SNCF is ruled by CGT union "workers". They do what they want.... SNCF should be a half private company. Things would change... quite rapidly.... A french man, saying that.
So in practicality you get airplane grade food and lounge access above the standard first class? Having rode on a executive class freccia1000 on the paris-milan service, this class doesn't look enticing.
Not to mention that you get lounge access with a standard premiere ticket for TGV Lyria. The lounge itself is definitely more comfortable than having to wait on the platform, but it's not like an airport lounge where you might have to stay for many hours.
I am a little train food fan. Every time I'm on a new train / train company I'll try their food in the restaurant car. There are some great restaurant cars, some decent ones and some are disappointing. When I first took a TGV train to France my expectations were up as I had experienced French cuisine and there are few countries that can even keep up with French food. Though the SNCF bistro car certainly fell into the category of disappointing restaurant cars. How can a county that is so well-known for fine dining be so neglective about train dining? I figured most people didn't care as TGV journeys were shorter on average than ICE or EC journeys but still - as you mentioned - the food was great, I loved the galettes but they simply don't taste well on a paper plate and you having the taste of freshly chopped wood in your mouth doesn't add flavor. And why is there no proper seating in the restaurant car? When I go to the restaurant car I want to sit and be served like in a restaurant. Even DB manages that, the food on ICE trains is not a Bocuse, but it is tasty, served on porcelain by a friendly crew to your table.
For me it really depends on the length of the travel. If it's 4-5 hours + there should be better food options. But for shorter high speed trips I really don't think it should be priority. It will usually be possible to grab a nice meal before and after instead. I'm sure it's quite expensive to make proper hot food on a train, and people don't like high prices.
@@rowaystarco Well on CD trains there's a nice restaurant with freshly cooked meals (!). They're not microwaved, they're cooked. Same goes for MAV Dining cars. Both of them also run in Germany so if you're over here don't miss them. And, not to forget, they're not expensive. I mean they're not hilariously cheap either but its a good deal and as soon as you cross the border into Czechia it's happy hour when stuff gets really affordable.
Excellent point. Personally, I would be happier for a slower journey and a quality restaurant car with a good wine selection. SNCF is one of the worst operators in Europe for on-board service. Poorly trained, dis-interested staff and appalling food offers.
I was on Amtrak in the late 1970s and experienced the dining services that were staffed by former Santa Fe and Union Pacific workers. There was nothing in the EU except maybe for the German trains where the service and food is as good as that was. There was china, glass, tablecloths, flowers, metal forks, etc., and it was expensive but not an arm and a leg expensive. VIA doesn't come close either.
I enjoy taking first class on LNER in the UK, try it some time if you can, prices are surprisingly affordable on some routes. They offer three menu levels, including full hot meals. I've enjoyed an English breakfast and tea with complimentary refills before, on proper plates with proper cutlery. It feels very premium, and the seats are very comfortable too. If British railways can accommodate that, I see no reason why French railways can't! Also, really enjoying the new style, please keep it up!
New x2000 has the best interior IMO! It’s cosy, has warm lights, & every seat on the whole train can decline automatically, which is Better than executive class. But premier’s giant table & mirror are enticing :)
Trenitalia is pushed by unfair competition in France. Trenitalia will be bankrupted in France, the European Union forced SNCF Network to give them a huge discount to use the high speed line, but this will cease by 2026, then the real competition will befin. The current TGV Réseau has already 35% more seats than the Frecciarossa, and the new TGV M, will have 42% more seats. It's already done for the italians. They will never be competitive. Mark my words. Today they lose money, tomorrow it will be bankruptcy.
Nice Vid! Took TGV Paris to Lyon in May 2023. 2nd class likely. Was good. How fancy does anyone need for a 2 hr trip? I would have been fine with a wooden bench. Keep up the good work!
Thank you for all of the great train content and now doing verbal sound. I have taught English as a Second Language and have a couple of tips. Some people tend to read out loud faster then they would normally speak. You have admitted that your French accent is thick and that is true. If you slow down, your English would be better understood. I am not suggesting anything dramatic, but in some places you are reading so fast that your words slur into one long word. In places of the video where you are adlibbing the English is easier to understand. Please know this is not a complaint. I am just offering a little advice. The advice is free and of course that may be all it is worth. 😁😁😁
@@flyakwaCustom, that is, not automatic subtitles are available. Although I can barely follow the subtitles, so I suggest slowing down the delivery. Do not switch back to hard subtitles.
Your note about baggage storage availability is very useful! I have not ridden the current Frecciarossa with large bags but the older ETR500 tren italia high speed sets didn't have a lot of space for airline-checked luggage.
I really loved the orange and grey TGV sud est 1st generation and the single level TGV that was first introduced on the Paris Montparnasse 1&2 to Bordeaux with their various styles of seating which was ahead of its time. Im not so sure about the double-decker trains. In the early days the train stopped at Lyon Brotteaux and Lyon Perrache before the opening of Lyon Part Dieu which was an eyesore of its brutalist era when it opened.
The one time I traveled with the TGV I traveled from Paris to Barcelona first class. I felt the TGV was a commuter train more than a luxury train. First class isn’t that expensive. I would honestly pay a better price for first class from Paris to Barcelona to be treated business class like this video since it’s such a stretch. Which is why I don’t get why they introduce it on this line. It’s “only” 2 hours. I can sit that one out easily. Loved the Paris to Lyon high speed but it was the part after that I could’ve really used some food and drinks to my table. Amazing video, I’m going to consider this if they operate to Barcelona. But, with Renfe coming as well I will probably jump on that train next time I am going.
Hi! I am wondering, does TGV Duplex have any accessibility for wheelchair to help them board on the train and skip the stairs? I recently found the duplex Max Shinkansen in Japan have small elevators in the inside for people who need it, but I guess it is only possible there because highspeed trains in Asia are wider.
I know there are often elevators on platforms to help people board in older corail trains for example but on recent trains the floor is usually at the same level as the platform so you wouldn't need it. There definitely isn't any train with any kind of elevator system inside in France though.
