Trains reservations?

I am trying to book train tickets from Paris to Tours from tgv-europe.com website

I put in my time etc. And I see a warning on top

%26quot;Attention, reservations are compulsory for certain journeys in this list%26quot;

I select the cheapest option - PREM it has this...

Hurry, last seats available!

And select %26quot;Choose my place%26quot;. And it says

%26quot;Your preferences for seating in the train:

No places available.%26quot;

What does that mean?

The trip is 2 hours so with my mum I definitely need a seat. Does that mean I can get on the train but have to stand - like Italy trains? Because this is PREM I don%26#39;t want to book it as there is no refund.

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When I click on CONFIRM to go to the next step. It has a warning

%26quot;Attention, some of your requests for seats cannot be satisfied.%26quot;

Why does the website let me book it if I cannot get a seat??

Regards

CONFUSED.

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Some trains have seats which can%26#39;t be reserved in advance. Local trains and non express trains are often like this. For these legs of the journey you are issued with a standard ticket and you find an available space.

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Possibly, after the time that you started the last of the lowest priced Prem tickets was sold (or there was only one left and you wanted two).

If you book a ticket on a TGV train it will automatically come with a reservation. If you are using the %26quot;ordinary%26quot; train from Gare Austerltz to Tours a reservation is not usually actually required, but if you are travelling at a busy time may be recommended.

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Oh I am still confused? Sorry for asking so many questions. And thanks for your patience.

The train in question is the

09h21 PARIS AUSTERLITZ

11h40 TOURS STATION

Corail Intercities - Promo 1 ere classe

If I book the tickets - would I get a reservation? I take it that a ticket does not mean reservation? Even for 1st class on this train? So I get on and hope for a seat?

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And how do I make a reservation on this train?

:(

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That will be a local train, so no reservations.

You also can take the TGV from Montparnasse, although if you book as %26quot;Tours%26quot; rather than St Pierre des Corps, you may still get those messages because the last five minutes is a shuttle of some sort rather than a train (and the computer can%26#39;t issue tickets for the shuttle).

My suggestion is just go ahead and book from Austerlitz. That%26#39;s the start of the journey, so if you are there and waiting when the train pulls in you should have no problem finding seats. I really doubt you would find you have to stand.

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Interestingly as I progressed through this thread I thought to myself, from which station are you departing Paris?

There are no TGVs to Tours from Austerlitz only from Montparnasse.

Either select a Montparnasse departure or simply purchase the PREM on the Corail train from Austerlitz. Corail PREMs do not have seat assignments and usually sell for 10€. Seats are always available on these trains.

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Berkeley_travelers, you are spot on. There are TGV trains from Montparnasse to St Pierre des Corps and the last leg says shuttle!

The ticket I had in mind was from Austerlitz. Promo 1ere classe was 24 EUR each. No refund. I see no 10 EUR ones available. I went with 1st class only because 2nd class is just several euros cheaper. :)

It%26#39;s clear to me now. Not all trains from TGV-EUROPE.COM is TGV! And even first class there might be no seat assignment. They just make sure they don%26#39;t overbook. It%26#39;s up to you to get there early or you might end up seating apart.

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By way of possible explanation, the www.voyage-sncf.com website contained all of the SNCF schedules and was available in English. I am of the believe that this started to eat away at Raileurope sales, which controls SNCF sales in the USA. Raileurope%26#39;s pricing is noticeably more expensive than what is being sold for the same trains on voyage-sncf. Hence, English was removed from voyage-sncf and TGV-europe was promoted. Select your country as USA on the TGV-europe website and you are directed to Raileurope.

Hence, trains which were once listed on voyage-sncf are now listed on TGV-europe, and you are correct, this includes trains which are not technically TGVs. The Corail trains are an interesting hybrid between TER trains and TGVs - they are basically the same cars as TERs but they offer PREMs for sale as on the TGVs. (To my knowledge PREMs are not offered on regular TER trains).

Of the countless times I have traveled between the Loire Valley and Austerlitz, I have never needed to stand - seats have always been available. If you are concerned, stop by a SNCF service window or boutique when you arrive in France and ask to make a reservation, something you can do for just a few euros per seat.