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SNCF to change seat numbering to reduce confusion

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signed

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It has been announced that the seat numbering scheme on TGV INOUI (and all the international spinoffs, but not Ouigo as it's already in place) will change by the end of the year


Déjà intégrée aux futurs TGV INOUI qui entreront en circulation en 2026, cette numérotation sera déployée sur l'ensemble du parc actuel d'ici la fin de l'année. Elle concernera également les TGV Lyria, les TGV INOUI vers l'Allemagne (hors ICE), l'Espagne, l'Italie, le Luxembourg ainsi que Bruxelles depuis la Province.
Ce modèle, adopté avec succès par OUIGO depuis son arrivée en 2013, sera donc désormais étendu à l'ensemble du réseau : les clients bénéficieront ainsi d'un seul système de numérotation pour tous les TGV de SNCF Voyageurs.
Cette numérotation simplifiée et plus cohérente répond à une demande récurrente des clients.
Plusieurs enjeux
La numérotation des places est parfois une source de stress pour les voyageurs, lorsqu'ils n'arrivent pas à trouver facilement leurs places ou repérer leur voiture. Avant le départ du train, cette situation peut générer un sentiment de confusion.
Cette évolution vise à harmoniser et simplifier la numérotation sur l'ensemble du périmètre en offrant un système simple, clair et lisible pour tous les clients.
Elle permettra également de simplifier l'expérience à bord et fluidifier l'embarquement en gare de départ comme des gares intermédiaires, où les arrêts sont chronométrés.
Une nouvelle numérotation à trois chiffres
Chaque siège sera identifié par un numéro à 3 chiffres.
Si un TGV INOUI est composé de deux rames :
  • Pour les voitures 1 à 8 de la première rame, le premier chiffre correspond au numéro de la voiture
  • Pour les voitures 11 à 18 de la deuxième rame, le premier chiffre correspond au deuxième chiffre du numéro de la voiture
Ainsi, par exemple, la place 58, qui se trouve en voiture 2 ou en voiture 12, sera indiquée 258.
Le numéro de la voiture restera toujours précisé sur les billets pour faciliter l'identification de la voiture dans laquelle embarquer et pour éviter toute confusion entre deux places portant le même numéro au sein d'un même TGV composé de 2 rames.
Un repérage plus intuitif au sein de chaque voiture
Dans les rames, la disposition des sièges suivra une logique continue. Fini le sentiment de numéros disposés aléatoirement : les numéros s'enchaîneront dans l'ordre croissant de gauche à droite, en commençant par l'entrée de la voiture. Dans les rames 2 niveaux, en salle basse, les sièges seront toujours numérotés de 1 à 39, puis se poursuivront à partir de 40 en salle haute.
Pour simplifier le repérage, comme aujourd'hui, le billet continuera également d'indiquer si la place se situe en haut ou en bas.
Un déploiement en plusieurs étapes
Le déploiement sur tous les TGV INOUI démarre progressivement à compter de mi-septembre et sera achevé au 14 décembre, date de début du service annuel 2026.
Already integrated with the future TGV INOUI that will enter into circulation in 2026, this numbering will be deployed throughout the current fleet by the end of the year. It will also concern TGV Lyria, TGV INOUI to Germany (excluding ICE), Spain, Italy, Luxembourg and Brussels from the Province.

This model, successfully adopted by OUIGO since its arrival in 2013, will therefore now be extended to the entire network: customers will thus benefit from a single numbering system for all TGVs of SNCF Voyageurs.

This simplified and more consistent numbering responds to a recurring customer demand.

Several issues

Seat numbering is sometimes a source of stress for travelers, when they can’t easily find their seats or spot their car. Before the train starts, this situation can generate a sense of confusion.

This evolution aims to harmonize and simplify the numbering on the entire perimeter by offering a simple, clear and readable system for all customers.

It will also simplify the onboard experience and streamline boarding in the departure station such as intermediate stations, where stops are timed.

A new three-digit numbering

Each seat will be identified by a 3 digit number.

If a TGV INOUI is composed of two trains:

For cars 1 to 8 of the first train, the first digit corresponds to the number of the car
For cars 11 to 18 of the second train, the first digit corresponds to the second digit of the car number

For example, place 58, which is in car 2 or car 12, will be indicated 258.

The number of the car will always remain specified on the tickets to facilitate the identification of the car in which to board and to avoid any confusion between two seats with the same number within the same TGV consisting of 2 trains.

A more intuitive location within each car

In the trains, the arrangement of the seats will follow a continuous logic. No more randomly arranged numbers: the numbers will follow each other in ascending order from left to right, starting with the entrance of the car. In the 2-level trains, in the low room, the seats will always be numbered from 1 to 39, and then continue from 40 in the upper room.

To simplify the tracking, as today, the ticket will also continue to indicate whether the place is at the top or bottom.