Thanks for the review. Regarding seat pitch, it's a lesser issue when one is 1.65mtr tall! I agree that cold food on plastic plates and paper cups does not concur with a premium product. That said, good food and 'at seat' service is. Based on your comments, it looks as if SNCF have only done half a job. It'll be interesting to see whether TrenItalia's product forces SNCF's hand into 'raising their game'. We shall see!! Merci beacoup pour un autre bon revue, monsieur. À bientôt, mon ami.
Let's hope that, Italo did that with Trenitalia in 2012 and now it looks like the national company did step up its game (not complimenting them though, I'm always an Italian afterall)
I traveled on the 2N2s in first from Hendaia up to Paris and back recently, Alstom makes really nice trains and the interiors are top notch. The leg room is a bit deceptive because it becomes a lot less with the seat reclined. It's probably not enough for people much over 1.9m, but I think for most people it's fine. At least in terms of ride quality and interior comfort (noise etc) I think they beat most other high speed trains. When it comes to onboard service I'm kinda split. I do really enjoy on board service and always have, when I used to live in the UK I regularly used the WCML in Virgin's Pendolinos and it was nice to be able to have breakfast or dinner served at your seat. At the same time I do also like bringing food on board myself, particularly in some places there is an excellent selection of stuff you can get in the stations (since these services aren't show up and go you have to arrive early at the station anyway which means browsing around for a nice thing to take on the train isn't really a waste of time) in which case the onboard service is a bit of a waste (unfortunately in France everything at the stations is obscenely expensive 🙃). For longer trips I really don't mind first just for the sake of having a good seat, and I've often found myself not really missing a dining service, not having to pay the extra cost of the service in the ticket is nice in that case, even if the difference isn't the obscene 2-3x more that Eurostar/Thalys charges yo for it. I do agree though, if there is a premium at seat food service, it should be done properly, with real cutlery and good plating, otherwise it's just pointless. I honestly think the biggest upgrade they could do, particularly with very long high speed routes starting to become popular again (6+ hours), is adding lie flat seats, similar to business class on long haul aircraft, as a top end cabin. I would very much welcome being able to lie down and sleep for the whole ride from Madrid to Paris without needing to go the full sleeper cabin route... At the end of the day though, I think the biggest thing that needs to be worked on is convenience, reliability, and frequency. We need to move away from HSR ticketing that forces you take one specific train, and move to services that are show up and go. A lot of secondary destinations are brutally underserved and the frequencies and connections to regional/local services are often comically bad. The boarding process is also a pain, the tiny platforms make it slow (and dangerous when the train rolls in).
One thing nobody talks about is even though the service is better in frecciarossa, the ride is SO MUCH noisier than the TGV. Sound insulation is truly something I realized, premium service is good, but just riding a premium train is even more important imo... Like why is it so poorly insulated ?
I like your voiceovers very much. They make things more personal. I could understand the French things you say more easily you spoke slower, but I dont think. that's the French way. So pls keep the voiceovers.
I often ride the TGV to go from Valence-TGV or Lyon to Montpellier or vice versa, it's fine but I hate that the luggage stacks are full when I go to Montpellier and I have a huge suitcase, and also not a fan of the higher storey, it feels a bit crampted. However I've taken it once from Paris to Bordeaux and it was so cool (maybe because I was in First Class lol) there was so much leg room and I liked how recent the trainset is (Also used it to do some Annecy-Paris, Lyon-Paris and Bordeaux-basque country)
So the main benefit that you are paying an additional 70 euro over first class for, is to have a €15.90 meal from the bar (that you can buy as a second or first class customer) brought to your seat and a welcome drink when you board the train?
Nah I think it's more of a full flexible thing where you can change your ticket kind of whenever you want. It's been that way for a while, they just added the food recently as a bonus.
Autant avec une carte Liberté, le prix avec flexibilité peut être encore passable, mais à 149€, on n'est pas dans la même cour que l'Executive. Autant je préfère la seconde et la première classe de l'inOui, mais là c'est prohibitif. Merci pour cette vidéo en tout cas !
ANY food is welcome on these iconic trains tbh (finally), took competition to make it happen - SNCF getting less complacent in their monopoly with the competitors (prices still crazy, should be all first class seats)
Please bring back the subtitles. It's easier to understand, and it's more enjoiyable, with only the noise of the train. It was what made you different; now, you're like the other youtubers...
Great video - I really enjoy your content. I prefer voice over as I can concentrate on the pictures which are missed viewing subtitles. Your English is very good but unlike many other languages it is spoken more slowly so I have a real problem following it. I know this is an English 'thing' but I am sure this would be appreciated by many of your other English speaking followers. Great videos and looking forward to future journeys however you present them.
Never think lounges are a big selling point - half the point of taking the train is that you don’t need to turn up early and therefore don’t need a lounge! Food presentation looks poor, even LNER and Avanti in the UK offer better than this.
Not even premium category, but Ceske Drahy and PKP dining cars have normal crockery and metal cutlery with all meals. And that's the Czechs, not really known as a culinary hotspot! It's really sad, I think most people have a similar experience but all my life I'd wanted to ride the TGV, particularly the old orange ones but the Duplexes are nice too. Anyway, to finally go, try the dining car and realise everything's cold, tastes like a motorway buffet in England, and even can't get coffee right is so sad.
and here im in UK paying like 70pounds for 100miles ride in normal train in normal second class seat( and knowing first class would easily cost double or more with no food and no high speed)...
That's rough. Why does that sound similar to what you can find in Australia and New Zealand railway services? Expensive, slow and no free food, let alone the seating and trains aren't that inspiring.
