OUIGO is a low-cost, high-speed train service operating under the SNCF brand in France and Spain. OUIGO is a popular choice for train travel as it offers passengers long-distance journeys within the French and Spanish rail network, at some of the most competitive prices. What's more, you can book your train tickets here with Trainline.
OUIGO train map
OUIGO operate high-speed trains on many different routes across France, usually at a lower cost than TGV INOUI. Check out our map and look at the destinations that OUIGO serves.
OUIGO trains take you to some of the most popular destinations in France, particularly in the southern regions. With OUIGO you can travel around France and sample the delights of cities such as:
Whilst the majority of OUIGO trains travel in and out of Paris, they do not serve the main stations in the city. Instead, OUIGO trains typically travel to and from Marne-la-Vallée—Chessy (Disneyland Paris) or Charles de Gaulle Airport, both of which are easily accessible from central Paris.
Use our OUIGO train map to plan a rail voyage around France that will both astound and inspire you. With high-speed trains at a low cost, OUIGO is one of the best ways to travel around the country.
Where can I travel on a OUIGO train in France?
OUIGO train tickets are cheap and perfect if you want to save money on your travel. This low-cost service run by SNCF (the national French train operator) offers tickets from €10* and can take you far and wide across France.
To find out more about OUIGO destinations and train times, click below!
*Subject to availability at time of booking.
Train times for popular OUIGO destinations in France
More than 60 OUIGO destinations in France
OUIGO tickets
When travelling on OUIGO, there is only one seating class, meaning all passengers are offered the same level of service while on board. Unfortunately, there is no buffet carriage on the train, so stocking up at the station is highly advised. On the plus side, the absence of an onboard cafe or restaurant means there are usually more seats available compared to other high-speed trains.
Buying your OUIGO train tickets
It's worth mentioning that OUIGO tickets can only be bought online, so remember to purchase your tickets well in advance or before you set off for the station. In terms of what you can travel with, bringing two pieces of hand luggage is free of charge but there's usually a fee for larger suitcases or equipment. It's €5 if you buy the luggage add-on in advance, or €20 on board.
You'll receive your train ticket four days before departure, or immediately if the departure is within four days, by email or via the OUIGO app. Be sure to print your tickets out before you travel, or download them to your phone, as you'll need to show your ticket using one of these two options before boarding the train.
As OUIGO tickets are exclusively sold online, they're non-refundable but can be exchanged online for another OUIGO train ticket with the same departure and arrival stations. This service is available for a fee (up to €19) plus the difference in ticket price if applicable.
OUIGO ticket add-ons
When booking your OUIGO train ticket, you have the possibility to add some features to make your journey as smooth as possible:
| Plug sockets | You can pay to choose your seat - on our seat selection screen, we'll show you seats with a plug socket available. This service incurs a small fee (€3 to choose your seat). |
| Extra luggage | Also available at an extra cost, carry additional pieces of luggage with you on board (€5 per item, when booked online beforehand). |
| Pushchair/buggy | You can take a pushchair for free on OUIGO trains, as long as you indicate it at the time of your reservation and fold it before boarding. |
| Pets | In the event your furry friend weighs more than 6kg, you'll need to buy a ticket at the special animal rate which is available on the OUIGO website. |
| Quiet area | For a small charge, you can choose a seat in the quieter carriages on the train. Perfect for those who want to work or relax in peace during the journey. (€3 to choose your seat; €7 to pick a solo seat) |
| OUIGO Flex | If you want the flexibility to change your train tickets whenever you want before travel, pick the OUIGO Flex option. This costs €9 (no fee for children) and can be selected when you buy your ticket. |
OUIGO Plus offer
With OUIGO Plus, you can enjoy a number of additional perks for just an extra €9 (around £7.50) – this service is free for any child under 12 years old. Keep reading for more details.