A multi-step deployment

The deployment on all TGV INOUIs starts gradually from mid-September and will be completed on 14 December, the start date of the annual service 2026.

In my opinion, the biggest change is the fact that the random jumps in numbers are finally gone, which was indeed a very bad experience

1759085898752.png
This is the 1st class seat plans on the new 1st class, and seats jump at seemingly random (yes, I know it's just a snake pattern but who would guess that, It's worse IMHO in 2nd). I have no idea how they're going to change it on the illuminated screen numbers on TGV Atlantique and Réseau sets.


1759087424238.png

Also from the press release, a before/after on car 5 lower deck for a Euroduplex Océane 2nd class
 
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It has been announced that the seat numbering scheme on TGV INOUI (and all the international spinoffs, but not Ouigo as it's already in place) will change by the end of the year





In my opinion, the biggest change is the fact that the random jumps in numbers are finally gone, which was indeed a very bad experience

View attachment 189223
This is the 1st class seat plans on the new 1st class, and seats jump at seemingly random (It's worse IMHO in 2nd). I have no idea how they're going to change it on the illuminated screen numbers on TGV Atlantique and Réseau sets.
Presumably the existing numbering is derived from the arrangement in compartment stock where the first compartment has seats 11-16, next compartment 21-26 etc etc.
 

AdamWW

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It has been announced that the seat numbering scheme on TGV INOUI (and all the international spinoffs, but not Ouigo as it's already in place) will change by the end of the year





In my opinion, the biggest change is the fact that the random jumps in numbers are finally gone, which was indeed a very bad experience

View attachment 189223
This is the 1st class seat plans on the new 1st class, and seats jump at seemingly random (yes, I know it's just a snake pattern but who would guess that, It's worse IMHO in 2nd). I have no idea how they're going to change it on the illuminated screen numbers on TGV Atlantique and Réseau sets.

Does anyone know why the current scheme is the way it is....and how they are going to deal with the changeover period?
 

AdamWW

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On Lyria, the system gets started on 14 Dec. I haven't found more yet for the rest of the fleet

The article you quoted said:
"The deployment on all TGV INOUIs starts gradually from mid-September and will be completed on 14 December," which suggested to me a period with some trains having the old numbering and some the new.
 

signed

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which suggested to me a period with some trains having the old numbering and some the new.
That's what it reads to me as well.

I have no idea, but I would expect SNCF Connect to be able to recieve updates for ticket purchased prior to the train used being changed-over, and/or or display a warning, the pain point is that people may not get their seat preferences in that case. Weirdly, nothing on the various French rail forums also.
 
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Cantab26

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Does anyone know why the current scheme is the way it is....and how they are going to deal with the changeover period?
It appears that the (old style) numbering is related to the window placement. For example, for those seats (roughly) aligned with the first window closest to the door then they start with a “1”, the second window they start with a “2” and so on.
 

AdamWW

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It appears that the (old style) numbering is related to the window placement. For example, for those seats (roughly) aligned with the first window closest to the door then they start with a “1”, the second window they start with a “2” and so on.

I'm not sure that explains why the numbering in the 1st class coach shown above keeps swapping between lower number by the window and higher number by the aisle and vice versa.
There is probably a pattern but I can't spot it.

And the second class "before" example above has seats in the 20's between the 30's and 40's.

It's not just SNCF - I booked 4 seats round a table on an OBB Railjet recently and three of the numbers were consecutive and the fourth number anything but.
 

Cantab26

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I'm not sure that explains why the numbering in the 1st class coach shown above keeps swapping between lower number by the window and higher number by the aisle and vice versa.
There is probably a pattern but I can't spot it.
The pattern is that where there is a “Club 4” table the order of the numbers switches (because the table seats are numbered ‘around’ the table in a circle, rather than in a zig zag which jumps back to the aisle.

It should also be borne in mind that the seating layouts (in terms of the distribution of tables) have changed over time, but the seat numbers were not always revised to reflect the new layouts.


== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

And the second class "before" example above has seats in the 20's between the 30's and 40's.
This keeps the seats around the tables in the same series. For example, all table seats start with a 3 or 5, but the table placement means that the 2 series then gets split in half on either side of the table bays.
 

nwales58

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seat61 becomes seat 140 240 or 340. Which is more confusing.

Edit: wrong, had assumed it was TGV.
 
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signed

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I am currently in a Duplex set where in 1st there are clearly stickers covering what I would guess is the new number by the current number.

So maybe what the press release say is only talking about the physical changes and that it will kick on December 14th
 

Phillipimo

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This explains why I can't find my seat on the seat map for a trip I've booked for January! Thanks for the information.
 

signed

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The change has indeed taken place at start of service on December 14th.

My hunch that the seat numbers were just taped over in some of the cabins was correct.

I am yet to take a Atlantique set (both classes in those and some Réseau sets have illuminated numbers)
 
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