You can only take high speed trains from Paris to Nantes, but both the regular TGV InOui services and low-cost, but more basic, Ouigo services share the same route.
It's particularly worthwhile to click on the Train Guides below so that you can compare the two train services.
However, if you need to arrive at a specific time you will often have to take one train service or the other.
The Ouigo services can plug gaps between the TGV InOui departures.
Note that these trains depart from Gare Montparnasse in Paris.
Final Destination: Nantes or Le Croisic (or Les Sables-d'Olonne)
Most trains also call at: Angers
Some trains also call at: Le Mans
The trains are faster than ever before, thanks to to the opening of the LGV Bretagne-Pays de la Loire high speed line extension
The slower trains divert off of this new direct route in order to call at Le Mans.
All trains come off the high speed line just before Angers and the part of the journey on from there to Nantes is the prettiest section of this train ride, the river Loire is over to the left of the railway line.
Mon-Thurs = 16 x trains per day
Friday = 19 x trains
Saturday = 13 x trains
Sunday = 11 x trains
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:
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.
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 these TGV trains.
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 can be cheaper.
If you can depart Paris in the early evening and are happy to put up with a more basic on-board experience, you can also save money by taking the Ouigo services.
Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
---|---|---|
SNCF Connect | from €30 | |
Download the SNCF Connect App | from €30 | |
Save A Train | from €30 | |
Happy rail | from €30 | |
Trainline | from €30 | |
Rail Europe | from €30 | |
Omio | from €30 |
Most of the departures are by the new TGV Oceane trains, but the TGV Atlantique trains are used for some Paris to Nantes high speed services, so here's a guide to how you can confirm which type of TGV train you will be travelling by.
Final Destination: Nantes
you can save money by taking these Ouigo services from Paris to Nantes instead of the much more frequent, standard TGV InOui services
2 x trains per day
Online bookings usually open: up to 9 months ahead of the travel date
Tickets for the alternative service of TGV InOui trains are usually made available 4 months ahead, so if you look up this journey more than 4 months ahead on SNCF Connect, you may only see these Ouigo services, but they are not the only option on this route.
What is particularly worth being aware of when booking tickets for journeys by Ouigo train services, is that:
Though these factors, and more, are why you can make big savings by opting to travel by these Ouigo trains and not on the standard TGV InOui trains.
Eurail and InterRail Pass Users:
Rail passes cannot be used on Ouigo trains, but if you will be travelling with a 2nd class pass, our guide to using rail passes in France, explains why taking a Ouigo train can be worth considering.
Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
---|---|---|
SNCF Connect | from €19 | |
Ouigo | from €19 | |
Trainline | from €19 |
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