Choose your seat
Choose between a solo seat for more space and privacy or a seat equipped with a plug socket, a seat located upstairs, or a carriage where you can travel with your family or friends. Make your choice and be in control of your trip.
Extra luggage option or XL
Don't waste your time wondering what you can and cannot bring with you. Take everything you need and travel with peace of mind. The XL service gives you the option of travelling with an additional piece of luggage or an oversized piece of luggage measuring up to 1.3m and weighing up to 30 kg.
What's the difference between OUIGO and TGV INOUI?
OUIGO is a low-cost alternative to TGV INOUI, travelling at the same high-speeds across France but at a significantly discounted price.
OUIGO trains have a greater seating capacity than TGV INOUI trains and fewer of the comforts you might be used to: the café-bar carriage has been stripped out and there is no First Class. Plus, some of the features that come as standard on TGV trains are available as optional extras on OUIGO trains, such as guaranteed access to a plug socket and extra luggage space.
All this contributes to OUIGO being a significantly cheaper service than TGV INOUI, at the expense of a little bit of comfort.
As far as similarities go, the trains do use the same Duplex train sets and can travel at speeds of up to 300km/h. OUIGO is also a subsidiary of SNCF, France’s national railway company, which operates TGV INOUI services.
How much luggage am I allowed on OUIGO trains?
Passengers with a standard OUIGO Essentiel ticket are allowed two items of luggage:
- One piece of hand luggage no larger than 40 x 30 x 15cm
- One bag/suitcase no larger than 55 x 35 x 25cm
To take extra luggage or larger bags, you must pay a €5 fee at checkout. You can bring up to two extra bags. Otherwise, it’ll cost you €20 per bag when you board the train.
If you purchase a OUIGO Plus ticket, an extra piece of luggage is included (max. 1.3m and 30 kg)!
OUIGO routes
Whether you're travelling to Disneyland Paris or making your way to the south of France, OUIGO trains can take you to some of the most popular cities and regions in the country.
High-speed OUIGO services in Spain
Good news! SNCF's low-cost high-speed OUIGO trains now operate in Spain, under the brand OUIGO Spain. Find out more on our dedicated OUIGO Spain page.
Taking a high-speed OUIGO train from Lyon to Paris in July 2023
Catching the train at Lyon Perrache
When catching a train from Lyon to Paris, you’ll usually have the choice between Lyon Perrache and Lyon Part-Dieu stations as your starting point. As I was staying in a hotel close to Lyon Perrache train station, this was the obvious choice.
I headed to the station and found the correct platform - OUIGO trains are decorated in a delightful blue and pink colour scheme, so you can’t miss them! When I arrived, boarding had already opened – you can board OUIGO trains from 30 minutes before departure. There are staff at the gates who scan your ticket, and then it’s just a matter of finding your reserved seat on the train.
It’s worth noting that OUIGO tickets aren’t sent out until 4 days before your train’s scheduled departure. Don’t panic: they’ll appear in your email inbox when they’re ready, and you can use an e-ticket to board.
On board a OUIGO train
OUIGO trains are the budget-friendly offering from SNCF, France’s national train operator. These no-frills services are double-decker trains with only one class of seating, equivalent to Second Class on TGV INOUI services in France.
There’s no catering on board at all, so be sure to stock up on drinks and snacks at the station before you board the train. Likewise, make sure you’ve charged your devices beforehand, as not all seats will have a plug socket – you must pay extra to guarantee a seat with a socket, and WiFi is also available at an extra cost.
There are luggage storage facilities on board, though bear in mind that OUIGO has stricter luggage restrictions than other rail operators. With a standard ticket, you can bring one piece of hand luggage and one cabin bag. We had a big suitcase with us, so we bought the ‘Luggage’ supplement for €5 which allows you to bring a larger bag on board. If you try to bring an oversized item onto the train without purchasing the luggage add-on, you may be charged €20 when you board, so it’s worth planning ahead.
