le billet lö bi-IÉ
the ticket
“Le billet” = the train ticket. Today it's often an “e-billet” (e-ticket) on your phone, with a QR code you scan yourself on the platform. On the TGV the ticket has a reserved seat (“place réservée”): you get a coach (“voiture”) and a seat (“place”).
le quai lö KÉ
the platform
Careful: “le quai” = the platform (the physical space where you stand and wait), while “la voie” = the track the train leaves from. SNCF boards show departures with “voie” + a number (one platform can serve two tracks). The number is often shown late, about 20 minutes before departure.
le TGV lö té-jé-VÉ
the high-speed train
“TGV” = “Train à Grande Vitesse”, the high-speed train (up to 320 km/h). The premium brand is now called “TGV INOUI”, and the cheap, low-cost version is “OUIGO”. On the TGV a seat reservation is mandatory — you can't just hop on without a seat.
un aller-retour ön a-LÉ-rö-TUR
a return ticket
“Un aller-retour” = round trip; “un aller simple” = one way. At the counter you can ask short: “Un aller-retour Paris-Lyon”. If you want to come back the same day, you say “aller-retour dans la journée”.
le retard lö rö-TAR
the delay
“Le retard” = the delay. The typical station announcement: “Le train à destination de Lyon est annoncé avec un retard de dix minutes.” If the TGV is very late, SNCF refunds part of the price via “Garantie G30” (from 30 minutes' delay).
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