En réponse à la question posée dans la vidéo, ma préférence va à la livrée "Tallon", ce qu'il y a de plus confortable pour moi en TGV Duplex. Je déteste au plus haut point les Océane, espace minuscule, sièges durs comme la pierre, même les Intercités assurés par des voitures Corail rénovées sont meilleurs. Il m'est arrivé de changer ma réservation lorsque SNCF Connect m'indiquait que j'allais voyager en Océane. Même les vieux TGV Réseau Marseille -Bruxelles sont meilleurs, en dépit de leur taux de panne hallucinant. Enfin, sur les Duplex, j'essaie le plus possible d'être au niveau inférieur. Car les supérieurs se transforment en zone de transit permanent vers le Bar et on n'est jamais tranquilles.
On les attend toujours les trains Océane sur la ligne Paris-Rennes. Et pourtant la Business Première y est au même prix, haha Mais bon, c'est moins crucial sur une ligne non-européenne avec zéro concurrence j'imagine. HS : D'ailleurs c'est quand que tu viens en Bretagne ? T'étais passé il y a quelques années à la gare Rennes une seule fois, et encore pendant qu'elle était en travaux. En plus tu courrais après un train que tu as failli rater, donc il n'y pas eu de visite.
Interesting to see, but not too convincing - both the voiceover and Business Premiere ;-) Although I prefer voiceover on other channels, I'd prefer subtitles on your channel except for the video about Railcolordesign, because in dialogue, your English sounded much better. Concerning TGV first class, I was quite annoyed some 3 weeks ago on a trip on a classic TGV Duplex from South Germany to Paris and back: seat pitch seemed better compared to Oceane like, but as I wanted to work and also participate web conferences, I missed an area, where this is allowed (as on ICE or RailJet, which offer silence areas and normal ones) and my neighbour complained (although he later talked a lot with another passenger louder than me). Overall, it seems to me that SNCF isn't up to date on its TGV/InOui service. Responding your comment on regional trains on the old line Paris - Dijon - Lyon, I have to say that I enjoyed the Regiolis train sets quite a lot when I made a trip from Paris to Dijon last year although it didn't offer first class. But the ride was smooth and fast (top speed 160 km/h nearly all the time) and the seat and table was quite comfy. But maybe my standards as a German are lower from a German regional transit perspective ;-)
I have livedin France vor 40 years and I conclude that SNCF has declined year on year. They have these half-hearted attempts at service but lack any commercial accumen. At the bottom of the ladder is the Intercity between Clermont and Bercy. Have you tried it? Would appreciate your insight. In any case keep up the great videos.
The intercity between Clermont and Bercy was underfunded, it's one of the many lines that is losing money, so the state has to pay for it. Staring 2026, new trains from CAF will come to replace the current trains.
Just one more and then I will use a poll to decide if we continue voiceover or subtitles
Рік тому+1
I think the Italian offering is a bit too much for me in terms of food. But the SNCF answer is lacking. I'm a simple, but good ingredients made well kind of chap. So I don't need fancy, but it better be good, it doesn't even have to be a full meal. (but on the full Paris-Milan stretch I could use that probably) France has a lot of these little and simple food options. So I find it strange that they don't offer it on their flagship trains. Even heating it could go long ways. I don't know what's in the lower level on the bar coach, but I think they could've made room for a bigger kitchen/galley area. Also the Gare du Lyon looks stunning but the gates, and long platforms without under/overpasses don't help the passenger flow unfortunately.
My experiences of food on 1st class, TGV, Thalys and Frecciarossa give a definitive YES to Thalys, then Frecciarossa, and... Far, far, far away SNCF... I'm french and disapointed by how we are treated by SNCF... A BIG SHAME
Freciarossa is just on an another level. I tried the executive and the buisiness premiere and even the freciarossa lower classes (like the buisiness/buisiness allegro class) are ten times better than the sncf buisiness premiere btw freciarossa is rarely late. So freciarossa is just better /
Thanks. But speaking of food in France: Sorry, but in the last 40 years, I really never have experienced fine and high quality food in France. But speaking of it: Wherever I am, I look out for an Indian restaurant. Never have I been disappointed.
Because you don't have good taste or you don't know to choose. France is with Japan, the record country in terms of Michelin stars restaurants. I have taste exceptional food so many time there. Indian restaurants are good, but never exceptional. And Indian hygiena is problematic.
5:05 Ça t’a affiché la carte bancaire car le lecteur de tickets lit également les cartes NFC donc l’iPhone détecte le lecteur et affiche la carte bancaire. Si tu utilisais le ticket de train dans Apple Wallet ou l’appli sncf tu n’aurais pas eu ce souci
It's rare that the American Amtrak trains compare well to European trains. But I am kind of shocked by how packed the seating is. Amtrak coach class seating gives you waaaaay more leg room than the fancy upgrade class on TGV. Admittedly, you spend much less time on TGV so it isn't so bad. But still if it was the same amount of time, I'd much rather be sitting in Amtrak coach than in TGV Premiere!
Nice job. I don't understand why SNCF doesn't do a better job. It seems Frecciarossa offers a better product in both France and Spain. On a different and minor note... in the context you were using, it's "lose", not "loose". English is a strange language, I know... 🙂
So, all in all, Frecciarossa Executive and DB ICE 1. Klasse are superior products. I wish we had more competition of train service throughout Europe and I wish we had real premium products.
Having travelled on tgv(sud est) sets paris gare de lyon-geneva,2008,strasbourg paris est,Luxembourg-paris est, still prefer the sud est sets,been on duplex sets which are impressive to travel,but sncf are missing out on the market,fs,renfe,dB,eurostar are well advanced in encroaching the sncf network, yes tgv goes to ,ch,de be,it,es,lux,but better service from there competitors is drawing business away,obb railjet 1st class is very good,travelled from zurich-innsbruck,@€39,for 3.5 hrs,also night jet sleeper obb has worked very hard,made it a brilliant branding since2016.