You can buy an add-on when you purchase your ticket or buy one up to 30 minutes before departure via OUIGO’s website (with the exception of WiFi, which can be purchased when on board).
The journey from Lyon to Paris
Boarding closes 5 minutes before the train sets off to ensure a timely departure. Sure enough, we left on time at 9:04am and waved goodbye to Lyon’s traboules and its gorgeous Basilica before settling in for the journey ahead.
The train made one stop at Marne-la-Vallée station (yes, the Disneyland Paris station) where we paused for a few minutes before continuing to our final destination, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport station.
Arriving at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport
OUIGO trains to major cities sometimes use stations located further away from the city centre. In this case, we arrived on time at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport station at 11:20am, just 2 hours and 16 minutes after leaving Lyon.
Luckily, Charles de Gaulle Airport is well-connected to the centre of Paris through the RER network as well as the RoissyBus service. We caught the RER B to Paris Gare du Nord, which was an easy option even with luggage. As of July 2023, it was €11.45 for an adult single, and there were plenty of automated machines where you could buy your ticket. However, it’s worth factoring in the time it takes to transfer to the city centre, as well as the cost of the RER train into your overall journey – it could work out cheaper or less hassle to buy a ticket for a train that goes direct to Paris city centre instead.
Overall, taking a OUIGO train was good for two travellers on a budget with a bit of time to spare. However, if you’re looking for a touch of luxury or a more direct journey from Lyon to Paris, you may want to look at a TGV INOUI or Frecciarossa service instead.
By Kristina Fox
Kristina, a Trainline employee, chose to share her experience of the journey between Lyon and Paris. This review was originally published on our Lyon to Paris page.
Frequently asked questions
Do OUIGO trains have toilets?
Yes, toilets are available to use both upstairs and downstairs on OUIGO trains.
Is there WiFi on board OUIGO trains?
WiFi is available for €3 on OUIGO trains if you're travelling with a OUIGO Essentiel ticket. It is included in the ticket price for passengers who have purchased a OUIGO Plus ticket.
How can I change my OUIGO train ticket?
OUIGO train tickets cannot be changed at the station, as they're exclusively sold online. Here are OUIGO's latest ticket conditions:
- If you want to change the departure or arrival station, you'll need to pay an extra €19, plus the fare difference
- If you want to change the departure and/or arrival date, you'll need to pay an extra €19
- If you want to change the passenger's first and last name on your ticket, you'll need to pay an extra €10
- If you want to change from the OUIGO Grande Vitesse product to OUIGO Train Classique or vice versa, you'll need to pay an extra €19, plus the price difference
- If you want to change from the OUIGO Essentiel offer to OUIGO Plus, you'll need to pay an extra €9
- You can add options (luggage, choice of seat, bike, etc.) to your reservation up to 30 minutes before your train's departure.
Can I take my bike on OUIGO trains?
Yes, you can take your bike on board OUIGO Grande Vitesse or Train Classique services if you fold it or disassemble it and store it in a carrying case. It'll cost €5 to do this. OUIGO Train Classique services also accept non-folding bikes for a fee of €10.
Are OUIGO trains reliable?
Generally speaking, OUIGO trains are very reliable. Unforeseen events on the network can lead to cancellations and delays, although this is the case across all railway networks! If your train is significantly delayed, you can claim compensation as a voucher.
OUIGO tickets are non-refundable, however, so if you miss your train you will have to purchase a new ticket.
Why are OUIGO tickets so cheap?
OUIGO trains have a mixture of increased capacity (1,288 on some trains!) and a ‘stripped-back’ interior, allowing for discounted prices. There is only one class (Standard) and no catering on board – therefore you’re encouraged to bring your own refreshments!
Plus, some of the things you would get as standard on other high-speed trains are available as optional extras at a cost on OUIGO services – things like a guaranteed plug socket and extra luggage limits. This helps keep seats as cheap as possible as you are paying for the bare necessities: a seat and a minimal luggage allowance.