How to Explore Hauts-de-France Region on a Budget
SNCF personnel members walk past a TGV (high speed train) at the railway station in Bordeaux, southwestern France. Photo Copyright Philippe LOPEZ / AFP
For travelers seeking budget-friendly adventures across Europe this summer, France has exciting news to offer. A multitude of discounted train fares are now up for grabs at a fixed price, thanks to the efforts of the French minister for transport, Clément Beaune, to make train travel more affordable.
The recent launch of €1 train fares drew attention earlier this month when 200,000 French train tickets were sold at the fixed price of €19. Although this particular scheme concluded on July 15th and applied to all Intercités lines, there’s still an opportunity to secure great deals.
Until August 27th, budget-conscious travelers can take advantage of the €1 eTER (regional express) train services in the stunning coastal region of Hauts-de-France. These discounted tickets were initially introduced on July 7th and are making a comeback on July 25th. They remain valid on all days, including weekends and holidays.
The Hauts-de-France region, located north of Paris and bordering Belgium, encompasses captivating cities such as Amiens, Lille, and Calais. As these €1 seats are limited in number, prompt booking is essential. Travelers can purchase them at ticket counters in Hauts-de-France train stations or through SNCF’s website.
These discounts have been made possible by the regional council state, aiming to offer both holidaymakers and locals significant savings. Notably, Occitania in France also introduced a similar scheme, where individuals under 26 are eligible for TER train tickets at €1 from July 14th to August 15th.
Furthermore, France is gearing up to introduce more initiatives to reduce train ticket prices. The transportation ministry plans to launch a single pass for young people by next summer, valid on all public transport, including Intercités trains, TER trains, and buses. Although Intercités trains transport around 12 million people annually, France’s TGV trains transported 23 million people last summer. While high-speed rail fares can’t be altered by the state, France is looking to replicate the success of existing regional and national discounts.
Europe-wide, various countries are embracing affordable travel options. Spain recently reduced the prices of Interrail tickets for individuals under 30, providing discounts to Spanish residents until September 15th. Young travelers can also make the most of 90% reductions on state-run buses and short-to-medium distance trains. Germany’s national rail service, Deutsche Bahn, introduced €9.90 tickets for some short-distance routes, available until July 31st for shorter journeys on ICE trains.
Sources: euronews.com, msn.com, SNCF