This is how to lose 30 places in 1st in TGVs which are not enough to support demand. The Frecciarossa do not have the same role, because they have a capacity much lower than a duplex TGV in single formation. Their entire strategy is based on comfort. The line is so busy that booking 24 hours in advance means “hoping” to find a seat for more than €150 in second class. In fact what they are doing will be better suited to a trip of more than 4 hours such as the future Paris Milan in 100% HSL
I feel like the US Amtrak has more space between the seats than this does, at least for the class of seat that Simply Railway is reviewing. 🙂 Granted, Amtrak isn't high speed....but if you need the speed, that's what jet aircraft are for (even though I guess a jet aircraft is banned in France for this distance).
2:25 I have to disagree with you, gare du nord is the tgv station, not gare de lyon, especially with the thalys and eurostars as well as being the busiest station in europe. 9:19 that is dissapointing, i think eurostar standard premier has a better meal service on board.
That legroom is genuinely atrocious. I like booking standard premiere on trains because I'm almost 2m tall. But this doesn't look like you get anymore legroom that second class. What's the point?
Thank you Thibault for a very informative video! My experience of TGV Duplexes was back in 2009! I was most impressed! On the specific point of the food, I was astounded that there was nothing hot available. I am not a fussy person when it comes to food. But paying 149 Euros I would expect some hot food, even if it was only a Hanburger, and served on a proper plate! Regarding presentation, I like your spoken commentary. It gives an extra 'personal' character to the video. But this native English-speaker does not understand what you meant by 'a boomer position.' (The problem you had going through the gate at Gare de Lyon.)
@@Ellister29Thank you. IIf by 'boomer' means a 'baby boomer' born just after the second world war, then i now know exactly what is meant. (I was born 1948 and often struggle with technology such as my smartphone!
Les prix de trenitalia sont des prix d'appel, ils le disent eux mêmes. Ils sont appelés à augmenter fortement dans quelques temps. Je pense que la sncf n'a pas de souci à se faire en réalité... D'autant moins quand d'ici 2 ans ils pourront s'attaquer au Paris Milan , voire Rome Milan avec des tgvm qui vont lui offrir un avantage compétitif et faire baisser les prix. Le TGV come transport de masse estle bon choix, je pense.
Le service business première c'est un peu une honte pour le prix. La 1iere classique es très bien. Il suffit de se lever et aller au bar, rien de crevant. Pour les personnes voyageant beaucoup, ils ont souvent la carte grand voyageur ou liberté, et peuvent avoir accès au salon en gare. J'espère qu'avec l'arrivé des TGV M une différence plus notable sera disponible (meilleur siège etc..). Sinon excellente vidéo comme d'habitude.
A very informative video, but the sound is awful, I could barely follow you. Well, I find this service highly overpriced, especially for a 2 hour ride (2nd class with no catering would do the same job without much of a sacrifice), maybe it would make sense if you went all the way to NIce, but maybe not even that. Anyway, Frecciarossa wins. One more thing: if these trains are newly refurbished, why didn't they provide a decent access for the disabled?
It’s a definite NO from me. I travel Frecciarossa Executive Class whenever I’m in Italy. It’s absolutely wonderful. And SCNF Business “Premiere” can’t hold a candlestick to Frecciarossa Executive Class. 🤔
I've taken Trenitalia's Executive Class. It is unbelievably wonderful. In my experience it was better than first class on most airlines!
Paris→Lyon
TGV vs.Frecciarossa
Great commparisons and history lesson. SNCF management should be required to watch this video at each morning briefing.
You can not compare a ferrari to a peugeot
SNCF is ruled by CGT union "workers". They do what they want....
SNCF should be a half private company.
Things would change... quite rapidly....
A french man, saying that.
@declissonolivier9376 you are not french. You belong to macron idiology.
Sncf should stay a state company
So in practicality you get airplane grade food and lounge access above the standard first class? Having rode on a executive class freccia1000 on the paris-milan service, this class doesn't look enticing.
Not to mention that you get lounge access with a standard premiere ticket for TGV Lyria. The lounge itself is definitely more comfortable than having to wait on the platform, but it's not like an airport lounge where you might have to stay for many hours.
I am a little train food fan. Every time I'm on a new train / train company I'll try their food in the restaurant car. There are some great restaurant cars, some decent ones and some are disappointing. When I first took a TGV train to France my expectations were up as I had experienced French cuisine and there are few countries that can even keep up with French food. Though the SNCF bistro car certainly fell into the category of disappointing restaurant cars. How can a county that is so well-known for fine dining be so neglective about train dining? I figured most people didn't care as TGV journeys were shorter on average than ICE or EC journeys but still - as you mentioned - the food was great, I loved the galettes but they simply don't taste well on a paper plate and you having the taste of freshly chopped wood in your mouth doesn't add flavor. And why is there no proper seating in the restaurant car? When I go to the restaurant car I want to sit and be served like in a restaurant. Even DB manages that, the food on ICE trains is not a Bocuse, but it is tasty, served on porcelain by a friendly crew to your table.
For me it really depends on the length of the travel. If it's 4-5 hours + there should be better food options. But for shorter high speed trips I really don't think it should be priority. It will usually be possible to grab a nice meal before and after instead. I'm sure it's quite expensive to make proper hot food on a train, and people don't like high prices.
It depends on when you took the train. However a lot of peuple bring their own food, which reduces the need for a train restaurant
@@rowaystarco Well on CD trains there's a nice restaurant with freshly cooked meals (!). They're not microwaved, they're cooked. Same goes for MAV Dining cars. Both of them also run in Germany so if you're over here don't miss them. And, not to forget, they're not expensive. I mean they're not hilariously cheap either but its a good deal and as soon as you cross the border into Czechia it's happy hour when stuff gets really affordable.
Excellent point. Personally, I would be happier for a slower journey and a quality restaurant car with a good wine selection. SNCF is one of the worst operators in Europe for on-board service. Poorly trained, dis-interested staff and appalling food offers.
I was on Amtrak in the late 1970s and experienced the dining services that were staffed by former Santa Fe and Union Pacific workers. There was nothing in the EU except maybe for the German trains where the service and food is as good as that was. There was china, glass, tablecloths, flowers, metal forks, etc., and it was expensive but not an arm and a leg expensive. VIA doesn't come close either.
