Cheap train tickets: which subscription or discount card to choose?

Many cards and subscriptions can reduce your daily train budget. Here are the available offers in France.

In another part of our guide on cheap trains, we provided tips for traveling inexpensively in France and Europe. Here, another solution exists to cut down your daily transportation costs. These are the SNCF cards and subscriptions nationwide, as well as regional options.

“Advantages” Cards for Youth, Adults, and Seniors

They allow you to access capped prices all year round in 2^nd and 1^st class on TGV and Intercités (-30%), as well as via TER (-25% to -50%) and European travel (-30%). Tickets are exchangeable and refundable free of charge until J-3. The “Advantage” card also grants access to exclusive last-minute offers. All of this for an annual subscription of €49 (excluding promotions), which pays for itself from the very first trip!

“Liberté” Card

This is an annual subscription available to all frequent travelers, costing 399 euros. This card is ideal for companies whose employees travel regularly. Prices are fixed per destination, and tickets are 100% flexible. The card grants a 30% discount, with capped prices on “leisure trips.” The subscription is profitable after four round trips.

Monthly “MAX Young and Senior” Subscription

This allows travelers to make unlimited reservations within the month for a fee of €79.

National Pass in 1^st or 2^nd Class

Weekly or monthly, it allows unlimited travel for a week or a month on a frequent route or across France. The price varies depending on the chosen pass (monthly or weekly), class (2^nd or 1^st), and coverage area (1 trip or all of France).

Note that the “Weekly Pass” is only available to those who already hold a “Monthly Pass” within the last 12 months.

When booking a ticket with this pass, only seat reservation (up to €1.50) needs to be paid. Example: someone traveling unlimited from Marseille to Toulon will spend €339.90/month in 2^nd class (€516.70 in 1^st), plus €1.50 per reservation.

Affordable TER Subscriptions in Regions

Regional offers also include more attractive prices. From one region to another, it is possible to get cheap train travel thanks to various subscriptions:

• annual
• monthly
• weekly
• weekend
• festival
• groups
• students
• schoolchildren
• seniors

For example, the Brittany Region TER BreizhGo offers a “solidarity card.” It is aimed at people with limited means but whose mobility is essential, such as job seekers.

Also read: Cheap train travel, how to travel without breaking the bank?