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French · Getting around · Elementary

How to buy a train ticket in French

At the ticket office say where, which kind and when: “Un aller simple pour Lyon demain matin, s'il vous plaît” or “Un aller-retour, s'il vous plaît”. Then ask “De quel quai part le train ?”. If you travel every day, ask about a monthly pass: “Y a-t-il une formule moins chère si je voyage tous les jours ?”.

Try it · about two minutes

At a metro or train station you buy a single, a return or a monthly pass from the machine or the ticket office.

Sound on: the ticket office agent speaks French. You choose what to say back, and Frasa tells you why it works.

The conversation

  1. Ticket office agent

    Au suivant, s'il vous plaît.

    Next, please.

    You

    Bonjour, un aller simple pour Lyon demain matin, s'il vous plaît.

    Hello, a single to Lyon tomorrow morning, please.

  2. Ticket office agent

    Vous payez par carte ou en espèces ?

    Will you pay by card or cash?

    You

    Je voudrais payer sans contact.

    I’d like to pay contactless.

  3. Ticket office agent

    Voici votre billet.

    Here’s your ticket.

    You

    De quel quai part le train ?

    Which platform does the train leave from?

  4. A month later you start a job across town and will travel every day. You go to the ticket office.

    You

    Y a-t-il une formule moins chère si je voyage tous les jours ?

    Is there a cheaper option if I travel every day?

  5. Ticket office agent

    Alors, l'abonnement mensuel. Vous avez déjà une carte de transport ?

    Right, the monthly pass. Do you already have a travel card?

    You

    Oui, la voici.

    Yes, here it is.

  6. Ticket office agent

    Contrôle des billets, s'il vous plaît.

    Tickets, please.

    You

    Bonjour, voilà mon abonnement.

    Hello, here’s my pass.

Key phrases

  • Un ticket, s'il vous plaît.

    A ticket, please.

  • Un aller-retour, s'il vous plaît.

    A return ticket, please.

  • Où puis-je acheter un ticket ?

    Where can I buy a ticket?

  • De quel quai part le train ?

    Which platform does the train leave from?

  • Je dois changer de train ?

    Do I have to change trains?

  • Je voudrais un pass pour une journée, s'il vous plaît.

    I’d like a day pass, please.

  • Y a-t-il une formule moins chère si je voyage tous les jours ?

    Is there a cheaper option if I travel every day?

  • Je voudrais recharger ma carte de transport.

    I’d like to top up my travel card.

  • Contrôle des billets, s'il vous plaît.

    Tickets, please.

  • Veuillez valider votre titre de transport.

    Please validate your ticket.

Good to know in France

Buying a train ticket

  1. 1

    Use a machine or the ticket office (le guichet); for long journeys, many people book online.

  2. 2

    Say where to, a single (aller simple) or a return (aller-retour), and when.

  3. 3

    Watch the departure board: the platform (la voie) often appears only shortly before the train leaves.

Validate before you board

Some paper tickets, especially on regional trains, must be validated (composté) in a machine on the platform. Tickets on your phone don’t go in the machine.

Veuillez valider votre titre de transport.

Please validate your ticket.

Your employer pays half

By law, employers in France pay at least half the cost of a public transport pass used for commuting. Ask your HR team what proof they need.

More situations in French

All situations in French

Keep these phrases in Frasa

Frasa is an iPhone app for the conversations in front of you. Save phrases like these, rehearse them out loud, and they come back until they stick.

AI-generated. May be inaccurate.