Train travel in France - who is IDTGV, and how does it differ from regular TGV?

Question

I tried to book Libourne/Paris in October, but the SNCF web site said that it was impossible to make reservations more than three months in advance.

When I attempted the same thing for the same date, Bordeaux/Paris, it came up with an 'IDTGV' train number and was happy to accept a reservation (at an extremely favourable price). What's going on here?

Answer 1

Don't worry, there's no catch. The trains are high speed TGV trains too. The main differences are:

- great fares

- you can only buy these tickets online

- you can book up to 4 months ahead (vs. 90 days normally)

- the tickets are not refundable (but can be exchanged)

Make sure you read the instructions carefully about e-tickets: you musn't cut the printed ticket (keep it A4 size) and you must present a form of ID once on the train.

The idea was to book as early as possible to get the best fares. As said above it was initially geared towards young people so they also have all kinds of fun features such as the possibility to create an online profile and check the profiles of your fellow travelers so you can make friends. Trains have become the fun way to travel: the SNCF even has night trains to Spain where you can dance and party on the train. This way when you arrive in Barcelona or wherever it was (I don't remember) you have already made friends on the train. I think they're called iDNight but I'm not sure. They were showing them the other day on TV5 international.

You can get more iDTGV info here: http://www.idtgv.com/165i.html

Answer 2

iDTGV is essentially a marketing scheme of the SNCF aimed at younger travellers which sells tickets on a limited number of routes.

iDTGV was created in 2004 as a response to low cost airlines which have been proliferating in europe.