I enjoy taking first class on LNER in the UK, try it some time if you can, prices are surprisingly affordable on some routes. They offer three menu levels, including full hot meals. I've enjoyed an English breakfast and tea with complimentary refills before, on proper plates with proper cutlery. It feels very premium, and the seats are very comfortable too. If British railways can accommodate that, I see no reason why French railways can't!
Also, really enjoying the new style, please keep it up!
Sounds nice, but aren't they only on the East Coast line?
@@iamthestig1 LNER has first class available between London - Edinburgh and London - Leeds.
New x2000 has the best interior IMO! It’s cosy, has warm lights, & every seat on the whole train can decline automatically, which is Better than executive class. But premier’s giant table & mirror are enticing :)
Around ten years ago, there was also a meal included in first class TGV Est between Paris and Stuttgart/Munich/Frankfurt.
And on TGV Lyria services between Paris and Switzerland
sorry but the Frecciarossa service is unique, another positive level! will also arrive in Germany in 2026
Trenitalia is pushed by unfair competition in France.
Trenitalia will be bankrupted in France, the European Union forced SNCF Network to give them a huge discount to use the high speed line, but this will cease by 2026, then the real competition will befin. The current TGV Réseau has already 35% more seats than the Frecciarossa, and the new TGV M, will have 42% more seats. It's already done for the italians. They will never be competitive. Mark my words. Today they lose money, tomorrow it will be bankruptcy.
Great video!! Always love food on a train and this train looks amazing. Thanks
Fascinating video. Meal service could include hot selections. Seats look very comfy. Thanks Thibault♥️👌
Nice Vid! Took TGV Paris to Lyon in May 2023. 2nd class likely. Was good. How fancy does anyone need for a 2 hr trip? I would have been fine with a wooden bench. Keep up the good work!
Thank you for all of the great train content and now doing verbal sound. I have taught English as a Second Language and have a couple of tips. Some people tend to read out loud faster then they would normally speak. You have admitted that your French accent is thick and that is true. If you slow down, your English would be better understood. I am not suggesting anything dramatic, but in some places you are reading so fast that your words slur into one long word. In places of the video where you are adlibbing the English is easier to understand. Please know this is not a complaint. I am just offering a little advice. The advice is free and of course that may be all it is worth. 😁😁😁
It would be far better to return to the SUBTITLE ALONE, without this extremely annoying blah-blah in broken English.
@@flyakwaCustom, that is, not automatic subtitles are available. Although I can barely follow the subtitles, so I suggest slowing down the delivery. Do not switch back to hard subtitles.
Great to see SNCF finally getting some competition…. Only 40-years late!!!
Great review. I really enjoyed it 👏✌️👍
If there was ever proof of just how good competition has been for consumers! Great video as usual!
Your note about baggage storage availability is very useful! I have not ridden the current Frecciarossa with large bags but the older ETR500 tren italia high speed sets didn't have a lot of space for airline-checked luggage.
Thank you! Great video as always!
SNCF is begging to get Privatized with this poor response.
I really loved the orange and grey TGV sud est 1st generation and the single level TGV that was first introduced on the Paris Montparnasse 1&2 to Bordeaux with their various styles of seating which was ahead of its time. Im not so sure about the double-decker trains. In the early days the train stopped at Lyon Brotteaux and Lyon Perrache before the opening of Lyon Part Dieu which was an eyesore of its brutalist era when it opened.
The one time I traveled with the TGV I traveled from Paris to Barcelona first class. I felt the TGV was a commuter train more than a luxury train. First class isn’t that expensive. I would honestly pay a better price for first class from Paris to Barcelona to be treated business class like this video since it’s such a stretch. Which is why I don’t get why they introduce it on this line. It’s “only” 2 hours. I can sit that one out easily. Loved the Paris to Lyon high speed but it was the part after that I could’ve really used some food and drinks to my table.
Amazing video, I’m going to consider this if they operate to Barcelona. But, with Renfe coming as well I will probably jump on that train next time I am going.
Hi! I am wondering, does TGV Duplex have any accessibility for wheelchair to help them board on the train and skip the stairs? I recently found the duplex Max Shinkansen in Japan have small elevators in the inside for people who need it, but I guess it is only possible there because highspeed trains in Asia are wider.
Not sure but I think ppl in wheelchair are given seats on the lower floor so they don't have to go up the stairs
I know there are often elevators on platforms to help people board in older corail trains for example but on recent trains the floor is usually at the same level as the platform so you wouldn't need it. There definitely isn't any train with any kind of elevator system inside in France though.
Great trip report
Thanks for the review. Regarding seat pitch, it's a lesser issue when one is 1.65mtr tall! I agree that cold food on plastic plates and paper cups does not concur with a premium product. That said, good food and 'at seat' service is. Based on your comments, it looks as if SNCF have only done half a job. It'll be interesting to see whether TrenItalia's product forces SNCF's hand into 'raising their game'. We shall see!! Merci beacoup pour un autre bon revue, monsieur. À bientôt, mon ami.
Let's hope that, Italo did that with Trenitalia in 2012 and now it looks like the national company did step up its game (not complimenting them though, I'm always an Italian afterall)
I traveled on the 2N2s in first from Hendaia up to Paris and back recently, Alstom makes really nice trains and the interiors are top notch. The leg room is a bit deceptive because it becomes a lot less with the seat reclined. It's probably not enough for people much over 1.9m, but I think for most people it's fine. At least in terms of ride quality and interior comfort (noise etc) I think they beat most other high speed trains.
When it comes to onboard service I'm kinda split. I do really enjoy on board service and always have, when I used to live in the UK I regularly used the WCML in Virgin's Pendolinos and it was nice to be able to have breakfast or dinner served at your seat. At the same time I do also like bringing food on board myself, particularly in some places there is an excellent selection of stuff you can get in the stations (since these services aren't show up and go you have to arrive early at the station anyway which means browsing around for a nice thing to take on the train isn't really a waste of time) in which case the onboard service is a bit of a waste (unfortunately in France everything at the stations is obscenely expensive 🙃). For longer trips I really don't mind first just for the sake of having a good seat, and I've often found myself not really missing a dining service, not having to pay the extra cost of the service in the ticket is nice in that case, even if the difference isn't the obscene 2-3x more that Eurostar/Thalys charges yo for it. I do agree though, if there is a premium at seat food service, it should be done properly, with real cutlery and good plating, otherwise it's just pointless.
