic et anticiper les affluences. De plus, elle permet à chacun d’avoir une place assise à bord, et donc d’éviter certains imprévus et complications. C’est le cas pour les lignes Bordeaux-Toulouse-Marseille, Paris-Clermont Ferrand ou Paris-Orléans-Limoges-Toulouse.
Il existe également des trains INTERCITÉS sans réservation obligatoire. Vous pourrez donc obtenir des places assises dans la voiture de votre choix. C’est le cas pour les liaisons Béziers-Clermont Ferrand, Nantes-Bordeaux, Nantes-Lyon et Toulouse-Hendaye.

which translates to (my quick translation):

Are intercity services compulsory reservation?
Reservations are compulsory on board of certain Intercity trains in order to regulate the traffic and to anticipate busy moments. Furthermore, it allows everyone to have a seat on board and thus to avoid uncertainty and complications. This is the case for the lines Bordeaux-Toulouse-Marseille, Paris-Clermont Ferrand and Paris-Orleans-Limoges-Toulouse. Next to that, intercity services without compulsory reservations exist. You can obtain seats in the car of your choice. This is the case for the connections Beziers-Clermont Ferrand, Nantes-Bordeaux, Nantes-Lyon and Toulouse-Hendaye.