https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from France in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed France's high-speed rail network is more than 40 years old, and the TGV trains are much loved both here and abroad - here's a few things you might not know about them. https://www.thelocal.fr/20210917/9-things-you-might-not-know-about-the-tgv-as-frances-high-speed-train-turns-40 Fri, 17 Sep 2021 15:52:36 +0200 9-things-you-might-not-know-about-the-tgv-as-frances-high-speed-train-turns-40 The new high-speed direct rail link will stop in Strasbourg, France's transport minister confirmed on Friday, after a cross-border skirmish over the exact route of the new service. https://www.thelocal.fr/20230901/new-high-speed-paris-to-berlin-train-will-go-via-strasbourg Fri, 01 Sep 2023 18:26:49 +0200 new-high-speed-paris-to-berlin-train-will-go-via-strasbourg If you're a fairly regular train-user in France there is a handy card that could save you money - as well as giving you a discount if you ever need to hire a car. https://www.thelocal.fr/20230113/how-to-save-money-on-both-train-tickets-and-car-hire-in-france Fri, 13 Jan 2023 13:57:54 +0100 how-to-save-money-on-both-train-tickets-and-car-hire-in-france The French government is keen to encourage cycling and has published a decree relating to bike commuting, but travelling on a train with a bike can still be quite complicated. https://www.thelocal.fr/20210615/what-are-the-rules-on-taking-your-bike-on-the-train-in-france Tue, 15 Jun 2021 19:29:16 +0200 what-are-the-rules-on-taking-your-bike-on-the-train-in-france A project to create a new direct connection between Paris and Toulouse has been accelerated, with the three-hour connection now scheduled to start in 2024, five years ahead of schedule. https://www.thelocal.fr/20210429/new-high-speed-train-line-to-connect-paris-to-toulouse-in-3-hours Thu, 29 Apr 2021 12:13:11 +0200 new-high-speed-train-line-to-connect-paris-to-toulouse-in-3-hours As the pandemic and increasing environmental concerns change the way we travel, France's transport minister has a dream - 10 night trains by 2030. https://www.thelocal.fr/20210212/map-the-proposed-new-routes-for-night-trains-in-france Fri, 12 Feb 2021 12:54:20 +0100 map-the-proposed-new-routes-for-night-trains-in-france A Moroccan man goes on trial in France on Monday accused of an attempted terror attack on an Amsterdam-Paris train five years ago which was foiled by passengers whose heroic actions were turned into a Hollywood film. https://www.thelocal.fr/20201114/trial-to-begin-over-paris-train-attack-that-inspired-movie Sat, 14 Nov 2020 10:14:37 +0100 trial-to-begin-over-paris-train-attack-that-inspired-movie The French national rail company on Tuesday launched a special Christmas offer with all tickets fully reimbursed until the very last minute in a bid to make booking trips for the holidays easier under the uncertain health conditions. https://www.thelocal.fr/20201006/sncf-opens-christmas-sales-in-france-with-fully-reimbursable-train-tickets Tue, 06 Oct 2020 12:23:07 +0200 sncf-opens-christmas-sales-in-france-with-fully-reimbursable-train-tickets The French rail operator SNCF is holding a 48-hour flash sale, with 500,000 tickets at just €19 for a one-way trip. https://www.thelocal.fr/20200902/french-rail-operator-offers-500000-19-tickets-to-try-and-tempt-passengers-back Wed, 02 Sep 2020 15:18:10 +0200 french-rail-operator-offers-500000-19-tickets-to-try-and-tempt-passengers-back Train passengers in some parts of France will soon be able to buy train tickets from their local tobacconist. https://www.thelocal.fr/20190710/train-tickets-in-france-to-be-sold-in-tabacs Wed, 10 Jul 2019 11:50:07 +0200 train-tickets-in-france-to-be-sold-in-tabacs Train passengers were stuck for six hours in a tunnel outside Paris on Tuesday after their high-speed service suffered a power cut just minutes after departure, leaving them in sweltering heat, without electricity or working toilets. https://www.thelocal.fr/20190605/passengers-on-paris-train-trapped-for-six-hours-in-tunnel Wed, 05 Jun 2019 10:10:03 +0200 passengers-on-paris-train-trapped-for-six-hours-in-tunnel Passengers in rural areas will be able to buy train tickets from their local tobacconist from June in a trial run by rail operator SNCF. https://www.thelocal.fr/20190429/french-rail-operator-to-trial-selling-train-tickets-at-tobacconists Mon, 29 Apr 2019 10:37:19 +0200 french-rail-operator-to-trial-selling-train-tickets-at-tobacconists A train carrying toxic materials has derailed in the south west of France. https://www.thelocal.fr/20190322/train-carrying-toxic-material-derails-in-south-west-france Fri, 22 Mar 2019 14:50:10 +0100 train-carrying-toxic-material-derails-in-south-west-france Train tickets in France can now be bought via Facebook, thanks to a new partnership agreement. https://www.thelocal.fr/20190321/french-train-operator-sncf-signs-deal-to-let-customers-buy-tickets-on-facebook Thu, 21 Mar 2019 10:20:49 +0100 french-train-operator-sncf-signs-deal-to-let-customers-buy-tickets-on-facebook France’s flagship trains are getting a revamp that will allow for more passengers, a trendy bar on each level and lower fuel consumption. Here’s what’s in store for TGV passengers in France. https://www.thelocal.fr/20190220/what-frances-high-speed-tgv-trains-will-look-like-in-future Wed, 20 Feb 2019 18:23:36 +0100 what-frances-high-speed-tgv-trains-will-look-like-in-future French rail workers have begun their rolling strikes from April to June while Air France staff will also walk out on certain days in May. If you're one of the unlucky travellers whose plane or train is cancelled, here's what you can do. https://www.thelocal.fr/20180427/french-strikes-what-can-i-do-if-my-train-or-plane-is-cancelled Fri, 27 Apr 2018 14:00:57 +0200 french-strikes-what-can-i-do-if-my-train-or-plane-is-cancelled French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said Thursday the government would not budge on its plans to shake up state rail operator SNCF after two days of train strikes that snarled rail traffic across the country. https://www.thelocal.fr/20180405/french-government-refuses-to-budge-on-rail-reform Thu, 05 Apr 2018 14:25:20 +0200 french-government-refuses-to-budge-on-rail-reform French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has said that the government will not back down on its planned rail reforms after three months of rolling strikes kicked off in France on Tuesday. Major rail disruption is set to continue on Wednesday. https://www.thelocal.fr/20180403/french-government-vows-not-to-back-down-against-striking-rail-workers Tue, 03 Apr 2018 19:47:26 +0200 french-government-vows-not-to-back-down-against-striking-rail-workers Train services were severely disrupted across France on Tuesday as rail workers launched the first of their two-day rolling strikes which are set to last until the end of June. Here's a look at the chaos caused by the strikers in pictures. https://www.thelocal.fr/20180403/in-pictures-rail-strikes-lead-to-travel-chaos-across-france Tue, 03 Apr 2018 19:12:50 +0200 in-pictures-rail-strikes-lead-to-travel-chaos-across-france Train services across France were severely hit by the first of a series of rolling strikes by rail workers on Tuesday. But how are the French reacting to the strikes? https://www.thelocal.fr/20180403/annoyed-but-sympathetic-french-passengers-react-to-tuesdays-rail-strike Tue, 03 Apr 2018 14:55:56 +0200 annoyed-but-sympathetic-french-passengers-react-to-tuesdays-rail-strike