Compartments (French trains)

[Panceltic]

Hello all,

I would like to know if there are any trains in France where one can sit in a compartment.

As far as I know, the only one is the once-daily weekend-only Intercité 100% Éco (Paris-Toulouse and back), which has couchette compartments (1st class), seating compartments (2nd class) and open seating (2nd class).

All the Intercités seem to only have open seating (1st or 2nd class); Intercités de nuit seem to have couchette compartments (1st or 2nd class) and open seating (2nd class).

As for TGVs and TERs, they only have open seating.

Am I correct in assuming that the only train where one can travel in good old compartments is the above Paris-Toulouse one, or is there something I have overlooked?

Thanks for answering!

 

[TCDD]

Most 'Corail' hauled rakes seem to have at least one or two compartment coaches. They certainly do on the Paris Nord - Boulogne, and Paris - Mauberge services.

 

[CC 72100]

Hello all,

I would like to know if there are any trains in France where one can sit in a compartment.

As far as I know, the only one is the once-daily weekend-only Intercité 100% Éco (Paris-Toulouse and back), which has couchette compartments (1st class), seating compartments (2nd class) and open seating (2nd class).

All the Intercités seem to only have open seating (1st or 2nd class); Intercités de nuit seem to have couchette compartments (1st or 2nd class) and open seating (2nd class).

As for TGVs and TERs, they only have open seating.

Am I correct in assuming that the only train where one can travel in good old compartments is the above Paris-Toulouse one, or is there something I have overlooked?

Thanks for answering!

I had a TER loco-hauled set down near Pepignan 4 or 5 years ago - it was ex-Corail stock that had been purchased by TER Languedoc-Rousillion, I'm sure that had some compartments.

 

[Alfie1014]

There are still a number of compartment Corail coaches in use I travelled in one in a TER service between Marseilles and Cannes last October. Also I believe that some of the driving cars used on TER services in Bourgogne, PACA and Rhone Alps are of the compartment type.

 

[stut]

The "TER2000" services in Alsace are also ex-Corail stock, with modified compartments (same seat formation, but doors and dividers removed, and half the carriage given over to cycle/pushchair storage). Normally turn up on the Strasbourg-Basel run.

 

[Panceltic]

Thanks to all of you! So many TERs actually have compartments, but because one can't reserve a seat on these trains, it's impossible to deduce from their website. Very interesting though!

 

[CC 72100]

Thanks to all of you! So many TERs actually have compartments, but because one can't reserve a seat on these trains, it's impossible to deduce from their website. Very interesting though!

Although for how much longer, no-one can be sure. Over the past 10 years new units have been introduced and are pretty widespread. For example, according to this article, TER Languedoc- Roussillon now has only 3 loco-hauled sets and doesn't own any locos to haul them! http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/TER_Languedoc-Roussillon

If you can't speak french, the english article gives this same information in much less detail, and confirms that modern units are now very much the mainstay

 

[burns20]

Couple of years back the Clermont Ferramd-Nimes Intercite was 3 compartment carriages.

 

[Panceltic]

So when taking a TER, one can't be sure what to expect? Sometimes it's EMUs, sometimes it's compartment cars, sometimes it's open-seating cars ...

 

[CC 72100]

So when taking a TER, one can't be sure what to expect? Sometimes it's EMUs, sometimes it's compartment cars, sometimes it's open-seating cars ...

Pretty much, although the 'Composition de train' boards on station platforms will tell you how many coaches/ what class/ which facilities are available next to the train number, the number which if memory serves me correct appears above the train in timetables. Ie. 'TER 24583'

 

[daniel78]

I travelled in a 2nd class compartment (after being bumped from 1st) on a Clermont-Ferrand - Paris Bercy Intercite a couple of months ago.