There are three options for taking a train from Paris to Toulouse.
Both the regular TGV InOui services and low-cost, but more basic, Ouigo services share a route which involves whizzing down the high speed line as far as Bordeaux
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.
There are also Intercités trains to Toulouse from Paris which still take the older conventional route.
The plus of taking these trains is that they can be the cheapest option when booking tickets.
Users of Eurail and Interrail passes should take the InOui services, the reservation fees for the Intercités services are the same price, but the InOui services are faster.
There are now also 2 x daily low-cost, but more basic Ouigo services from Paris to Toulouse.
On Mondays to Saturdays the Ouigo train which usually departs 08:45 plugs a gap of more than four hours between the departures of these TGV InOui services.
On Sundays that 08:45 departure is the first train of the day.
Though when looking up this journey, if you don't opt to see only direct trains, there will be more journey options to choose from, but they will involve making a connection between trains in Bordeaux.
Note that these trains and those Ouigo services depart from the Gare Montparnasse in Paris.
The alternative, slower, but occasionally cheaper, service of Intercités trains from Paris to Toulouse depart from Paris Austerlitz.
Final Destination: Toulouse
All Trains Also Call At: Bordeaux and Agen
Some Trains Also Call At: Montauban
Mon-Thurs = 5 x trains per day
Friday = 6 x trains
Sat/Sun = 4 x trains per day
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.
Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
---|---|---|
SNCF Connect | from €34 | |
Download the SNCF Connect App | from €34 | |
Save A Train | from €34 | |
Happy rail | from €34 | |
Rail Europe | from €34 | |
Omio | from €34 | |
Trainline | from €34 |
Two TGV trains will be usually be joined together for the part of the journey between Paris and Bordeaux; the coach number on your ticket will for a coach in the part of the train heading to Toulouse
Also don't be surprised to see a train, heading to a destination other than Toulouse, departing at the same time AND from the same voie (platform/track) as your train.
This will be the destination of the other TGV train, which will be attached to the train heading to Toulouse.
These trains comprise the fastest ever Paris - Toulouse service because they use the full length of the relatively LGV Sud Europe Atlantique high speed line, so are non-stop between Paris and Bordeaux.
There isn't a high speed line between Bordeaux and Toulouse, but the train will travel through some charming French scenery on this part of the trip.
Final Destination: Toulouse
These Ouigo services are usually scheduled to depart Paris at 08:52 and 12:21.
So you can now opt to save money, but have a much more basic on board experience, and travel on a Ouigo.
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 |
If you do opt to travel from Paris to Toulouse by these Ouigo trains, you should aim to be at the Gare Montparnasse 30 mins before the train is due to depart.
And that's because you need to pass through 'reception' before boarding a Ouigo train, staff need to verify that all passengers are abiding by the 'rules' of travelling on a Ouigo train, no additional un-booked luggage, no bikes etc.
These Intercités services from Paris to Toulouse are much slower than the TGV InOui and Ouigo services; particularly as those other trains now use the relatively new high speed line between Paris and Bordeaux.
Note that these trains depart from the Gare Austerlitz in Paris - the other trains from Paris to Toulouse depart from Gare Montparnasse.
Final Destination: Toulouse
All trains also call at: Limoges and Brive-la-Galliarde.
Mon- Saturday = 3 x trains per day
Sunday = 2 x trains
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: 4 months ahead of the travel date - usually (the booking window can be shorter in Oct-Nov).
If tickets aren't on sale yet for your travel date, you can sign up to the ticket availability notification service on Oui.SNCF.
If you don't choose a specific Paris station on Oui.SNCF, the search results will still feature both services from Austerlitz and Montparnase for easy comparison.
If you're booking far enough ahead the discounted tickets for the TGVs from Paris Montparnasse are cheaper; despite those trains being much faster.
When the discounted tickets for the alternative TGVs are sold out, these Intercités trains are cheaper - but only by around €10.
Seats will automatically be assigned when booking tickets for this journey.
Rail Pass Users:
If you will be travelling with a valid Euaril or InterRail pass you will need to pay a reservation fee to travel on both these Intercités trains AND the alternative faster TGV train).
The same rail pass users pricing policy is applied to both trains , but it's probable that you'll be more likely to find the €10 fee is available on these Intercités trains.
Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
---|---|---|
SNCF Connect | from €15 | |
Save A Train | from €15 | |
Trainline | from €15 | |
Rail Europe | from €15 |
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