I honestly think the biggest upgrade they could do, particularly with very long high speed routes starting to become popular again (6+ hours), is adding lie flat seats, similar to business class on long haul aircraft, as a top end cabin. I would very much welcome being able to lie down and sleep for the whole ride from Madrid to Paris without needing to go the full sleeper cabin route...
At the end of the day though, I think the biggest thing that needs to be worked on is convenience, reliability, and frequency. We need to move away from HSR ticketing that forces you take one specific train, and move to services that are show up and go. A lot of secondary destinations are brutally underserved and the frequencies and connections to regional/local services are often comically bad. The boarding process is also a pain, the tiny platforms make it slow (and dangerous when the train rolls in).
Great trip. Yeah some upgrade but there's some point which SNCF is missed
For what it is worth, Frecciarossa trains are made by Hitachi. BTW, it's nice to hear your voice, Thibault. I recall you prior video were all mute.
made in italy
🥰🥰🥰👋👋👍👍👌👌👌👌VERY NICE THANK YOU BYE
For First class product, SNCF should give you a coupon to get into Le Train Bleu at Gare de Lyons instead of a lounge access.
What was the mapping app you used, visible at 14:29, which shows your position on (I think) the OpenRailwayMap ? Thanks
Boa tarde boa viagem ai simplys 1:12 lindo trem
Ils ont mis les rames Océane en urgence sur le PLY 😂 avec un petit service en plus mais ça rattrape l’excellence du service Trenitalia
Le TGV M tabassera le freciarossa
@@Bylkuuus Rahh j’espère on verra bien c’est ça le but de la concurrence
One thing nobody talks about is even though the service is better in frecciarossa, the ride is SO MUCH noisier than the TGV. Sound insulation is truly something I realized, premium service is good, but just riding a premium train is even more important imo... Like why is it so poorly insulated ?
I really prefer TGV réseau for lot of reasons, the main ones being the impression of space, and way more confortable seats.
I like your voiceovers very much. They make things more personal. I could understand the French things you say more easily you spoke slower, but I dont think. that's the French way. So pls keep the voiceovers.
I often ride the TGV to go from Valence-TGV or Lyon to Montpellier or vice versa, it's fine but I hate that the luggage stacks are full when I go to Montpellier and I have a huge suitcase, and also not a fan of the higher storey, it feels a bit crampted.
However I've taken it once from Paris to Bordeaux and it was so cool (maybe because I was in First Class lol) there was so much leg room and I liked how recent the trainset is
(Also used it to do some Annecy-Paris, Lyon-Paris and Bordeaux-basque country)
They should take out one or two seat rows in that section and increase the distance between rows. I like the size of the tables though.
I have tested the seats on Oceane. Their are so so , I prefer Dayse. Yes food could be improve on that class and price
So the main benefit that you are paying an additional 70 euro over first class for, is to have a €15.90 meal from the bar (that you can buy as a second or first class customer) brought to your seat and a welcome drink when you board the train?
Nah I think it's more of a full flexible thing where you can change your ticket kind of whenever you want. It's been that way for a while, they just added the food recently as a bonus.
Autant avec une carte Liberté, le prix avec flexibilité peut être encore passable, mais à 149€, on n'est pas dans la même cour que l'Executive. Autant je préfère la seconde et la première classe de l'inOui, mais là c'est prohibitif. Merci pour cette vidéo en tout cas !
ANY food is welcome on these iconic trains tbh (finally), took competition to make it happen - SNCF getting less complacent in their monopoly with the competitors (prices still crazy, should be all first class seats)
Bonjour. Quelle est la modèle de ton ordinateur ? Merci pour cette superbe vidéo !
Why some seats entirely facing backward even the seats can be rotated?
Are there any bike spaces on this train?
Which app/website were you using for checking the high speed lines and other lines? (at 14:31)
Please bring back the subtitles. It's easier to understand, and it's more enjoiyable, with only the noise of the train. It was what made you different; now, you're like the other youtubers...
It's a temporary set up :) I will see if I go back to the old format :)
Great video - I really enjoy your content. I prefer voice over as I can concentrate on the pictures which are missed viewing subtitles. Your English is very good but unlike many other languages it is spoken more slowly so I have a real problem following it. I know this is an English 'thing' but I am sure this would be appreciated by many of your other English speaking followers. Great videos and looking forward to future journeys however you present them.
Never think lounges are a big selling point - half the point of taking the train is that you don’t need to turn up early and therefore don’t need a lounge! Food presentation looks poor, even LNER and Avanti in the UK offer better than this.
do you ever plan to try the shinkansen in japan?
Not even premium category, but Ceske Drahy and PKP dining cars have normal crockery and metal cutlery with all meals. And that's the Czechs, not really known as a culinary hotspot! It's really sad, I think most people have a similar experience but all my life I'd wanted to ride the TGV, particularly the old orange ones but the Duplexes are nice too. Anyway, to finally go, try the dining car and realise everything's cold, tastes like a motorway buffet in England, and even can't get coffee right is so sad.
Please return to subtitles, those videos are perfect for background watch
I still have one video to release before deciding if I will continue with subtitle or voice over :-)
Read my comment.
@@SimplyRailwayPlease put us out of our misery now Thibault.
@@Eurobazz People like you are the reason why so many creators move on to other things.
Yes and it's just the little touch that make this channel different and better.
A taxi driver in Aix told me that train is 6 hours late every Sunday night.
and here im in UK paying like 70pounds for 100miles ride in normal train in normal second class seat( and knowing first class would easily cost double or more with no food and no high speed)...
