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Paris to Tours by train
How to take a train journey from Paris to Tours
There are two very different options for taking the train from Paris to the centre of beautiful Tours
The fastest is to take the high speed TGV trains which depart from Montparnasse station, but the slower trains which leave from Austerlitz station are generally cheaper and also take a more scenic route.
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Routes
Option 1: taking a high speed train
Journey Summary
1hr 15 min - 1hr 30min
Daily
Travel Information
Note that these TGV trains to Tours depart from Paris-Montparnasse station, but the alternative slower TER trains to Tours depart from Paris-Austerlitz.
Final Destination: Tours
These are the direct TGV trains from Paris to the Gare de Tours in the city centre.
Though the timings of these trains aren't particularly convenient if you'll be making a day trip by train to Tours from Paris.
There are no departures from Paris between around 07:30 and 12:30.
So a better option can be booking a journey which involves a change of train at Saint Pierre Des Corps station.
This station has a much more frequent service of TGV trains from Paris compared to Tours, but it is located on the outskirts of Tours (4km from the city centre).
However, most of the TGV trains from Paris to Saint Pierre Des Corps have good connections there into local (TER) trains on to Tours Centre*.
So the journey time can be similar to the direct trains; though these direct trains are generally (marginally) cheaper.
*= The official name for the city centre station is Gare de Tours, but SNCF Connect refers to the station as Tours Centre.
up to 7 x trains per day
Tickets
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.
The TGVs are faster, but those Intercités are (usually) cheaper.
In order to compare the TGV and Intercités trains select 'Paris' as a city on SNCF Connect or 'Paris' on the Trainline.
When booking 2nd class tickets for these InOui services 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.
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.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| SNCF Connect | from €24 | |
| Rail Europe | from €24 | |
| Save A Train | from €24 | |
| Trainline | from €24 |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
These trains move on to the high speed line around 3 mins after departure from Paris and leave it around 10 mins before arrival in Tours.
Option 2: These slower trains can be money savers
Journey Summary
2hr 5min
Daily
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: 3 months ahead of the travel date
There are two train services between Paris and Tours
(1) high speed TGV trains from Paris Montparnasse, and
(2) these TER trainsfrom Paris Austerlitz.
The TGVs are more than an hour faster, but these Intercités are (usually) cheaper).
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.
Rail pass users:
Take these TER trains, and avoid the reservation fees which users of Eurail and InterRail passes have to pay to travel on the TGV trains.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Trainline | * | |
| SNCF Connect | * |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
Note that these trains depart from Paris-Austerlitz station, but the alternative, faster TGVs to Tours depart from Paris-Montparnasse station.
Final Destination: Tours
This route is slower than that taken by the TGV trains, but a compensation, in addition to the fact that they can be cheaper, is that this route taken by the Intercités trains is much more scenic!
From Les Aubrais to St Pierre-des-Corps these trains travel along the banks of the River Loire, with views over the river from the left of the train - when facing the direction of travel.
This is a comparatively easy day trip by train from Paris.
From Les Aubrais to St Pierre-des-Corps these trains travel along the banks of the River Loire, with views over the river from the left of the train - when facing the direction of travel.
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