How to take a train journey from Paris to Lille

Note that these trains depart from the Gare Du Nord in Paris.

Final Destination: Lille

Fewer trains operate at weekends.
AND there is not quite 1 x train per hour - there is a 90 min gap between departures in the early afternoon.

Arriving in Lille

The overwhelming majority of the TGVs between Paris and Lille arrive at Lille Flandres station, which has a a great location, only a 5 -10 min walk from the city centre - but note not all of the TGVs from Paris arrive in Lille at that particular station.

A few trains per day still arrive at Lille Europe station, which is a 5-10 min walk from Lille Flandres - so it is further away from the city centre.

But the timetable has been altered, the trains to Lille Europe tend to depart Paris less than 10 minutes after a train will be departing for Lille Flandres.

If your final destination is located by a station on the Lille Metro, then it doesn't matter which of the two stations in the city, the train from Paris will be arriving at, as they're both served by the city's two metro lines.

The majority of the TGVs between Paris and Lille arrive at Lille Flandres station, but a few train arrive at Lille Europe.

However it's worth targeting the trains which arrive at Lille Flandres station, not only is it closer to the city centre, the trains to Lille Europe are now typically slower, because they travel via Arras.

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings usually open: up to 6 months ahead of the travel date - but bookings can open sooner when SNCF is running a promotion.

When booking 2nd class tickets only one type of ticket will be available per departure, discounted 'Prems' tickets or 'Seconde' tickets; though the price of Seconde tickets are also typically cheaper when they are first placed on sale.
When booking 1st class tickets there will be a choice of Premiere tickets and Business Premiere tickets.

The two key T&Cs of booking Prems, Seconde, or Premiere tickets are:

1. Up until two days prior to departure, these types of tickets can be refunded for no additional charge (big tick), but a €15 fee will be payable for making a refund in the two days prior to departure.
2. It's also possible to exchange tickets to an alternative departure on the same journey, but you will have to pay any difference in price between the cost you paid and the cost at the time of the exchange.

Though if you book Business Premiere tickets, the key T&Cs are that tickets can be exchanged and refunded free of charge up to 30 minutes after departure, so if you get to the station just too late to miss the train you were originally booked on to, you won't lose out financially.

The price is dictated by demand per departure, so book ahead and try and be flexible re: your departure and arrival times, as trains leaving earlier or later may be cheaper.

The Oui.SNCF (French national railways website) will indicate the cheapest price per day, click on this and you will be shown the departures on which this price is available.

Seats will automatically be assigned when booking tickets for this journey, but rail pass users will need to be pay a reservation fee prior to boarding.