That's rough. Why does that sound similar to what you can find in Australia and New Zealand railway services? Expensive, slow and no free food, let alone the seating and trains aren't that inspiring.
You have voted (as a people I mean) for that. Why do you cry? You have elected Ms. Thatcher, haven't you?
Super qualitatif ta vidéo 👍🏻
14:31 quelle est l'application pour avoir la vitesse des voies stp ? 🙂
Railmap
@@SimplyRailway merci !
describe to me how comfortable the seats in 2nd class?
En réponse à la question posée dans la vidéo, ma préférence va à la livrée "Tallon", ce qu'il y a de plus confortable pour moi en TGV Duplex.
Je déteste au plus haut point les Océane, espace minuscule, sièges durs comme la pierre, même les Intercités assurés par des voitures Corail rénovées sont meilleurs.
Il m'est arrivé de changer ma réservation lorsque SNCF Connect m'indiquait que j'allais voyager en Océane.
Même les vieux TGV Réseau Marseille -Bruxelles sont meilleurs, en dépit de leur taux de panne hallucinant.
Enfin, sur les Duplex, j'essaie le plus possible d'être au niveau inférieur.
Car les supérieurs se transforment en zone de transit permanent vers le Bar et on n'est jamais tranquilles.
I love your accent! It's Great ! Loving your new presentation style!
On les attend toujours les trains Océane sur la ligne Paris-Rennes. Et pourtant la Business Première y est au même prix, haha
Mais bon, c'est moins crucial sur une ligne non-européenne avec zéro concurrence j'imagine.
HS : D'ailleurs c'est quand que tu viens en Bretagne ? T'étais passé il y a quelques années à la gare Rennes une seule fois, et encore pendant qu'elle était en travaux. En plus tu courrais après un train que tu as failli rater, donc il n'y pas eu de visite.
The automatic subtitles are struggling. So am I.
Interesting to see, but not too convincing - both the voiceover and Business Premiere ;-) Although I prefer voiceover on other channels, I'd prefer subtitles on your channel except for the video about Railcolordesign, because in dialogue, your English sounded much better.
Concerning TGV first class, I was quite annoyed some 3 weeks ago on a trip on a classic TGV Duplex from South Germany to Paris and back: seat pitch seemed better compared to Oceane like, but as I wanted to work and also participate web conferences, I missed an area, where this is allowed (as on ICE or RailJet, which offer silence areas and normal ones) and my neighbour complained (although he later talked a lot with another passenger louder than me). Overall, it seems to me that SNCF isn't up to date on its TGV/InOui service.
Responding your comment on regional trains on the old line Paris - Dijon - Lyon, I have to say that I enjoyed the Regiolis train sets quite a lot when I made a trip from Paris to Dijon last year although it didn't offer first class. But the ride was smooth and fast (top speed 160 km/h nearly all the time) and the seat and table was quite comfy. But maybe my standards as a German are lower from a German regional transit perspective ;-)
Italian product is superior in every single way. Better seats, better service, newer train and cheaper
I have livedin France vor 40 years and I conclude that SNCF has declined year on year. They have these half-hearted attempts at service but lack any commercial accumen. At the bottom of the ladder is the Intercity between Clermont and Bercy. Have you tried it? Would appreciate your insight. In any case keep up the great videos.
The intercity between Clermont and Bercy was underfunded, it's one of the many lines that is losing money, so the state has to pay for it.
Staring 2026, new trains from CAF will come to replace the current trains.
A pale comparaison to what were once (and still may be) the Eurostar Business Premium lounges and on board services on the routes from the continent.
Wow the beard is gone, looking fresh! ❤️
2:23 That one OuiGo train looks hugely out of place amongst it’s far quicker cousins.😅
forever frecciarossa >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> tgv (in comfort)
Are you gonna have voiceovers in all your future videos?
Just one more and then I will use a poll to decide if we continue voiceover or subtitles
I think the Italian offering is a bit too much for me in terms of food.
But the SNCF answer is lacking.
I'm a simple, but good ingredients made well kind of chap. So I don't need fancy, but it better be good, it doesn't even have to be a full meal. (but on the full Paris-Milan stretch I could use that probably)
France has a lot of these little and simple food options. So I find it strange that they don't offer it on their flagship trains. Even heating it could go long ways. I don't know what's in the lower level on the bar coach, but I think they could've made room for a bigger kitchen/galley area.
Also the Gare du Lyon looks stunning but the gates, and long platforms without under/overpasses don't help the passenger flow unfortunately.
My experiences of food on 1st class, TGV, Thalys and Frecciarossa give a definitive YES to Thalys, then Frecciarossa, and... Far, far, far away SNCF... I'm french and disapointed by how we are treated by SNCF... A BIG SHAME
Freciarossa is just on an another level. I tried the executive and the buisiness premiere and even the freciarossa lower classes (like the buisiness/buisiness allegro class) are ten times better than the sncf buisiness premiere btw freciarossa is rarely late.
So freciarossa is just better
/
Thanks.
But speaking of food in France: Sorry, but in the last 40 years, I really never have experienced fine and high quality food in France.
But speaking of it: Wherever I am, I look out for an Indian restaurant. Never have I been disappointed.
Because you don't have good taste or you don't know to choose. France is with Japan, the record country in terms of Michelin stars restaurants.
I have taste exceptional food so many time there.
Indian restaurants are good, but never exceptional.
And Indian hygiena is problematic.
5:05
Ça t’a affiché la carte bancaire car le lecteur de tickets lit également les cartes NFC donc l’iPhone détecte le lecteur et affiche la carte bancaire. Si tu utilisais le ticket de train dans Apple Wallet ou l’appli sncf tu n’aurais pas eu ce souci
Merci pour ta réponse :)
@@SimplyRailway merci à toi pour tes vidéos !
