TGV / SNCF planner with strike overlay

A practical companion to the SNCF Connect app: typical fare bands, station buffer-time rules, and a strike-risk overlay that tells you when to have a Plan B ready. The calculator is a planning aid — book at sncf-connect.com for the live platform.

Departure city

Destination city

Travel date

Passenger type

Class

Booking window

What this tool actually solves

SNCF Connect is great for booking but it does not warn you that the cheapest 7am TGV means a 5:30am métro, or that your December 5 travel date falls on a date range when the CGT typically calls public-sector strikes. This planner layers two things on top of the booking tool:

Strike-risk overlay: based on the date and the historical pattern of French transit strikes (CGT, FO, Sud-Rail calendar windows), the planner outputs a risk band and a Plan B.
Departure buffer: how early to be at the station based on whether you're boarding at a major terminal (Lyon, Montparnasse) or a smaller station.
Booking window advice: how far ahead the cheapest "OUIGO" or "TGV INOUI" tickets usually drop for the chosen route.

How to read the result

Three things matter most: expected fare band, strike-risk band, buffer at station. The fare band is the middle 60% of typical fares for that route, class and booking window — not a guaranteed quote. SNCF applies dynamic pricing, so you can pay €29 or €120 for the same seat depending on demand.

The strike-risk band is a calendar heuristic, not a forecast. It is high in early September (rentrée sociale), low-to-medium around May 1 (Labour Day) only if a union escalates, and historically elevated on Thursdays in spring (CGT day of action patterns).

If the strike-risk is "medium" or "high", the Plan B section activates. Don't book non-refundable onward connections (a hotel in another city, a ferry, a plane) until you've checked the SNCF info service the night before.

Limitations

This is a planning aid, not a live timetable. SNCF Connect or the SNCF app is the source of truth for actual trains, platform numbers, and current strikes.

Fare bands are based on 2024–2026 published TGV INOUI and OUIGO averages. SNCF raises fares on average 3.2% per year; if your travel date is in 2027 or beyond, add 6% to the upper band.

Strike risk is based on historical French union calendar windows; it is not a prediction. A specific call to strike may or may not materialise within the window.

Frequently asked, briefly

When are SNCF strike days most likely?

Historically, the early-September "rentrée sociale" (first two weeks of September) and the May Day period (late April to early May) see the most union activity. October and February are usually quieter. A strike-day in any random month has about a 5–8% chance, but rises to 25–35% in the high-risk windows above.

TGV INOUI vs OUIGO — when to choose which?

OUIGO is the low-cost TGV. Luggage is smaller (1 cabin + 1 hand per person, no large suitcase included), seats are tighter, station is usually a dedicated OUIGO stop (often the same station but a side platform), journey time is similar. INOUI has free Wi-Fi, full-size luggage, more comfortable seats. If your priority is price, OUIGO. If your priority is luggage and comfort on a long-haul, INOUI.

What if I miss my train because of an earlier cancelled connection?

Go to the SNCF desk (guichet) at the station, do not queue at the self-service machines. With a cancelled upstream train, the staff can rebook you on the next available train at no extra charge, even on OUIGO (which is normally non-exchangeable). Keep your cancelled ticket — they may ask.

About this tool

This planner is one of 38 tools on France Trip Toolkit. We built it because SNCF Connect is great for booking but bad at the meta question: "should I book this non-refundable ticket on this specific date?". The tool is intentionally narrow — it answers only that question. For the actual booking, the SNCF Connect site or app is the source of truth.

Privacy

No tracking, no analytics, no cookies. The route and date you select are processed entirely by JavaScript inside your browser. We never see your input. If Google AdSense is later added to this page, it will be blocked until you consent, will be placed only in natural positions (sidebar, end of article, never inside the calculator), and is governed by the privacy policy on the homepage.

Disclaimer

SNCF fares, schedules and strike calendars change without notice. The fare bands shown are estimates based on 2024–2026 published averages and are not a quote. The strike-risk overlay is a historical heuristic, not a forecast. Always confirm the live timetable on sncf-connect.com or the SNCF app before booking non-refundable onward connections.

Sources: SNCF Connect 2024–2026 published TGV fares, Service-Public.fr on strike rights, Atout France rail statistics, CGT public strike calendar (2024–2026).