It's rare that the American Amtrak trains compare well to European trains. But I am kind of shocked by how packed the seating is. Amtrak coach class seating gives you waaaaay more leg room than the fancy upgrade class on TGV. Admittedly, you spend much less time on TGV so it isn't so bad. But still if it was the same amount of time, I'd much rather be sitting in Amtrak coach than in TGV Premiere!
Nice job. I don't understand why SNCF doesn't do a better job. It seems Frecciarossa offers a better product in both France and Spain. On a different and minor note... in the context you were using, it's "lose", not "loose". English is a strange language, I know... 🙂
How much is reservation fee with a Eurail or interail pass?
So, all in all, Frecciarossa Executive and DB ICE 1. Klasse are superior products. I wish we had more competition of train service throughout Europe and I wish we had real premium products.
Cant wait until they start competing in Germany, maybe there'll be a chance for DB to improve!
Good job with voice over next friday with voice over
No way.
Having travelled on tgv(sud est) sets paris gare de lyon-geneva,2008,strasbourg paris est,Luxembourg-paris est, still prefer the sud est sets,been on duplex sets which are impressive to travel,but sncf are missing out on the market,fs,renfe,dB,eurostar are well advanced in encroaching the sncf network, yes tgv goes to ,ch,de be,it,es,lux,but better service from there competitors is drawing business away,obb railjet 1st class is very good,travelled from zurich-innsbruck,@€39,for 3.5 hrs,also night jet sleeper obb has worked very hard,made it a brilliant branding since2016.
Who was the guy at 9:50 eating with his mask on? How did he do this?
This is how to lose 30 places in 1st in TGVs which are not enough to support demand.
The Frecciarossa do not have the same role, because they have a capacity much lower than a duplex TGV in single formation. Their entire strategy is based on comfort.
The line is so busy that booking 24 hours in advance means “hoping” to find a seat for more than €150 in second class.
In fact what they are doing will be better suited to a trip of more than 4 hours such as the future Paris Milan in 100% HSL
I feel like the US Amtrak has more space between the seats than this does, at least for the class of seat that Simply Railway is reviewing. 🙂 Granted, Amtrak isn't high speed....but if you need the speed, that's what jet aircraft are for (even though I guess a jet aircraft is banned in France for this distance).
2:25 I have to disagree with you, gare du nord is the tgv station, not gare de lyon, especially with the thalys and eurostars as well as being the busiest station in europe.
9:19 that is dissapointing, i think eurostar standard premier has a better meal service on board.
What about ouigo tgv train?
Ouigo it’s cheap version
Why does the repair of the line to Italy take so long? I would suppose this takes days or some weeks? Any urgency?!
the French want to block the FRECCIAROSSA service WITH ITALY with the excuse of the landslide
merci pour les sous titres avec ton accent je comprends rien haha
Can you please speak a little slower. I have difficulty keeping up with what you are saying. Thanks!
Hi I am from India Hyderabad 🇮🇳
That legroom is genuinely atrocious. I like booking standard premiere on trains because I'm almost 2m tall. But this doesn't look like you get anymore legroom that second class. What's the point?
En vrai je comprend pas trop l'interet d'autre chose qu'une première classe standard pour 2h de trajet, même pour 3h10
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Amtrak should have them trains.
Thank you Thibault for a very informative video! My experience of TGV Duplexes was back in 2009! I was most impressed! On the specific point of the food, I was astounded that there was nothing hot available. I am not a fussy person when it comes to food. But paying 149 Euros I would expect some hot food, even if it was only a Hanburger, and served on a proper plate!
Regarding presentation, I like your spoken commentary. It gives an extra 'personal' character to the video. But this native English-speaker does not understand what you meant by 'a boomer position.' (The problem you had going through the gate at Gare de Lyon.)
He meant he felt like a boomer struggling w technology and not being able to correctly use his phone to unlock the gate
@@Ellister29Thank you. IIf by 'boomer' means a 'baby boomer' born just after the second world war, then i now know exactly what is meant. (I was born 1948 and often struggle with technology such as my smartphone!
Les prix de trenitalia sont des prix d'appel, ils le disent eux mêmes. Ils sont appelés à augmenter fortement dans quelques temps. Je pense que la sncf n'a pas de souci à se faire en réalité...
D'autant moins quand d'ici 2 ans ils pourront s'attaquer au Paris Milan , voire Rome Milan avec des tgvm qui vont lui offrir un avantage compétitif et faire baisser les prix.
Le TGV come transport de masse estle bon choix, je pense.
You should consider saying shorter sentences and saying it slower so the video doesn't feel rushed.
Le service business première c'est un peu une honte pour le prix. La 1iere classique es très bien. Il suffit de se lever et aller au bar, rien de crevant. Pour les personnes voyageant beaucoup, ils ont souvent la carte grand voyageur ou liberté, et peuvent avoir accès au salon en gare. J'espère qu'avec l'arrivé des TGV M une différence plus notable sera disponible (meilleur siège etc..). Sinon excellente vidéo comme d'habitude.
A very informative video, but the sound is awful, I could barely follow you. Well, I find this service highly overpriced, especially for a 2 hour ride (2nd class with no catering would do the same job without much of a sacrifice), maybe it would make sense if you went all the way to NIce, but maybe not even that. Anyway, Frecciarossa wins. One more thing: if these trains are newly refurbished, why didn't they provide a decent access for the disabled?
good video review; I am certainly not going to book business premier, this looks like a rip-off; the same meal can be bought in cafe car, isn't it?
Competition is amazing, SNCF needs competition in every non PSO line
What is a PSO line ?
oui enfin la la ligne et coupé pour 1 an suite a un eboulement du coup la concurrence a rapatrier ces train en italie :)
It’s a definite NO from me. I travel Frecciarossa Executive Class whenever I’m in Italy. It’s absolutely wonderful. And SCNF Business “Premiere” can’t hold a candlestick to Frecciarossa Executive Class. 🤔
Where can I buy ticket Trenitalia Frecciarossa direct Paris-Milan? Im frustrated tbh. Is it already close the service?
Service is suspended from August 23 probably until this summer due to a landslide in the tracks@@Hushiization